Detoxification is a process that is often misunderstood. It goes on inside us all day, every day. We wouldn’t be alive without it. However, the lifestyle choices we make influence how efficiently our body does its critical detoxification work.

The liver plays a major role in detoxification, which is essentially a transformation process. It takes substances that would harm you if they were to accumulate and changes them into substances that are less harmful so that you can excrete them.

Substances that either require detoxification, or impact on this process, include alcohol, caffeine, synthetic substances (such as medications, pesticides, and synthetic ingredients in skincare and household cleaning products), trans fats (damaged fats usually found in bought cakes and biscuits, snack bars and deep-fried foods), and sugars, such as refined sugars. These are the substances I refer to as ‘liver loaders’. The liver also has to detoxify substances your body makes itself, such as oestrogen and cholesterol, which can have their own impact on your health.

When I am guiding people with what foods serve their health, one element that is firmly in my mind is minimising (or, in some cases, eliminating) ‘liver loaders’, as this allows the body to pull problematic substances out of storage (from body fat and other tissues) to be processed and excreted.

Foods to support detoxification pathways

Leafy greens

The liver loves, and is stimulated by, bitter foods and there is no better way to stimulate the bitter taste buds than with green leafy veggies.

Turmeric

Turmeric naturally contains a substance called curcumin that is well known for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions.

Broccoli

A member of the brassica family of vegetables, deserving of its superstar accolades, this green vegetable contains powerful phytochemicals that are highly beneficial for liver detoxification pathways.

St Mary’s thistle

Also known as milk thistle, St Mary’s thistle helps to maintain liver health and supports liver detoxification processes. It also has antioxidant properties, helping to reduce free radical damage to cells, which can occur during the detoxification of problematic substances.

Globe artichoke

Helpful for stimulating bile (made by the liver), which is necessary for digestion as well as preparing some problematic fatty substances for elimination (e.g. most pesticides and herbicides are fat-soluble). This herb also has antioxidant properties.

Gentian

A highly bitter herb that is commonly used by those with digestive complaints. Additionally, the bitterness assists the detoxification and elimination of fat-soluble substances that we don’t want to accumulate in the body.

The power of the body’s natural detoxification process is often forgotten, which is one reason I am brimming with encouragement for people to consume a wide variety of whole, real foods, including plenty of plants that assist with stimulating and supporting all body systems, particularly those involved in detoxification processes.

Is it time you showed your liver a little extra love?

You can read more about caring for your liver at bioblends.com.

Dr Libby Weaver (PhD) is a nutritional biochemist, speaker and best-selling author of 13 books. Her new Wellness Cards (RRP$34.95) are available exclusively from her website.

drlibby.com