Your monthly cycle (length, symptoms) is a report card for your liver.
Pregnancy is a stress test on your liver.
Your gut health is a reflection of your liver health.
Are you passing?
Do you need some liver detox support?
If the following describes YOU, your detoxification system might be trying to tell you something!
- History of alcohol/drug use or hepatitis
- Long term prescription drug use
- Sensitive to chemicals (tobacco smoke, fumes, perfume, cleaning agents, etc.)
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Stomach upset by greasy foods
- Greasy or shiny stools
- History of nausea, motion sickness, or morning sickness
- Light or pale colored stools
- Headache over the eyes
- Gallbladder attacks
- Bitter taste in the mouth (especially after meals)
- Become sick or easily intoxicated if drinking wine
- Easily hung over
- Pain under right side of rib cage
- Hemorrhoids or varicose veins
- NutraSweet (aspartame) consumption
- Chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
If these symptoms speak to you — read on, learn how your detoxification system works, and how to support it!
Just as nature intended, your body has the ability to "spring clean" naturally on a daily basis if your diet adequately supplies for the process (no special juice cleanse needed). This process is of course dependent on fixing your nutritional deficiencies so your body has what it needs to do its job as well as getting rid of any nutrient excess that overburdens its daily workload.
A natural liver detox (without powders and supplements) is a much safer, effective, and gentler idea than a supplemental detox diet. WHY? Because eating whole foods instead of synthetic supplements and powders gives your body more well-rounded nutrition with a wide spectrum of nutrients to DRIVE detoxification flawlessly and support liver function!
An analogy: Liver detoxification is like cleaning your laundry
- FILTRATION. First, a good baseline of nutrients allow the liver the ability to filter the blood; identifying both good things (food and nutrients) and bad things (toxins and harmful substances). This is similar to finding stains in your laundry.
- PHASE 1 DETOXIFICATION. Next, the body uses enzymes and nutrients (co-factors) to transform the bad guys (toxins, used hormones, RX drugs, food additives, etc). The goal of this phase is to begin neutralizing a toxin and start to make it into a water-soluble compound that is able to leave the body. However at this half way point, toxin reactivity actually increases, and can cause problems if it does not continue to phase 2 right away. Think of phase 1 detoxification as a pre-wash cycle.
- PHASE 2 DETOXIFICATION. Phase 2 acts upon phase 1 as the final transformation stage on the toxin, making it water-soluble for removal from the body. Amino acids (building blocks of protein) DRIVE this stage, as they attach to the toxins to further neutralize and escort them out of the body. Phase 2 is like the main wash cycle that removes dirt and debris leaving your clothes clean.
- PHASE 3 ELIMINATION. Lastly, the toxins are eliminated out the digestive tract via bile (which has to be moving efficiently), or via the kidneys in urine. It's absolutely necessary that your diet allows enough beneficial food fibers to aid in the excretion of toxins. This is much like the drain and spin cycle of your washing machine.
Specific Nutrients for Phase 2 Detoxification Pathways
Specific Nutrients for Phase 2 Detoxification PathwaysGetting more specific into phase two detoxification pathways, there are six that you need to know about. If one pathway is not working well, the body will try to find a workaround to detox the substance through another route. Over time if certain pathways are blocked from nutrient deficiencies and/or genetic variants, this can cause major issues and sensitivities.
Think of this like your normal driving routes you have to different places you go - home, work, the grocery store, etc. Sure you have the most efficient route, but when roads are closed you have to take an alternative route. When a road is closed on your route, it might make your trip longer, be more stressful for you, and use up more gas in your car. Over time, the more road blocks the more problems you're going to have (symptoms).
The same is true with pathways of detoxification.
Here are the six pathways of phase two detoxification:
- Glutathione conjugation
- Used to detoxify: pesticides, herbicides, acetaminophen, carcinogens, mycotoxins, formaldehyde, benzopyrene, other toxic compounds
- Nutrients needed to support: glutathione, precursors to glutathione — glycine, glutamine, cysteine
- Sulfation
- Used to detoxify: drugs (acetaminophen), xenobiotics, estrogen, dopamine
- Nutrients needed to support: molybdenum (needed to fuel enzyme that converts sulfur to sulfate), taurine, MSM, astragalus, sulfur-rich foods (garlic, cruciferous vegetables), sulfate (epsom salt baths)
- Important notes: glyphosate and certain gut bacteria can interfere with sulfation (conversion from sulfur or sulfite in food to sulfate), Vitamin D is synthesized from sulfide in the skin
- Amino acid conjugation
- Used to detoxify: drugs (salicylates), xenobiotics,
- Nutrients needed to support: glycine, taurine, B6
- Glucuronidation
- Used to detoxify: xenobiotics, bile acids, estrogen, fat soluble vitamins, mold, fatty acid derivatives
- Nutrients/foods needed to support: calcium d-glucurate, ellagic extract 90%, rosemary extract, dandelion root extract, astaxanthin, and pterostilbene.
- Important notes: Gilbert's syndrome can significantly slow down glucuronidation. [5] It's also important to address gut pathogens that increase beta-glucoronidase (e. coli, etc)
- Acetylation
- Used to detoxify: drugs, steroid hormones, serotonin, histamine, caffeine, tyramine
- Nutrients needed to support: B1 (thiamine), Pantethine (active form of B5), and vitamin C
- Methylation
- Used to detoxify: drugs, xenobiotics, mercury, lead, arsenic, thallium, tin
- Nutrients needed to support: folate, B12, choline and methionine.
Liver detox powders and synthetic supplements
Liver detoxification supplements (protein powders included) are often of low quality; they contain irritating additives/fillers, and most of the raw materials are imported without strict regulation regarding safety and purity. These foods are also "refined" with much of the nutritional value stripped out during processing.
Empty foods such as these can compromise your detoxification abilities, causing your body to retain toxins rather than excrete them.
Alternatively, when you invest in changing your diet to support detoxification, your body is energized with nutrients for supporting liver detox.
Your system is ultimately the product of your daily habits and what you choose to eat, NOT what you do or don't consume for 16-48 hours. Your daily diet should support the detoxification process — not through a ritual you do 1-2 times a year. Focus on the bigger picture: learn to fuel and meet your body’s needs on a daily basis, because what you eat 3-6 times per day, 365 days per year is what really counts for keeping your liver healthy.
Society seems to be very focused on eating “less” and “dieting," and cleanses/detox diets can reinforce that. I find that my clients actually end up needing far MORE food and nutrients than they think because common issues like a slowed metabolism, poor digestion, and nutritional deficiencies can actually down-regulate the appetite to some degree.
In the end, you want your body to FUNCTION better, and naturally detox more efficiently. This is achieved when you give your body what it needs on a DAILY basis, not when you play restrictive, limiting games.
Liquid fasts and cleanses
Because proteins DRIVE the detoxification process, cleanses based on juices, fruits or vegetables do not make a lot of sense.
Any time you partake in a fast or cleanse (with the exception of when you have the flu!) you are forcing a regimen on your body, and that often that means ignoring your own bio-feedback, cravings, and intuition.
According to Dr. Ray Peat, “Any craving is a good starting point, because we have several biological mechanisms for correcting specific nutritional deficiencies.” For example: if someone is in a hypo-metabolic state (slowed metabolism), the body naturally holds on to more water in tissues, craves less water, and craves more salt and solid food. Partaking in a cleanse in the form of a liquid diet would do much more harm than good for this person.
The best way to support your body's natural ability to detoxify is by making sure your body is getting the nutrients that it needs through your diet and supplements specifically based on your body's data. It's amazing to watch my hair analysis clients start to detox naturally when they start getting the minerals their body is deficient in, that we determine though testing.
Regardless of your decision to do or not do a liver detox/cleanse, don't ever forget that your body is always talking to you about what it needs. Learning to listen to your body is an amazing tool for building your nutritional wealth so that you can empower your body's natural detoxification system!
The liver detox foods you’re not eating
FIBER:
Eat more fiber (only if you tolerate it) — this helps to passively support detoxification, and a low-fiber combined with a toxic diet and lifestyle is probably the #1 dietary problem impacting your health.
A few big benefits of fiber are it delays gastric emptying — keeping you fuller longer while aiding in blood sugar management and mood, feeds your good gut bacteria — encouraging a healthy gut microbiome, reduced dysbiosis and increased internal production of vitamins (especially b-vitamins and K2), reduces constipation and aids in binding toxins and bile acids for excretion supporting liver and gallbladder function in a very passive way (specifically insoluble fiber) .
TIP:
If you need a fiber reminder, the best sources of soluble fiber are beans/legumes, apples, oats, other whole grains and fruits/vegetables. If digestive issues are present, you may not be able to tolerate soluble fiber at all, and may need to focus more on insoluble sources at first.
FRUITS:
The vitamins and minerals in fruits drive phase 1 of detoxification. Costly detox diets and cleansing routines are a waste of money, because organic fruits, vegetables, and fresh fruit juices fuel this first phase of detoxification much more efficiently.
TIP:
Choose ripe fruits that are high in vitamin C for maximum antioxidant protection. Some great choices are organic kiwis, berries, and strawberries.
BEETS:
Beets are an amazing liver detox and beauty food (I love taking a "shot" of this stuff when I don't have fresh beets on hand). They have the ability to help thin your bile, which allows the body to detox more efficiently. A common problem is sluggish/stagnant bile flow. After toxins are neutralized in the liver, they are dumped into the bile (bile duct is a river for toxins to move out of the body) and when the bile gets too thick, toxic matter can’t flow out of the body quick enough (leading to fatigue, low energy, constipation, PMS, toxicity and disease)! Regular beet consumption (and a nutritionally wealthy diet) can help strengthen this process naturally!
TIP:
Buy beets and shred them in your food processor. Have a little raw beet slaw (with lemon or apple cider vinegar, salt, and olive oil) daily or as often as you like to help fuel your natural detoxification system.
PROTEIN:
Protein deficiency by itself can impair liver detoxification, so getting enough is one of the easiest things you can do every day to help your liver.
TIP:
Find out about how much protein you need and then test it out and see how it feels. Always listen to your body to help you fine tune what amount makes you feel your best.
The liver is KING
Healthy detoxification is absolutely essential for good digestion, a healthy metabolism, hormonal balance and proper thyroid function. A good nutrition strategy goes a long way for overcoming poor detoxification without confusion and expensive synthetic supplements!
Your liver knows how to do its job, it just needs your help giving it the RIGHT materials and not giving it too much work to do (hint: excess copper, iron, vitamin A, plant toxins, alcohol, extra supplements, and ‘pills’ that can impair the liver’s ability to do its job).
Hair and blood testing (available worldwide) helps give you the insight to support your liver with what it needs.
Is your nutritional debt impairing your liver detoxification?
Take the quiz below to find if nutritional debt is the source of your detoxification issues, and what you can do about it!
Need help?
Ready to learn more about what's going on in your body and what you can do to support it? I have a number of masterclass courses that do just that:
- Suggested testing: HTMA + Nutrient Blood Labs
- How to Align to Detox
Always keep digging to find *your* health answers. And don’t be fearful of asking for help.
PIN IT:
References:
- Bob Miller, CTN. Why Adequate Sulfation, Glucuronidation, and Glutathione Conjugation is Critical for Detoxification. Great Plains Lab Toxin Summit Nov. 2020. https://www.fxmedicine.com.au/blog-post/nutrients-detoxification#9
- Peat, Raymond. Nutrition for Women. Eugene: 1993.
- Trash Can Clipart: Used with permission from Microsoft.
- Weatherby, Dicken. “Liver and Gallbladder.” Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Nutritional Therapy Association, 2004. Print.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1732127/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=XYvsRbXq_4I&t=51s
Also published on Medium.
Lora
I love your philosophy - probably because it aligns sooooo closely with my own. thanks for such an informative article too 🙂
Catherine
Thanks Lora for your kind words!
Dianna
Good grief, I am stunned after reading the symptoms list. My 4th pregnancy wacked out my eating habits, I became addicted to sugar. I've always been thin, it was easy, 4 kids and no dieting ever. Until now. Now my skin is saggy, there's cellulite, a wine allergy (I get sick after half a glass, and severe hangovers from all alcohol), off and on nausea, fatigue, constipation. I kept thinking what a weird list of symptoms, what is my deal? Then I happened upon this article!
Eryn
Not that I'm disagreeing with what you've written, I'm just wondering what sources you got this information from? I'd love to read the journal articles (or whatever sources) on my own.
Catherine Crow
Hi Eryn,
I didn't use a lot of references on this particular article. It is more a combination of my personal research and learning over the last 10 years (as well as clinical experience with clients). Dr. Ray Peat's books & articles are a great place to look for further research on the liver and detoxification. Is there a particular aspect of the article you are looking for information on (ie. supplement quality, liver detox pathways, metabolism, etc)? I would love to help direct to further reading.
Catherine
Sherry
Hi I've been on pain medication for about twinsets now after having a wisdom tooth surgery. I was wondering if it's safe now that I've been off the meds, to detox boy liver ? I feel as if I'm walking around with something inside me.
Thanks
Sherry
That should be I've been on pain medication for two weeks..
lindsey
Hi Catherine,
I'm brand new to your site and love it! Wow, what a wealth of knowledge. I'm trying to figure out if my issue is liver stagnation, lack of stomach acid, lack of digestive enzymes, etc. but my biggest problem is not being able to digest many veggies ESPECIALLY raw veggies. They wreck havoc on me and send cramps all the way up through my rib cage. I thought of asking you this because beets give me pain/bloating when I eat them but I love them. Is this because my liver is "clogged?" Or does it sound like it's an enzyme/stomach acid thing? I've been drinking a lot of ACV and lemon water to help detox but I just haven't pin pointed the exact source. The beets made me think of this so I'm curious if you had any thoughts on that, please?
Many thanks!
Lindsey
Catherine
Hi Lindsey,
Thanks for your kind words <3! I think you will find this article useful: https://butternutrition.com/digestive-distress-metabolism-food-allergies/
Thanks for reading,
Catherine
Karly - MyDetoxDiet
Great stuff Catherine! Our bodies never lie, so it's always a good idea to listen to your body when it feels run down. A detox diet can help you feel physically and mentally fit after just a 1 - 15 day programme.
Tania
I would like to do a detox program can you help with this what do we do? what can we eat?
I had hep B when 16 and many drugs (medications) that i think have left me with liver problems (long story). Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Tania NZ
Kelsey
LOL she wrote in the article that she's NOT an advocate for detox diets. Spammers.
Amy
Hi Catherine!
I use a non-denatured whey protein supplement that uses glutathione as its major detox agent, and then once a month do a 2 day mineral cleanse. I'm sure you're busy but would love you to check it out for me and see if you think it holds any validity! It's been amazing for long-term energy so far.
Thanks! Great article!
Bee
Beets are high in oxalate, which has been shown to be a major cause of many health issues. Do the benefits u the possible negatives? How much beet do u recommend?
andrea
I had the same qu re oxalates and am wondering if the girl above who can't diogest them has this isssue. THey are off the charts high. Thoughts?
Tee
Do you support an intermittent fast? Also, you stated that the liver needs animal protein to detox, so are vegans detoxing improperly?
Catherine
Hi Tee,
Great questions. Yes- vegans tend to have impaired detoxification, more on that here: https://butternutrition.com/10-vegan-diet-dangers
You can read my thoughts on fasting in this guest post: https://butternutrition.com/focus-on-intermittent-fasting/
Thanks for reading!
Catherine
Vegangirl
There are NO vegan diet dangers. Veganism is the healthiest diet known to man. Have you read the China Study lately?
pip
Vegan girl, If Vegan diets are so healthy, then please tell em why my hair fell out, my teeth crumbled and I ended up with liver, thyroid and digestive issues after 9 years of being vegan.. There are no traditional vegan cultures anywhere in the world. Veganism is the construct of modern humans .. It is extremely dangerous to most people and many of my friends went back to eating meat after getting very ill from being vegan..
Scott
"The findings described in the book are not solely based on the China survey data"
- Colin Campbell, Author of the book 'The China Study'
"What's said in the best selling book 'The China Study' does not match the findings of the actual China-Cornell-Oxford Study, in which there was no correlation with more or less disease in people eating a lot of plant foods."
- Weston A. Price Foundation
The author of the book, Colin Campbell also says that "the saturated fat in meat and butter raises cholesterol and is one of the significant causes of heart disease"
The Weston A. Price Foundation states that "heart disease is associated with consumption of trans fats, refined vegetable oils and sugar, all of which come from plants."
I personally have been eating a whole foods omnivore diet which is high in animal fats and meats and low in fiber and starch for a few years now. My doctor says that my cholesterol and blood pressure are excellent. I'm 45 years old.
Tee
Thanks for the links. Do you think intermittent fasting on a daily basis can detox the body properly? Besides intermittent fasting, do you think it's necessary to also do 24-48 hours fasts on occasions? Is there a big difference between intermittent and 24-48 hour fasting?
Heather P
Do you know what the implications are for detox if you don't have a gallbladder? My gallbladder was removed after my first son was born 7 years ago. I have felt my health declining since and have not been able to lose weight. I'm had doctors say gallbladder isn't necessary, others say I have to take supplements for the rest of my life. I can't find any good clear help.
Cindy
Beet slaw is amazing - fresh beets are really good. I find fresh beets to be a lot like shredded fresh carrots. I solved a bunch of gallbladder issues by really increasing fresh beats and using flaxseed oil. Gotta say though, cooked beets, still gross. 🙂 People should try a fresh shredded beets if they haven't already. Don't let the cooked ones ruin it for you.
Merryl
Instead of boiling beets, try baking them. Wash them, cut off the greens and tap root, do not peel. Wrap them in foil and bake 45-60 min depending on size at 400 degree oven. Use a knife to make sure they are soft, but not mushy. Leave foil open and let cool. Then you can slip off the outer skin. They are wonderful in salads, sliced, or anyway you choose.
Boiling ruins beets. Takes away color and flavor. Baking keeps in the nutrition.
Anderson Ofolu
Can hep really heal ? what r the best ways to detox ur liver.please help
abie
Yes your right i also drink beet juice and also lemon juice for my daily liver detox they really effective on liver cleansing.
Steven Michael
OUTSTATING INFORMATION...and your writing style is wonderful too. However, just one critique: You should proof-read your work and correct the errors and omissions. I am not even finished with the article and i am already so thrown off and at times frustrated as to what you are trying to say.
EXAMPLES:
Regular beet consumption (and a WEALTHY diet)...
So whether you decide a detox or cleanse is right or wrong for YOU...
-------But OTHERWISE, Wonderful Article and Great Information - Thank you again so much.
Faiza
Lol Steven Michael....ur first word itself is a typo...shudnt it b outstanding n not outstating?
Maya
I wanted to ask if a specific beet is better then others (gold,red etc) for this purpose.
Great articles, keep them coming
diana thompson
I feel like I've stumbled upon truth. After my 5 year long journey to find answers AND listening to my body's needs, what you describe is EXACTLY what I've felt.
Beetroot Juice Recipes
Whoa, marvelous site page layout! How much time have you been writing a blog pertaining to? you're making writing a blog seem simple. The complete appear of your website is superb, along with the information!
Julia
O wow- i have been wondering and asking all over about the pain between the shoulders when detoxing- was sooooo thrilled to see that on the list! I'm curious- what is the mechanism with that- what is happening to cause these sensations physiologically? Thank you so much for all the wonderful information!
Nitaa
The graphic is incorrectly naming Folic Acid as a phase one nutrient... It is synthetic.
FOLATE is the actual nutrient found in food that isn't fortified with the toxic to some synthetic ingredient.
Mandy
I thought that a liquid cleanse was the only real way to address liver issues. Reading through this post about feeding, rather than starving, my liver, makes so much more sense. Thank you!
Deb Barnett
I have stage IV metatastic E R receptive Cancer. I have three lesions in my liver. What foods should I avoid? And what are the best for detoxification? I am currently taking Letrazole as chemo therapy.
Vegangirl
Meat is not necessary for ANY body processes, as proven by the China Study. Meat, eggs and dairy are highly inflammatory and leach calcium and other nutrients out of the bones.
Scott
"Nutrients required for healthy bones, such as Vitamin D, collagen and calcium, are either better absorbed or exclusively found in animal foods"
-Weston A. Price Foundation
Even veganhealth.org states that "The only significant, natural sources of vitamin D in foods are fatty fish (e.g. cod liver oil, mackerel, salmon, sardines), eggs (if chickens have been fed vitamin D), and mushrooms (if treated with UV rays). The vegan diet contains little, if any, vitamin D without fortified foods or supplements."
And in case you didn't see my above comment, here it is again...
"The findings described in the book are not solely based on the China survey data"
- Colin Campbell, Author of the book 'The China Study'
"What's said in the best selling book 'The China Study' does not match the findings of the actual China-Cornell-Oxford Study, in which there was no correlation with more or less disease in people eating a lot of plant foods."
- Weston A. Price Foundation
The author of the book, Colin Campbell also says that "the saturated fat in meat and butter raises cholesterol and is one of the significant causes of heart disease"
The Weston A. Price Foundation states that "heart disease is associated with consumption of trans fats, refined vegetable oils and sugar, all of which come from plants."
I personally have been eating a whole foods omnivore diet which is high in animal fats and meats and low in fiber and starch for a few years now. My doctor says that my cholesterol and blood pressure are excellent. I'm 45 years old.
Helen T. CulTao
Even if one goes with a good liver detox supplement, the results will only be temporary unless it is accompanied with permanent life style changes.
Larissa
What are your thoughts on coffee enemas? They are supposed to speed up the bodies production of glutathione making it easier to detox. I looked into this because I started having seizures 6 years ago and the neurologists had no idea why but when I went to a hollistic doctor and he gave me a heavy metal test and found that my mercury levels were 26 times "normal" level. He believed that my body was slow to eliminate toxins and this was the cause of the seizures. So I started taking chelation pills to flush the mercury out and it took over a year and a half of taking this medication to get my mercury levels down. He also gave me glutathione supplements to take. After all this time I have seen a decrease in seizures which makes me believe that toxins are my issue here. But it has been such a slow process. I would like to speed things up a bit.
Angela McCray
I just have a question in regards to the liver detox, how long to you do phase 1 and then phase 2 and I seen that you said at least 2 times year. I really felt your information was useful. Thank you for your time on this matter.
Angela
Aly Alesber
I just love your blog! I have found the answers to many of my questions here. I love the beet slaw i will definitely try it! The only comment i have is that the font of your blog is too light and after reading for a couple minutes it hurts my eyes! As a designer i recommend you use a heavier font, It will be more attractive and easier on the eyes, hence making it more popular and enjoyable to read, other than that everything is great and keep it up.
Annie
I had my gallbladder remover over 20 years ago. Have I done irepairable damage to my body?
Thank you, Annie
Barbara Koranek
Great info.
After experiencing extreme fatigue, muscle stiffness and joint pain, my husband, age 74 is going off Zetia medication,( prescribed for cholesterol). Researching negative side effects of this med , many people had symptoms persist for quite a whole. longer even after stopping the med. Reading your blog, I see he really needs to detox the liver.. I will change his diet to include the recommended foods to aid in detox. I would really like to know your thoughts on coffee enemas...as they seem to be popular now. My nutritionist is recommending this approach for my Hubby and I have heard both positive & negative reports on this procedure . Thanks for all your valuable info.. Waiting for your response.. Thanks, Barbara
Tara
I was reading through a few of the comments posted concerning your Detox process.. To begin, I regualry read information from you as I signed up for email notifications. I am a Family Nurse Practitioner, I have a (DNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree, and my passion is health, nutrition and weight loss. Although you may not recieve all of your information from medical journals, I have not come across anything I have not or can not reference with medical research. Your article on Liver Detox could not be more correct and I fully support you.
A Vegan is missiing key nutrients that are only provided by meats., you can try with complete proteins such asl (1) Amaranth, (2) Quinoa, (3) Buckwheat and (4) Soy, just to name a few, but one has to remember what components the body need to function effectively. Additionally, if you do research on any of these, all will give you drawbacks if overconsumption occurs,, for example Soy is a phytoestrogen so it can increase risks of certain cancers or hormone imbalance.
Hair loss is common in Vegans, because again they are missing important nutrients, particularly Vit B12, so they have anemia. Anemia in almost any form whether pernicious or iron-deficiency will contribute to hair loss, again it is the pathophysiology of how the body works.. Hair is made of the protein (Keratin), therefore your body will require proteins to keep it strong and growing and the iron provided by red meats. Iron combines with oxygen (hemoglobin) which again is a protein (metelloprotein), .
In closing, a Detox does not include pricey supplements, a detox is a process of allowing the liver to heal by not producing stress on it by trying to process sugars and inflammatory meats as you said. A detox should consist of berries (antioxidants), other fruits, and a small amount of complex carbs ( sweet potatoes,, idaho potatoes, or any carbohydrate you can grow yourself). Milk Thistle and Dandelion Root teas are effective at repairing, but also remember to check with your physician prior to taking on any endevour. Finally water, calculate your weight, divide by 2, whatever number you get is the amount in ounces of water you should consume daily.
I love reading your emails, Keep up the great work!!!!!
Tara
Catherine
Thanks Tara for the kind words and sharing your wisdom!
Abundantly,
Catherine
Krystyna
I am not proponent of veganism, having been a vegan in my teenage years and having experiences all the side effects of a poorly balanced vegan diet - hair loss, rashes/breakouts, low thyroid finctioning, disregulates digestion and metabolism, etc. My question is about algae, since some vegans claim thaat certain algae like spirulina contain sufficient Vitamin B12. I take Spirulina as a supplement but have a diet that includes eggs, some muscle and organ meat and fish along with buckwheat, quinoa and other protein packed seeds. If I were to lower my meat intake for a while ( i.e. summer) could I balance out the lower vitamin B12 intake?
ben
Hi Krysttyna Thank you for replying to Catherines article I must say I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comment I was able to gain further knowledge which has supplemented a already well put together article
Astrid
It is great to read well researched and -- breath of fresh air- type of information.
I have always had conflicting feelings about the 24-48 hour or a few day juice detoxes. It always seemed so extreme for me, and worry about those with Diabetes or sugar issues. Hypoglycemia is the first thing that comes to mind.
This article confirms my philosophy. It is crucial to listen to our bodies and feed it wholefoods to help it do its job.
I occasionally make a juice for breakfast consisting of: green veggies, lemon, dandelion root, radishes and add a few drops of milk thistle when I feel my liver needs it. I adore beets, and you just reminded me of that lovely beets salad.
Thanks so much for this article.
Sharing with ♥
Irene
Helo i iust want to ask if the liver is undergoing detoxification, does my liver enzymes increases in the process? My doctor advice me to stop taking my detox supplements since my liver enzymes increases,. But a friend told me that this is a normal reaction of the liver after having detox after 2 weeks. Please help me iI badly need your advice. Thank u
Rosie
Very interesting and informative. Answers questions not dealt with by general doctors visits. Can you tell me is it normal to feel tightness in upper right chest when using things like milk thistle or artichoke tablets to help a fatty liver. I have had gallbladder removed some years ago and am trying to help myself as doctors seem to be of the opinion, its out carry on ! Thanks for your help.
Camille J. Brown
What a fantastic article! I never realized that protein is the main driver in the detoxification process. I also wholeheartedly agree...we need to focus on the DAILY intake of detoxifying foods. A cleanse once or twice a year is not an excuse for eating inflammatory foods the rest of the time. Thanks for posting.
susan
I cannot believe you think dairy eggs and meat are non inflammatory and good for you. Anything you said just lost all validity for me. You are obviously a meat eater nutritionist and therefore follow that agenda.
Rene
We each have unique body, Susan. Several vegetables are inflammatory to me. Too much folate makes me feel horrible. I was eating pretty close to macro-biotic, and feeling bad most of the time. My very knowledgable, very alternative registered dietician who is very well versed in MTHFR, informed me that I was anemic. Eating the right meat now, and for me, it does not cause inflammation. I support you in knowing what is right for you, and I trust my knowledge of my own body. It has been a 12 year journey, and I pay very close attention. Now, there is a great app I use called "Intolerances" which helps me when I am choosing foods.
Bouncedancer
Yes, dairy is a very inflammatory food, but meats, not much. Of course, this is highly individual, but the overall most highly allergenic foods, besides dairy, are all vegan staples: Whole grains, nuts, soy. Eggs, fish and meats are trailing way behind those.
Dan
Wow, I have all 17 of these and has been for a while ... going to try it and see if the detox helps
JJ
I agree with most of what you said except for dairy. Dairy consumption for me is very inflammatory even in raw form. Also those of us with MTHFR need extra support to detox.
Bouncedancer
Me too, I think dairy is one of the most inflammatory foods. My mother-in-law, 87, loves dairy, and has issues like arthritic pains and autoimmune issues. Today I went to the 90th birthday party of a client: He walks barefoot or in sandals year-round (coastal California, so not so cold), walks the beaches every day, and plays in a jazz combo! (named "The Forgettables"). He adopted a semi-paleo diet decades ago, long before it became a fad.
Dawn Smith
i just ordered a liver support/detox. a milk thistle and dandelion blend. should i return it and just stick to beet juice?