For over a century, natural medicine has been shown that an increase in liver function treats many diseases. The role of the liver is to cleanse the blood of toxins from air, food and water. If liver is sluggishly functioning, the toxins begin to build in the blood, resulting in many chronic diseases over time.

A common problem in women is an imbalance in estrogen caused by several factors. When the liver is not functioning at an optimal level it cannot dismantles large amounts of estrogen. The effects of this manifests itself in debilitating premenstrual tension and mood swings. Other possible symptoms of sluggish liver are fatigue, pale skin, dark circles under the eyes, headaches, insomnia, arthritis, and a bitter taste in the mouth.



The most common causes of a sluggish liver are the use of medications such as antibiotics, aging, synthetic hormones, anti-ulcer drugs and oral contraceptives. Exposure to heavy metals like mercury, lead and cadmium and a diet rich in hydrogenated sugars and fats can also result in an ill-functioning liver.

Liver function can be weakened by a lack of nutrients. Current health conditions can also be a sign that the liver is not functioning appropriately. There are a lot of benefits of cleansing the liver such as increased vitality and energy, improved concentration, resistance to diseases and illnesses, better digestion, reduction in allergies and weight loss.

Here are the four best ways to perform a liver cleanse:

1.    Healthy eating - the consumption of unhealthy foods full of fat and alcohol-containing chemicals puts the liver into an extreme strain. Instead, eat foods that are loaded with fiber and other nutrients, like vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Foods that are of great advantage in the liver's cleansing are broccoli, citrus fruits, beets, artichokes, cabbage, apples,  oat bran, brown rice, spinach, onions,  tomatoes, asparagus, garlic, green beans, celery, radishes and soy beans. Keep in mind to drink ample amounts of water everyday to flush the kidneys of toxins from your body.

2.    Juice fast - A juice fast is an effective means of liver detoxification. The best juice contains a combination of celery, carrots and beetroot. Fasting must be done for several days only depending on the need for cleansing. The fast would have to break with two to three days of vegetables, fruits and brown rice.

3.    Exercise - Toxins accumulate in fat and muscle cells. The effective way to mobilize these toxins in the skin is through perspiration. The most effective means to achieve this is through exercise of at least 1/2 hour and a sauna for a period of 2 weeks every day. Consult a doctor that is familiar with cleansing before starting any cleansing process.

4.    Supplements - A daily supplement may be added to support liver function and assist with liver cleansing. A high dose of vitamin C that is a minimum of 2000 mg per day improves liver function. Effective cleansing herbs are licorice, dandelion, milk thistle, chicory root, bilberry, astragalus and burdock. Best supplements include artichoke leaf extract, wheat grass and turmeric.