The human body needs the liver to perform over 500 functions, making it potentially one of the most overburdened organs in the body. And complicating an already demanding role is our modern lifestyle, chronic air pollution, harmful food additives, and high amounts of stress. The liver has plenty to do and we need to help it out, not bog it down even more.

Within just a few decades of mistreatment, the liver can become sluggish, making it a factor in many health conditions, including: allergies, arthritis, asthma, bad breath, chronic fatigue syndrome, cravings for sweets, depression, environmental illness/multiple chemical sensitivities, fatigue, fibromyalgia, headaches and migraines, hepatitis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, hypoglycemia, hormone imbalances, immune system disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, overweight or obesity, poor digestion, recurring nausea and/or vomiting, skin diseases, and ulcerative colitis. (Of course there are other factors involved in these conditions, which is why seeing a physician is important if you suffer from any of them, but starting with taking better care of the liver is good self-therapy always.)

One of the most impressive things about the liver is its ability to regenerate itself. When it is given critical nutrients, a healthy whole foods diet, and herbs to help it function, it can be restored to health in most circumstances. Strengthening the liver is one of the ways to boost energy, balance weight, and strengthen overall health.

That said, I went looking for information on how to strengthen the liver. On the Care2 website I found this exciting information:

1. Since the liver requires high amounts of vitamins and minerals to perform its many functions, our diet should be high in fruits and vegetables and fiber-rich foods.

2. The body doesn't know what to do with food additives, so the liver must filter them out. By eliminating processed foods, artificial food additives, colors, and preservatives from the diet we're giving the liver a welcome break.

3. Fresh carrots, beets, and the chlorophyll in greens are powerful liver cleansing and rebuilding foods, so eating these everyday will make it easier for the liver to do its job.

4. One of the liver's five hundred jobs is to filter excess hormones. Try to eat two heaping tablespoons of ground flaxseeds. They bind to hormone receptor sites, preventing excess hormones, including synthetic xenoestrogens from plastics and other chemicals, from invading the bloodstream. This is another easy way to help the liver do its job. Sprinkle them on cereal, toast, salads, or blend into smoothies.

5. There are many herbs that help strengthen the liver: milk thistle, dandelion root, globe artichoke, turmeric, slippery elm, greater celandine, balmony, barberry, black root, blue flag, boldo, fringetree bark, vervain, and wahoo. (If you are pregnant, have a serious health condition, or are taking medication, consult a qualified health practitioner before using herbs.)

6. Refined sugar and synthetic sweeteners tax the liver, so significantly reduce refined sugar and avoid synthetic sweeteners altogether.

7. The wrong fat and excess cholesterol play a key role in slowing the liver down (turning it sluggish), so take lecithin. It helps the liver metabolize fats and reduce cholesterol. It contains phosphatidylcholine and essential fatty acids that protects liver cell health and helps prevent fatty deposits from building up in the liver. Lecithin also helps reduce high blood pressure by allowing the blood vessels to relax to allow better blood flow. Lecithin is in organic soyfoods (soy milk, tofu, and miso), and organic eggs. Alternatively, take 4000 mg of lecithin in capsule form daily.

8. The liver depends on many nutrients to detoxify properly. Even a single nutrient deficiency can be harmful, so take a high quality multivitamin and mineral supplement to avoid any deficiencies.

9. In addition, take 1000 to 2000 mg of vitamin C daily, even if there is vitamin C in your multivitamin.

10. Eat lots of garlic, onions and broccoli since these foods contain sulfur that is required to increase enzyme activity that boosts liver cleansing. Without adequate levels of sulfur, the phase 2 of liver detoxification cannot keep pace with level 1, meaning that many toxins can become MORE dangerous in your body.

11. Avoid eating large meals. Instead, eat small meals made up of plenty easy-to-digest foods.

12. Eat steamed vegetables, raw salad greens, raw fruits, and bitter greens. The bitter greens, especially, help to cleanse the liver.

13. Eat whole, raw, unsalted nuts and seeds for their essential fatty acids as well as their usable protein.

14. Avoid eating heavy, fatty foods since they just create more work for the liver. Avoid margarine, shortening or commercial oils or any foods made with them.

15. Avoid eating for at least three hours before bedtime to allow the liver adequate time during the night to perform its many functions, unimpeded by other bodily processes like digestion.