Step Fourteen: Liver Detox 101

The liver is responsible for filtering fat soluble toxins from your body. In this post we will learn how the liver functions, nutrients needed for the liver to detox, and my favorite liver detox products.

This is the 14th post in a 20-part series about how to detox your body, life and spirit. Make sure to check out the first post in the series, which also lists all 20 steps of the detox program. You can also subscribe to be notified of future posts, and sign up to receive my free 67-page detox e-book.

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PROPER LIVER FUNCTION

The liver is responsible for moving fat-soluble toxins through Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification pathways. 

Ammonia is a byproduct of amino acids being metabolized. High ammonia levels in the bloodstream are an indication that the liver is malfunctioning. Elevations of ammonia also cause elevated excretion of magnesium, calcium and phosphate. 

When the liver is functioning and properly removing ammonia, urea then becomes the by product and is excreted by the kidneys. Elevated blood sugar levels will overwork the kidneys and reduce their filtering capacity, causing increased potassium excretion and decreasing ammonia excretion form the system. 

On top of this, elevated ammonia disrupts blood sugar stability, so it is a vicious loop when out of balance. 

The amino acids L – Arginine, L – Citrulline and L – Ornithine protect against ammonia toxicity.  Eating celery and drinking celery juice is another helpful strategy to remove excess ammonia and provide good electrolyte balance.

NUTRIENTS NEEDED FOR THE LIVER TO DETOX

These are the nutrients required for Phase 1 of the detoxification process:

• B vitamins
• Folic Acid 
• Glutathione
• Antioxidants: 
  • Milk Thistle
  • Burdock root
  • Dandelion root & greens
  • Turmeric
  • Ginger Root
  • Horsetail
  • Gentian root
• Carotenoids
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C

And these are the nutrients required for Phase 2 of the detoxification process:

• Selenium
• Sulfur
• Amino Acids:
  • Glutamine
  • Glycine
  • Taurine
  • Cysteine

Liver health depends on three sulfur-based processes: Sulfation, Glucuronidation and Glutathione Conjugation. The best supplements for supporting sulfur pathways are liposomal vitamin C, or high dose vitamin C, parsley, dandelion, and chlorophyll. 

Phase 2 liver detoxification requires glycine. Glycine is replaced with glyphosate when the body is overloaded with foods containing GMO. 

Glyphosate disrupts RNA and DNA synthesis, and may also contribute to disruptions in the sulfur pathways, decreasing the body’s ability to handle oxidative stress. You can learn more about shilajit, one of my favorite glyphosate detox remedies, in Detox step 3.

MY FAVORITE LIVER DETOX PRODUCT

One of my favorites for detoxifying the liver is Quicksilver PushCatch Liver Detox. 

Liver detoxification is essential for proper health, but improperly designed protocols can result in toxin redistribution, not elimination. 

The PushCatch LiverDetox is a versatile two-step cleansing protocol designed to support the elimination of toxins while minimizing their redistribution and reabsorption. I also love their Clear Way Cofactors, with nattokinase, milk thistle and B Vitamins for general cleansing and detox support.

If you enjoyed this 14th step in Dr S’s 20 Step Detox Program, make sure to:

• Subscribe to be notified of future posts
• Check out the first post in the series to read the full list of 20 Ways to Detox
• And download the free 67-page e-book to learn the entire program in full!

Dr. S, ND