What Can You Eat During A Liver Cleanse?

Liver cleanses work according to the idea, popular in alternative and complementary medicine, that the liver needs detoxification from time to time in order to function well. During a liver cleanse, holistic practitioners recommend avoiding foods that can further stress the liver and focusing on those that are fresh, unprocessed and natural. Some cleanses are harsh and can endanger your health. Consult your doctor before embarking on this type --- or any type --- of cleanse.

Types of Cleanses

Some liver cleanses, often called liver flushes or bile duct and gallbladder cleanses, require you to engage in a partial fast. Others depend on consuming a blended juice drink, tea or herbal supplements in addition to eating healthy, simple meals. The easiest and safest forms of liver cleanses involve easy-to-follow dietary adjustments that you can maintain over the long term.

Key Ingredients

Organic fruits and vegetables are optimal for supporting liver health, since they are free of pesticides --- chemicals that only make your liver work harder, according to Laurie Steelsmith, naturopath and acupuncturist praciticing in Honolulu, and author of "Natural Choices for Women's Health." Steelsmith says that the antioxidants in produce will help clear toxins from your system, making it easier for your liver to heal. You can get a full range of antioxidants from your diet by eating fruits and vegetables that represent all the colors of the rainbow.

Foods to Avoid

Avoiding alcohol is key while you're trying to cleanse your liver, since any amount of alcohol is toxic, Steelsmith says. Caffeine can also stress your liver by overstimulating your adrenal glands, which in turn fill your system with cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Meat, fish and eggs create extra stress on your digestive system, so you might want to go vegetarian for the duration of a liver cleanse, according to James Forleo, chiropractor, clinical nutritionist and author of "Health Is Simple, Disease Is Complicated." Forleo also recommends avoiding sugar, grains and legumes while on a cleanse.

Naturopathic Perspective

Naturopathic approaches to cleansing might include consuming food and drinks that actively assist your body in the cleansing process, according to Dr. Mary Elizabeth Milliken, holistic health consultant and national certified counselor Alyson Honeycutt, authors of "Understanding Human Behavior: A Guide for Health Care Providers." Lemon juice in water, herbal teas and soups made from specific vegetables, such as celery or watercress, might help support your liver, according to this perspective.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views liver dysfunction as a product of stagnant qi or vital life energy. Eating easy-to-digest meals that make you feel 1/2 or 3/4 full is one key to supporting a liver cleanse, according to Anasuya Batliner, Asian bodywork therapist, on her website My Body Wisdom. Cooling and soothing foods, like cucumbers, lightly steamed vegetables and stewed fruits will help support optimal liver function, Batliner advises. TCM views bitter greens, like dandelion and endive, as key parts of the liver detoxification process.