Liver Detox Recipes

The human liver is the largest gland in the body, and also the largest internal organ. Among the various functions that it performs, the liver is also responsible for removing chemicals and toxic substances that enter our body through food, drinks, and the air we breathe.

Due to overeating or unhealthy eating habits, many toxins get accumulated in the body, due to which the liver gets choked up. According to Saint Louis University, 1 out of 10 Americans suffer from liver-related diseases. Hence, its detoxification has become inevitable to lead a healthy life.

In this Story, we are providing you a list of recipes that will help you purify your liver and restore its normal health and function.

Listed ahead are few simple, healthy, and scrumptious recipes that will help you stick to your liver cleansing diet happily.

Begin your day with a liver cleansing drink to flush out the toxins accumulated in it. Following are the recipes for some liver flush drinks to be taken on an empty stomach.

Some Tips

• When deciding to go ahead with the liver detoxification diet, avoid junk food, caffeine, smoking, and alcohol intake, as they interfere and affect the detoxification process.

• For maximum benefit try to use organic fruits and vegetables which are free of pesticides and other chemicals. This will lower the burden on the liver and give it enough time to heal and repair.

• Increase your intake of healthy fluids like water and juices to facilitate flushing of toxins out of the body.
• While experimenting with the given recipes, avoid using unhealthy fats, like mayonnaise (for salad dressings), as it masks the nutritional value of the food.

1. Lemon Cleansing Drink
It is popularly called Master Cleanser which helps in cleansing the liver of toxins, and is a great way to start your day.

Ingredients
◊ Water, 8 oz. (warm/cold)
◊ Grade B maple syrup, 2 tbsp.
◊ Lemon juice, 2 tbsp. (freshly squeezed)
◊ Cayenne pepper, a pinch

Preparation
Heat the water, and just before it boils remove it from the stove. Add the lemon juice, maple syrup, and pepper to it. Stir the mixture well and consume.

Note
Though you can make this drink in bulk to drink it throughout the day, do not drink the juice if it has been made the previous day.

2. Epsom Salt Drink
This drink not only aids in detoxification but also cures constipation and stressed bowel movement.

Ingredients
◊ Drinking water, 1 cup
◊ Epsom salt, 1 tbsp.

Preparation
Dissolve the salt in water, and drink the mixture in the morning. You can add juice of half a lemon to give it a tangy flavor.

Note
If you have a condition of high blood pressure, diabetes, ulcer, or are pregnant, it is advised to avoid this drink. This drink may cause an urge to have a bowel movement within 30 minutes of its consumption.

1. Fruit n Nut Oat Muesli

Ingredients
◊ Apples, 2 (grated coarsely)
◊ Apple juice, ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp.
◊ Rolled oats, ¼ cup
◊ Almond, ¼ cup
◊ Walnut, ¼ cup
◊ Blueberry, ¼ cup
◊ Soy milk yogurt, ¼ cup

Preparation
Mix the oats and apple juice (⅓ cup), and refrigerate for an hour. This is done to soak and soften the oats. Put cut apples, blueberries, almonds, walnuts, and soy milk in it, and stir well. Drizzle 1 tbsp. apple juice and top it with few more nuts or fruits.

2. Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients
◊ Brussels sprouts, 1 cup (fresh)
◊ Olive oil, 1 tbsp.
◊ Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation
Wash the sprouts and drain the water out. Cut the bitter ends of sprouts and chop them along the length into two halves. Place them in a Ziploc bag. Drizzle olive oil, and add salt and pepper. Shake the bag gently to mix the contents properly. Bake it in an oven for 30 minutes at 375 degree Fahrenheit. Empty the contents in a bowl and stir gently.

3. Beet and Carrot Vegetable Salad

Ingredients
◊ Carrot, 2 cups (fresh, chopped)
◊ Beet, 2 cups (fresh, chopped)
◊ Capsicum, 1 cup (freshly cut)
◊ Lettuce, 1 cup (freshly cut)
◊ Sour cream, 2 tbsp. (reduced-fat variety)
◊ Olive oil, 1 tbsp.
◊ Lime juice, 1 tbsp.
◊ Salt and pepper, to taste.

Preparation
Mix all the vegetables in a bowl with olive oil and sour cream. Add lime juice and mix well. Sprinkle salt and pepper for taste.

Be it a midday meal or supper, it should be ideally light - giving you enough energy to sail through the remaining day with vigor. It will also ensure some sound sleep for you at the end of the day. Enlisted below are some recipes, from soups to salads, to choose from.

1. Green Detox Soup

Ingredients
◊ Celery sticks, 8
◊ Garlic cloves, 5
◊ Zucchini, 4 lbs.
◊ Green beans, 3 lbs.
◊ Spinach, 2 cups (chopped)
◊ Basil, 1 cup (chopped)
◊ Parsley, 1 cup (chopped)
◊ Onion, 1 (medium, chopped)
◊ Salt and pepper

Preparation
Steam the green beans, zucchini, and celery for 15-20 minutes. Then add onion, spinach, and garlic, and cook for another 5 minutes till the vegetables become soft. Add salt and pepper for taste, and serve it hot.

2. Beet Soup

Ingredients
◊ Garlic cloves, 4
◊ Water, 4 cups
◊ Beet, 2 cups (chopped)
◊ Parsley, 2 cups (chopped)
◊ Carrots, 2 (chopped)
◊ Tomatoes, 2 (ripe, chopped)
◊ Onion, 1 (medium, sliced)
◊ Turmeric powder, 1 tbsp.
◊ Salt and pepper

Preparation
Boil all the vegetables and cook until they become soft. Add turmeric and simmer for another 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

3. Avocado Salad

Ingredients
◊ Avocados, 5
◊ Shallots, 2 (small, peeled, and chopped)
◊ Tomatoes, 2 (medium, chopped)
◊ Olive oil, 1 tbsp.
◊ Balsamic vinegar, 2 tsp.
◊ Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation
Peel the avocado skin and cut it into two halves. Discard its seed. In another bowl, mix the vinegar with chopped shallots. Now place the shallots on the halved avocados. Add chopped tomatoes and olive oil. Toss gently, and sprinkle salt and pepper.

4. Radish Beet Salad

Ingredients
◊ Radish, 1 cup (chopped)
◊ Beet, 1 cup (chopped)
◊ Capsicum, 1 cup (chopped)
◊ Green apple, 1 (chopped)
◊ Alfalfa, 1 tbsp.
◊ Olive oil, 1 tbsp.
◊ Fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp.
◊ Salt and pepper, to taste

Fresh fruit juices are a must for an effective liver detox as the fiber in them aids in eliminating the toxins out of the body. Try one of these healthy liver detox drinks.

1. Green Sea

Ingredients
◊ Banana, 1
◊ Green apple, 1
◊ Garlic clove, 1
◊ Water, 1 glass
◊ Spinach, ¼ cup (fresh, chopped)
◊ Lemon juice, 1 tbsp.
◊ Cayenne pepper for taste

Preparation
Blend all the ingredients in a blender to make a thick juice. Drizzle lemon juice over it and serve.

2. Kiwi Punch

Ingredients
◊ Kiwi, 3 (fresh, peeled)
◊ Apples, 2
◊ Lemon juice, 2 tbsp.

Preparation
Blend all the fruits in a blender. Add a little water if required. You can also add lemon juice for taste.

3. Veggie Delight

Ingredients
◊ Pears, 2
◊ Celery sticks, 2
◊ Cabbage, 1 (small)
◊ Watercress, a handful

Preparation
Blend all the ingredients nicely in a juice blender, and serve it immediately. You can add honey or maple syrup for taste.

Note
Have this juice only if you can handle the sharp taste of cabbage juice.

If you are among those who need their daily cup of tea to sail through the day, don't worry because you need not give it up when on this diet. Though there are plenty of herbal tea preparations for liver detoxification available in the market, you can try making your own.

Here are a few recipes for a cup full of goodness that will not only satisfy your taste buds but also assist your liver in getting rid of all the impurities.

1. Sweet Cleansing Tea

Ingredients
◊ Purified/distilled water, 2 cups
◊ Peppermint leaves, 3
◊ Chamomile flower, 1
◊ Dandelion root, 1 tsp.
◊ Burdock root, 1 tsp.
◊ Licorice root, 1 tsp.
◊ Fennel seed, a handful
◊ Raw honey or agave, for sweetness

Preparation
Take all the herbs and water in a teapot, and set it to boil. Then reduce the heat, cover it with a lid, and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes. Strain the tea in a cup, and add raw honey or agave nectar for sweetness, as desired.

Note
Avoid using artificial sweeteners or refined sugars as it adds to your liver's workload.

2. Strong Detoxifying Tea

Ingredients
◊ Water, 2 cups
◊ Oregon grape root, 1 tsp.
◊ Burdock root, 1 tsp.
◊ Yellow dock root, 1 tsp.
◊ Licorice root, 1 tsp.
◊ Dandelion root, 1 tsp.
◊ Milk thistle seeds, 1 tsp.
◊ Grounded turmeric, ¼ tsp.
◊ Fenugreek, a pinch

Preparation
Boil the water in a teapot, and add all the herbs. Let it boil for another 15-20 minutes. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. The thick concoction can be diluted further with hot water, if desired.

Note
Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid this tea.

When on any kind of diet, unhealthy snacking ruins the hard work and perseverance put in. For curbing hunger pangs between meals, smart snacking is the solution.

You can choose from a variety of salads, soups, and drinks, like lemon cleansing drink, to put an end to such hunger pangs. So when you have those untimely cravings, munch on some fresh fruits, raw vegetables, or nuts.

For the ones who love to experiment in the kitchen, and come up with their own interesting and yummy recipes, here is a list of certain food products that aid in relieving your liver of all the accumulated wastes and harmful substances.

• Cruciferous vegetables: These vegetables are high in certain chemicals that help in synthesizing the liver enzymes essential for blood purification activities. Examples of such vegetables are broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.

• Beet and carrot: They have a high content of natural flavonoids and beta-carotene, which are rich sources of vitamin A and antioxidants, that help in repairing the damaged liver cells and tissues.

• Artichoke: The active chemical constituent of this vegetable, known as cynarin, helps in increasing the production and flow of liver bile. Bile juices have bile acids that aid in the digestion of fats and fat soluble vitamins, and elimination of wastes in the form of feces.

• Garlic: Each clove of garlic has a good amount of allicin that helps in liver cleansing and eliminating various harmful substances deposited in the liver, including heavy metals.

• Apples: Apples have chemicals called pectins that can bind to synthetic and metallic wastes, and facilitate their excretion through the digestive system. This in turn reduces the load on the liver.

• Lemons: Squeezing fresh lemons in warm water, and consuming it in the morning, stimulates the liver, and results in healthy bowel movements.

• Avocados: When eaten on a regular basis, avocados help in maintaining a healthy liver. They benefit by facilitating the synthesis of certain essential liver enzymes.

• Organic cooking oils: Olive oil and flaxseed oil are rich in alpha-linolenic acid which help in preventing the accumulation of toxins in the liver. They act as a laxative for constipation as well.

• Milk thistle seeds: These seeds help in the growth and division of liver cells, and protect against inflammation. They are believed to prevent cancers of the liver too.

• Nuts: Walnuts and almonds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which promote liver detoxification, and also eliminate ammonia wastes from the liver cells.

• Turmeric: It is also called liver-loving spice as it protects the liver from harmful toxins and chemicals present in cigarettes and cigarette smoke, antibiotics, and prevents any abnormal division of the liver cells.

• The concept of liver cleansing diet was first discussed and published by Dr. Sandra McRae, a certified doctor from Australia.
• Celebrities like Beyonce, Oprah, Gwyneth Paltrow, swear by detox diets, and have come up with their own versions of it.

• It is recommended to take certain liver detox pills and supplements to speed up the purification process.
• Though liver cleansing is not scientifically proven, it helps in weight loss.

The liver is an important organ that helps in removing harmful toxins and wastes from our body. Hence, it is important to watch our diet and avoid foods that impair its proper functioning. Try these delicious and liver-loving recipes, and enjoy their goodness and benefits.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this Story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.