How to Support and Detox the Liver

We have heard “all disease begins in the gut”. I am a firm believer in this statement, and would also add “…and from poor liver function.” Though one could argue the liver is part of the “gut” or digestive system, it deserves its own, separate mention. Our liver is responsible for many bodily functions that keep us healthy. Likewise, a sluggish or unhealthy liver can keep us in an unhealthy state. Read on to learn why you should and how to support and detox your liver gently and naturally.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Always check with your doctor before introducing a new diet, herbs, or organ supporting protocols. Not all herbs are safe to consume during pregnancy and lactation. While our family has had success with healing, this information should not be used to recommend, diagnose, or treat anyone else’s specific situation.

Why We Need to Support and Detox the Liver

Ongoing assault of toxins through food and environment can stress our liver into being over taxed. Most people who have any kind of autoimmune disease or disfunction, allergies, asthma, metabolic disorders, etc. can benefit from optimizing liver function. Often times those of us with less than ideal health also have liver and gallstones that inhibit the ability of the liver to do its job well. While a liver and gallbladder cleanse can be helpful, they can also be harmful if our detox pathways are not open. Taking a consistent, gentle approach to supporting and detoxing the liver with proper nutrition and lifestyle is ideal for gaining and maintaining good health.

Liver Supporting Foods

One simple way to consistently support and detox your liver is by adding in at least 1 meal and 1 beverage per day that include several of these foods. Making a morning juice or smoothie, packing a liver support tea blend to drink on the go, and adding in a supplement (see recommendations below) are easy ways to build a habit around supporting your liver.

Fruits and veggies (eat raw, cooked, in a smoothie, or juice them) that support liver function and gentle detoxing include:

• Beets, carrots, celery, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens
• Apples, lemons, citrus fruits, cranberries, blueberries
• Apple cider vinegar (add 1 tablespoon to 1 quart of water to drink throughout the day)

Seeds, nuts, and culinary herbs that support and detox the liver include:

• Chia seeds (make sure they are ground to be bioavailable)
• Milk thistle seed – Milk thistle seed was first recorded in the old testament and used in ancient Greek, Chinese, and Indian medicine to cure liver and gallbladder disfunction. In modern times, it was classified in 1970 as official medicine with hepatoprotective (liver protecting) qualities (source). Animal studies show the silymarin found in milk thistle reduce liver injury caused by acetaminophen, radiation, alcohol, hepatitis, and other toxin-induced liver disease (source).
• Walnuts, almonds
• Raw garlic, turmeric, ginger root, parsley

Additional foods that are building blocks to healthy liver function include:

• Grass-fed beef liver
• Pasture-raised eggs
• Oily/fatty fish-salmon, mackerel, sardines
• Olive oil
• Coffee, tea (see more info on tea below)

Liver Supporting Herbs

When I learned of a handful of herbs high in magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, zinc, copper, vitamins A, C, E, K and B, antioxidants and that also support liver, gallbladder, and kidney function, I wondered how bad they tasted… and how I could add them to our daily menu. I found a way to brew and blend with honey that tastes really good, and our whole family has been consuming this nutritive herbal tea recipe regularly for several years now. A yummy glass (or popsicle) of this healthy herbal tea recipe is an easy add to the daily menu to support our organ function.

These herbs (in loose leaf tea or encapsulated supplement form) help support the liver:

• Dandelion root – Dandelion root is a strong source of vitamins (A, C, E, K, and B) and minerals calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, copper, silicon, zinc, and manganese. It has a strong detox effect on the liver and gallbladder, and helps support kidney function and the immune system (source). Dandelion root is referred to as an anti-diabetic plant due to its anti-hyperglycemic and anti-oxidative properties (source).
• Stinging nettle – Stinging nettle leaves are high in calcium and one of the greatest sources of vitamin K. This is very important for families who do not yet tolerate dairy. They also contain magnesium, iron, potassium, and zinc. They support lymph and sinus drainage, thus provide relief from season allergies. Stinging nettles also supports liver and kidney function and have antioxidant compounds like carotenoids and polyphenols. Stinging nettle has antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-infectious, hypotensive, and antiulcer characteristics, as well as the ability to prevent cardiovascular disease, in all parts of the plant (leaves, stems, roots, and seeds) (source).
• Rooibos and honeybush – Rooibos and honeybush teas significantly enhance the body’s ability to make glutathione. Glutathione helps the body eliminate toxins, repair cells, stimulate the immune system, support DNA synthesis and gene expression, and improve insulin resistance and metabolic disease (source).
• Rosehips – Rosehips are an excellent and inexpensive source of whole food vitamin C. Whole food vitamin C can be absorbed and used by the body much better than ascorbic acid. Many supplemental sources of whole food vitamin C (like powders) are made from rosehips. Vitamin C is crucial for preventing and fighting infections and protecting cells against damage from toxins.

Liver Detox Supplements and Minerals

Where to Buy Re-Mineralizing Supplements

Sourcing supplements from a trusted brand is very important. Good brands will offer high quality for the price, have third party testing, and source/mine minerals from uncontaminated sources. After trying a few different brands and much research into safety and efficacy, I have been using these following supplements for several years to restore liver and thyroid function (and have been feeling so much better).

• Beef liver – If you can eat beef liver from pastured raised cows cooked fresh, this is the very best. Perhaps you are like me and hate liver, and it gives you the dry heaves particularly during pregnancy! If so, or if you just need a consistent way to eat it, the capsules are a simple add. Liver is an excellent source of B vitamins, vitamin A, enzymes, and nutrient cofactors.
• Bee pollen – Bee pollen is a great source of bioavailable B vitamins and copper, which play a role in metabolic activity. Bee pollen also contains quercetin, a natural iron chelator, and has antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties.
• Cod liver oil – Cod liver oil has vitamin A which helps support brain, eye, and oral health. According to research by Weston Price, our ancestors who consumed diets rich in vitamin A in traditional cultures did not need glasses and had perfect dental arches (healthy, straight teeth). Cod liver oil also helps activate bioavailable copper.
• Adrenal cocktail – Adrenal cocktails provide electrolyte support, which helps nourish the adrenal glands. When the adrenals are nourished, they support the liver in making bioavailable copper. Much of the body’s vitamin C is stored and used by the adrenal glands, which is why it is so important to use whole food vitamin C (rather than ascorbic acid supplements).
• Mineral drops – Mineral drops come from salt water and are a rich source of magnesium and trace amounts of 70+ other elements. They contain chloride which combines in the stomach to make hydrochloric acid, an important digestive enzyme that aids in absorbing minerals and vitamin B12.
• Magnesium malate (energizing= take in the morning) and magnesium glycinate – (relaxing= take in the evening) – Magnesium is a foundational mineral responsible for thousands of enzymatic actions in the body, including healthy metabolism, digestion, cardiac health, and blood sugar management. Magnesium is rapidly depleted during times of stress or exposures to toxins and must be consumed daily.
  • Source: RCP Handbook
  • Note: use the links below or save this link for future use to get 10% off your entire order using CODE: Kayla10

Foods That Are Hard on Your Liver

Avoid these foods that are hard on your liver. Making healthier pantry swaps for these now common household foods, such as replacing sugar with honey, is a simple way to enjoy wholesome foods that are healthier for our bodies and easier on our livers:

1. Processed and packaged food – stock your freezer and pantry with these items instead
2. Refined sugar – swap with honey or maple syrup
3. Seed oils – replace with animal fats, olive oil, avocado oil
4. Processed dairy – swap with fermented milk kefir
5. Alcohol
6. Processed meat, like hotdogs, sausage, deli meat, bacon
7. Commercial juice – try fresh pressed juice at home instead using liver supporting fruits, veggies, and herbs
8. Fast food

How to Detox Your Liver

Aside from nutrition, we can also incorporate a few healthy habits to help support and detox our livers each day. A few examples of this include:

1. Taking a daily detox bath. Simply fill up a bathtub full of water and add one of the following:
   • 1-2 cups epsom salt
   • 1-2 cups baking soda
   • 1-2 cups apple cider vinegar
   • 1 cup kelp powder
2. Drinking fresh pressed juice each morning using the liver supporting veggies, fruits, and herbs listed above. A good combination is celery, apple, lemon, parsley, and beet root.
3. Drink healthy herbal tea blend or 3 ingredient healthy lemonade daily
4. Castor oil packs
5. Gentle movement and exercise, such as walking, swimming, gardening, and stretching
6. Getting outdoors and in the sunlight every single day
7. Coffee enemas
8. Following the GAPS diet protocol

Reversing Liver Disfunction

Again, I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet or health plans. Introducing nutritive foods, herbs, and lifestyle practices has helped our family heal from autoimmune conditions, food allergies, and gallbladder attacks. I have also been able to keep significant itchiness during pregnancy at bay (caused by liver disfunction) by staying laser focused on liver supporting foods and detoxing. If I became lax, the itchiness would return.

I hope you find these resources helpful for you and your family. Let me know in the comments below what your experience and results have been with supporting and detoxing your liver.

Resources

Posts

Natural Remedies for Gallbladder Pain and Attacks (+ cleanse instructions)
Healthy Herbal Tea
How to Start an Ancestral Diet (without Overwhelm)
How to Make Milk Kefir
Healthy Lemonade Recipe – No Sugar, 3 Ingredients
What is the GAPS Diet – An Easier Explanation

Favorite books

Gut and Psychology Syndrome
Gut and Physiology Syndrome

Shop This Post

• milk thistle seed
• dandelion root
• stinging nettle
• rooibos
• honeybush
• rosehips
• beef liver
• bee pollen
• cod liver oil
• adrenal cocktail
• mineral drops
• magnesium malate
• magnesium glycinate
• epsom salt
• apple cider vinegar
• kelp powder
• castor oil pack
• enema kit

Note: save this link for future use to get 10% off your entire order using CODE: Kayla10

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

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