The idea behind liver detox is to rid the liver of toxins and poisons because the longer these unwanted things are in the body, the more harm they can do. However, there is little research to support the idea that liver detox remedies truly help eliminate toxins from the body any better or more efficiently than the way the body naturally uses the filtering systems in the kidneys and liver to excrete unneeded materials.
Function
The liver is the largest organ in the body, and it serves many functions. The Liver Foundation notes that the liver helps store energy, manufactures bile to help break down food during digestion, helps build muscle and removes toxins and pollutants. To keep your liver healthy, eat a balance diet, don't smoke or do drugs and drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
Warning
Because liver detox diets require significant and abrupt changes to your diet and often include special cleansing products, they should be approached with caution. Fasting or partial fasting is often a part of a liver detox, but the Mayo Clinic warns that dehydration, fatigue, dizziness and nausea are possible side effects of detox diets. You can experience health complications if you take medicines that should be consumed with food. Injuries can also be suffered if you faint or fall as a result of low blood sugar or other fasting-related causes.
Time Frame
Liver detox diets typically last seven to 10 days, though three-day detox diets are also popular. A fasting period of a day or a few days with only water and possibly fruit juices or protein shakes consumed is usually followed by a very strict diet for the next several days. The diet may include very specific foods, such as papayas or grapefruit only. From then on, the diet will likely call for only organic foods to reduce future toxic load on the liver.
Considerations
Sudden changes to your diet, especially temporary eating plans that do not include a balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein, can begin to rob your body of important nutrients. Any major alteration that restricts your dietary options for more than three days can start to have health consequences, so you should consult your doctor or a nutritionist if you are serious about embarking on a liver detox diet.
Expert Insight
Cindy Moore, M.S., R.D., director of nutrition therapy at the Cleveland Clinic, suggests a detox diet that is really more of a lifestyle adjustment. Instead of a liquid diet, she recommends adding a fruit or vegetable each day until you reach your recommended number of servings. Along the way, you replace non-organic and processed foods that might contribute to the toxic load in your body. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, can help the body rid itself of toxins, too.
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