Can Cleansing the Liver Help You Lose Weight?
Weight Loss and Liver Cleanse
You may not have given your liver a second thought when it comes to weight loss; however, the liver is the organ responsible for metabolizing fat. Your overall health is affected by the health of your liver. It is the body’s natural detoxifier; it helps remove waste products and processes nutrients your body needs. Optimizing your liver health by cleansing or detoxing may help you meet your weight loss goals. Most of us struggle with overburdened organs due to unhealthy food choices and lifestyle. Let’s take a look at what a liver cleanse is, and what it can potentially do for you.
What is a liver cleanse?
There are several things you can do and take to increase the health of your liver. Evidence suggests that herbs and supplements, along with healthy lifestyle choices, can detox the liver when unable to do so on its own. Turmeric, milk thistle, and dandelion root are common herbal supplements associated with a liver cleanse. These supplements act as an antioxidant by reducing free radical production (according to medical news today*).
Natural herbs are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine practices for maintaining liver health. Cleanses can come in many forms from juices, to supplements and even enemas.
How do I know if I need a cleanse?
There are some early warning signs your liver may be overtaxed: excessive fatigue, hormonal imbalances, bloating and excessive gas, heavy metals toxicity, and poor sleep. Because toxins are eliminated out of the body through our stool, poor digestive function may be another sign your liver needs support.
What can I do to help aid my liver?
Obvious choices such as reducing or eliminating alcohol intake, and drinking plenty of water can help improve overall liver function. Prebiotic fiber and liver-friendly foods such as coffee, nuts, fatty fish, grapes, and olive oil, all have positive effects on your liver and metabolic health. Regular exercise is also beneficial, helping your body to burn triglycerides for fuel and reduce liver fat.
Raising antioxidant and detoxifying enzyme levels can offer essential protection for your liver. Our bodies naturally produce glutathione, which is a powerful antioxidant responsible for helping our liver deal with fat. Lowered levels of glutathione have been found in patients with chronic liver disease, and supplementation may be required to increase levels. Intermittent fasting has also been shown to help improve liver function.
Liver rejuvenation supports better overall body health from metabolism to cognitive function and energy. It can be impacted by stress and lifestyle as much as the food we eat. The liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself, but it can only handle so much stress. Protect your liver health against a sluggish liver and adopt a healthy long term strategy to support your weight loss goals and improved quality of life. A liver cleanse is not intended to treat disease or cirrhosis and cannot cure medical conditions. Contact Vitality Aesthetic & Regenerative Medicine today to learn more about our detox and cleanse options which may address your weight loss and health concerns.