Liver Detox Plan

After a period of eating or drinking poorly, the liver may become sluggish as it tries to break down fat from foods. Processing a large amount of fatty foods can cause the liver to slow down, decreasing energy and slowing down the metabolism. According to the Mayo Clinic the body is able to detoxify on its own without calorie restrictions or periods of fasting.

Detox Plan

• While the Mayo Clinic suggests that detox diets do not remove toxins (since the body is able to do it naturally), it indicates that through a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains, the body will not be bogged down with high fat content, easing the load on organs.

  If you have gone through a period of unhealthy eating and you feel sluggish or bloated, especially around the holidays, a liver detox plan may be used to enhance your feeling of energy and help remove buildup within the liver or other organs.

  Avoid foods that contain high amounts of salt, sugar, cholesterol or fat as you would with any healthy eating plan. Give the liver a rest by limiting processed or high fat foods and stick to natural products.

  During a liver detox, for one to two days eat nothing but raw fruits and vegetables, which are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. For two days, avoid any fried or fatty foods, red meat or caffeine to prevent the liver from working too hard during a cleanse.

  Drinking at least 64 ounces of water every day is the best way to detox the organs and body. Adding the juice from one fresh lemon to eight ounces of water may be beneficial in cleansing the liver and gallbladder. Lemon juice helps the stomach digest food as well as purifying the bloodstream since it acts as an astringent.

  Drink a cup of lemon water each day after dinner to cleanse the liver and aid in digestion, and stick to a cleaner diet to prevent buildup in the liver or other organs.