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Just as dust and grime build up in our homes
if they are not cleaned properly, toxins build up in our bodies
if we do not clear out our systems. Our internal ‘Vacuum
bag’ (the liver) needs a “clean-out” every
now and then, in order to keep it doing it’s job properly.
Our
body is detoxifying every minute of the day. In fact, it uses
80% of the energy that it produces for detoxifying. This is
why we need to keep the body’s detoxification channels
(liver, kidneys, skin, bowels) constantly open and working
optimally. There are many factors that influence detoxification
activity, but probably the most important are diet and lifestyle.
The
liver is perhaps the largest and most important detoxification
organ; therefore, it is most beneficial to our body’s
detoxification process if it is optimally working. But how
do you know if your liver is under-functioning?
There
are a number of symptoms that indicate that the liver is under
strain. Use the checklist below to help determine your liver’s
condition. Each symptom scores one point – the higher
the score, the more important this Liver Detox is for you:
Liver Health Checklist
| __ |
Brain
fatigue |
__ |
Pale
coloured stools |
| __ |
Poor
memory and concentration |
__ |
Flatulence
(Gas) |
| __ |
Depression |
__ |
Reduced
tolerance to alcohol |
| __ |
Mood
swings |
__ |
Unexpected
hangovers |
| __ |
Headaches |
__ |
Increased
side effects from medical drugs |
| __ |
Migraines |
__ |
Irritability |
| __ |
High
blood pressure |
__ |
Anxiety |
| __ |
Fluid
retention |
__ |
Easy
weight gain |
| __ |
Palpitations |
__ |
Difficulty
losing weight |
| __ |
Coated
tongue |
__ |
Fatigue |
| __ |
Bad
breath |
__ |
Chronic
fatigue syndrome |
| __ |
Indigestion |
__ |
Unusual
body heat or flushing |
| __ |
Bloating |
__ |
Eczema |
| __ |
Nausea |
__ |
Dermatitis |
| __ |
Intolerance
of fat-rich foods |
__ |
Gray
shadows under the eyes |
| __ |
Candidiasis |
__ |
Premature
ageing |
| __ |
Constipation |
__ |
Allergic
symptoms |
The
Detox Diet
Your
liver’s ability to function and to rebuild itself is
dependent on the quality of the food and nutrients you give
it. What you eat and the supplements you take are of paramount
importance to the optimal functioning of the liver. You will
be surprised how quickly your skin improves with this detoxification
program, and how many of the symptoms in the Liver Health
Checklist will disappear; I have seen this with hundreds of
patients over the years. This detox diet is not designed to
be gourmet cuisine, but it is only for 15 days and the rewards
to health will be worth every minute. It is a powerful detoxification
program and so do not underestimate it!
Continue
the following detox foods for 15 days:
| 1. |
Fresh
fruit and vegetables:
Steamed, roasted, salads, grilled, etc. Eat plenty of
onions and garlic as they contain sulphur compounds, which
are helpful in detoxification. Avoid avocados, olives
and eat minimal bananas. Also add fresh alfalfa sprouts
to your salads, and eat plenty of broccoli, cabbage and
artichoke. |
| 2. |
Fresh
herbs and spices: Use as many fresh herbs
as you can, including spices such as peppercorns, cinnamon,
nutmeg, cloves, mace and turmeric. |
| 3. |
Grains:
Brown rice, preferably organic. |
| 4. |
Fish:
Eat only fresh fish and grill it with a little olive oil
with plenty of lemon juice. Avoid tinned, smoked fish
and shellfish. |
| 5. |
Oil:
Small amount of virgin olive oil or cold-pressed linseed
oil. |
| 6. |
Salt:
Use herbal salt or sea salt, preferably organic, but only
use as little as possible. |
| 7. |
Drinks:
Roasted dandelion root (coffee) - (available in good health
food shops).
Still mineral water with some sparkling water occasionally.
Organic herbal teas (e.g. chamomile, dill, lemon grass,
lemon balm, nettle, peppermint, sage and thyme with no
added sweeteners/sugars).
Drink at least 2-3 glasses of carrot and beetroot juice
daily (can be mixed together), as this is excellent for
detoxifying the liver and blood. |
| 8. |
Specials:
Linseeds (best ground and sprinkled on salads or other
foods – refrigerate these to preserve the fatty
acids they contain), Ground psyllium hulls (mix with water
and drink followed by another glass of water. They absorb
water and add bulk to clean the intestine and helps constipation).
Aloe vera juice (add to water or fresh fruit juice). |
Starting
The Detox Diet
Each
morning, have one or two large glasses of Lemon Water (Soak
sliced lemons, preferably organic, in water).
This
can be followed by the carrot and beetroot juice and then
by fruits of your choice or fruit salad, with plenty of herbal
teas.
Lunch
& dinner could entail a small piece of fish or roasted
vegetables with a little rice and a large organic salad with
plenty of lemon or lime juice and a little, cold-pressed virgin
olive oil.
Supplement
Program
There
are many herbs and vitamins that can facilitate the liver’s
detoxification pathways. These would include milk thistle,
N-Acetyl Cysteine, methionine, taurine, glutathione, glucoronic
acid, vitamins B6, B9 and B12, as well as minerals such as
selenium and magnesium. These supplements can be found in
capsule formulas that are easily available.
It
is very beneficial to add a little extra vitamin C in powder
form, as well as a good multivitamin/mineral formula. Also
beneficial is a good probiotic that contains the friendly
bacteria that populate the gut, as well as a good digestive
enzyme to optimize your breakdown of food. These supplements
should be taken for 2-3 months for optimal results. The supplements
I recommend to my patients that I have seen work successfully
every time are:
| 1. |
Hepatogen
– liver formula – take 2 caps x 3 daily |
| 2. |
Optimum
6 – multivitamin/mineral formula
– take 2 caps x 3 daily |
| 3. |
Balance
– alkaline-form of vitamin C in powder form –
1 g x 2 daily |
| 4. |
Digezyme
– digestive enzymes – 2 caps with every meal |
| 5. |
Culturelle
– probiotic - one cap every morning |
Be
kind to your liver – detox at least once a year and
you will have improved health and well-being. Good luck!
By
Dr. George J. Georgiou, Ph.D., D.Sc, (AM)., N.D.
Natural Medicine Practitioner
www.naturaltherapycenter.com
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