4 Little Ways to Help Your Body Detox

What do the healthiest people have in common? For starters, they limit the junk that enters their body. This means cutting back on irritants to the gut (alcohol, coffee) and foods that trigger inflammation, like sugar and processed foods, according to integrative medicine physician Dr. Frank Lipman, founder and director of Be Well, a wellness company. 

May 11, 2016

But even if you don’t eat perfectly 24/7, you can do simple things to help the liver—your body’s natural filter—do its job. “Boosting liver function helps to decrease the accumulation of toxic products in the tissues,” Dr. Lipman says. Here are cleansing moves you can do on the regular—no juice-fasting or salt-cave-dwelling required.

1. Wake up with lemon

As soon as you wake up, drink a glass of warm water with fresh lemon squeezed in. “It will provide your body with hydrating electrolytes in the form of potassium, calcium and magnesium,” Dr. Lipman says. “We get dehydrated overnight as the body takes care of its detoxification processes, so it's important to hydrate and replenish first thing.” Lemon juice also helps your liver produce more enzymes, which aid digestion and prompt the liver to purge toxins . The vitamin C in lemon juice, a powerful antioxidant, protects against free radicals, strengthening the immune system.

Health.com: 6 Ways to Get More Veggies Into Your Diet

2. Get bendy

Twisting yoga poses—think, a seated spinal (or torso) twist—helps with the detox process by stimulating digestion and elimination. “ A lot of digestive discomforts come from stress,” Dr. Lipman says, “so by releasing gripping and holding in the belly and taking deep calming breaths, we can relax the muscles and diaphragm, allowing the GI system to do a better job.”



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3. Eat your broccoli

Reduce chronic inflammation—which has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer— by filling your plate with sulfur-rich foods, such as onions, garlic, and cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. “ These foods are high in antioxidants, which support the body’s ability to fight off toxins,” Dr. Lipman says. A 2014 study revealed that women who ate the most cruciferous vegetables had substantially less inflammation than those who ate the fewest.

Health.com: The Best Meal Kit Services for Healthy Eaters

4. Sip tea

Teas containing dandelion or milk thistle may boost liver function, helping to decrease the build-up of toxins in the tissues. In a study review on milk thistle commissioned by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers found that the herb may help enhance liver function, possibly by protecting against cell damage and stimulating repair of liver tissue. 

And cancer studies suggest that milk thistle may strengthen cell walls to prevent toxins from getting in, stimulate enzymes that make toxins less harmful and block free radicals from attacking cells. A word of warning though: Avoid “detoxing” teas that also promise to curb appetite or rev metabolism, because they can be laced with herbs delivering unwanted side effects such as agitation and headache. (We like The Republic of Tea Organic Milk Thistle Superherb Tea and The Republic of Tea Organic Dandelion Superherb Tea).

Health.com: 6 Iron-Rich Food Combos—No Meat Required

This article originally appeared on Health.com
http://time.com/4323264/detox-body-lemon-vegetables/

The Top 5 High Estrogen Foods to Avoid

Published on 11 Sep 2014
Dr. Josh Axe

In this video, I’m going to walk you through the five top foods to avoid that are highest in estrogen. High estrogen foods can be really harmful to your health by destroying your hormone balance. A lot of these foods with too much estrogen today can lead to health issues like hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, and ovarian cancer. So, eliminate the following foods from your diet, and add more fruits and vegetables to naturally decrease estrogen in your body.

Foods to avoid:
1.) Soy
2.) Sugar
3.) Conventional meat
4.) Conventional dairy
5.) BPA plastic and Teflon Pans

If you want to start detoxing your body of estrogen, consume more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, and brussels sprouts. Also milk thistle and dandelion supplements are great to support your body in the detox from estrogen as well.

For more on balancing your hormones: http://draxe.com/10-ways-balance-horm...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8W9kTQgXQ0

10 natural ways to battle toxin exposure

In the U.S. alone, more than 60,000 chemicals are used in industry, agriculture and household products, none of which require real safety testing. Despite their widespread use, these chemicals pose real harm, and none of us are immune…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

In the U.S. alone, more than 60,000 different chemicals are used in industry, agriculture and household products, none of which require real safety testing. These include flame retardants, pesticides and hydrocarbons and many other everyday pollutants, including byproducts of industrial processes, believed to be responsible for adverse neurodevelopmental conditions.

Despite their widespread use and assumed safety, independent research demonstrates that these chemicals pose real harm, particularly to vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, babies and children. But none of us are immune…

Common culprits

Here are some of the more common chemicals linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD (autism spectrum disorder), ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, and other developmental disorders:

• Phthalates, found in plastics
• Organophosphate (OP) pesticides
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) flame retardants, found in furniture, electronics, household dust
• Combustion-related air pollutants
• Lead
• Mercury
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
• Many others…

If we want to support health against this constant barrage of harmful chemicals and pollutants, we need strategies to safely remove toxins and heavy metals from our bodies, and prevent their re-accumulation.

Improving our natural detox functions

While cells and certain organs are actually quite good at removing toxins, they simply can’t handle the kind of toxic load we face today. Despite the best efforts of our organs of elimination including the liver, kidneys, skin, immune system, lungs and GI tract, many toxins remain lodged in the body.

In my practice, detoxification is a starting point in the treatment of numerous chronic illnesses, including cancer, Lyme disease, heart disease, autoimmune disease and many others. Gently removing toxins from the circulation and digestion first is a key strategy.

There are a number of important botanicals that support this process, such as modified citrus pectin (MCP) and sodium alginates. These are gentle agents that support the body’s ability to remove toxic metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic, as well as environmental toxins such as certain pesticides. This combination has been clinically shown to safely remove toxic metals without affecting essential minerals as so many other detox agents do.

For deeper detoxification, I recommend additional botanicals and nutrients to support the liver, kidneys, skin and other detox organs. The goal is to enhance the body’s natural detox mechanisms, including the critical process of methylation, and encourage antioxidant activity to help neutralize free radicals generated by toxic body burden. We also want to support the body’s vitality so that we have enough energy during detox.

Here are some ingredients that can support these actions:

1. Milk thistle seed extract
2. Dandelion leaf
3. Cilantro leaf
4. Astragalus root
5. Goldenrod
6. Chinese salvia
7. N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
8. Alpha Lipoic Acid
9. L-Methionine
10. Calcium D-glucarate

Of course, an organic diet emphasizing whole, unprocessed foods, lots of green vegetables, and plenty of filtered water and herbal teas also provides critical detox support and supplies important phytonutrients to protect the body’s vital systems.

Regular exercise is another key modality that most of us overlook with our busy schedules. A 20 minute walk everyday can do wonders for your health, and is critical during detox to prevent toxins from getting stuck in transit.

There are also a number of therapies that can help clear the body’s detox channels and support overall health. Infrared saunas or regular saunas encourage sweating, one of our most important detox pathways. Acupuncture can help support the liver and other detox organs. Lymphatic massage is also helpful to get the lymph moving and increase blood flow, important when toxic burden, chronic inflammation or illness cause sluggish lymphatic drainage.

Today, environmental toxicity has become an immediate problem that requires an urgent solution. Yes, we absolutely need more aggressive regulations and protections for consumers. But we also need to regularly support the body’s abilities to eliminate toxins, safely and naturally.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

http://easyhealthoptions.com/10-natural-ways-battle-toxin-exposure/#

Foods That Can Purify Your Blood Naturally

Blood is an important component of the body. The task of blood is to provide important nutrients and oxygen to various parts of the body, and removing waste and carbon dioxide from those blood cells. Our body has its own detoxification system, which include kidneys, liver, intestines and skin. These are constantly filtering the blood to eliminate the harmful toxins from the body to maintain good health. Blood purification is very crucial for the healthy functioning of the body, because our overall health of an individual is dependent upon the blood of that individual. So if you want to purify your blood naturally, then include the following detoxifying foods in your diet.

Image courtesy of dream designs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Foods that can purify your blood naturally

Dandelion

The rich amount of antioxidants and phytonutrients present in the dandelion helps to eliminate the toxins and free radicals from your digestive tract. Drinking dandelion root tea stimulates the liver and flushes out the toxins from your bloodstream.

Green Vegetables

Green vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and spinach are rich in antioxidant and anticancer compounds, which helps the liver to detoxify the blood and acts as natural cleansing agent for the blood. So include these vegetables on regular basis in your diet.

Garlic

Garlic is enriched with sulfur, it is an essential mineral which helps the body to get rid of harmful toxins. Also, it keeps your intestine free of viruses, parasites and bad bacteria.

Neem Leves

Neem leaves are one of the very well-known remedy to cleanse the body. Boil some neem leaves in a cup of water and have this water in the morning on an empty stomach. It acts as a natural blood cleanser.

Carrots

Carrots are rich in vitamin A, C, B6, K and glutathione, a natural liver cleansing protein. Drink a glass of fresh carrot juice in the morning on an empty stomach helps the body to cleanse and remove the toxins.

Flaxseed

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber helps the body to get rid of blood sugar and also eliminate the toxins from the body.

Avocado

Avocado is very helpful in cleansing the blood and it is good for maintaining healthy skin. Avocado helps to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and also detoxify the liver.

Parsley

Parsley is widely used as a remedy for cleansing the blood. It helps the kidneys to eliminate the toxins through urine.

Turmeric

Turmeric is well-known ayurvedic medicine to detoxify the liver. It helps to speed up the body's detoxifying process.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa helps in detoxifying the body, it lowers cholesterol, regulates pH levels in the blood and balances hormones. Also it is a natural diuretic .

http://www.dailyhealthgen.com/2015/03/foods-that-can-purify-blood-naturally.html

This post is on Healthwise

Go to Healthwise for more articles

4 Awesome Foods for Naturally Detoxing Your Liver

by Elizabeth Renter
November 26th, 2013
Updated 11/27/2013 at 1:28 am


Detoxification is one of the main purposes of your liver. It’s the body’s filtering system, working to filter the blood after it exits the digestive system and before it moves on to the rest of the body. It removes potentially harmful chemicals from the body and metabolizes drugs.

When your liver is out of whack, your whole body can suffer. An occasional liver detox can do wonders for your total body health. In addition, a diet regularly supplemented with liver-cleansing herbs and foods can keep everything working smoothly in the between-times.

There are several herbs and foods that can help keep your liver detoxified. Here are 4 of them:

1. Milk Thistle

Silymarin, a substance within milk thistle, works to increase protein synthesis very important to liver health and much more. Studies have indicated milk thistle is a viable treatment for liver diseases, bile duct inflammation, and damage due to alcoholism. It may also be effective at protecting the body from pollutants in the air and food supply.

2. Turmeric

A wonder herb, turmeric is able to assist the enzymes responsible for flushing carcinogens and other toxins present in our food. As Anthony Gucciardi reports in his article “4 Natural Liver Cleansing Foods‘, it is able to protect against liver cancer and even regenerate cells damaged by liver disease.

3. Licorice Root

Used for centuries in folk medicine, licorice root is a valuable tool in total body detoxification. Containing something known as glycyrrehntinic acid, licorice root works to neutralize strong chemical reactions in the liver and protect the organ overall. Taken as a tea, tablet, or extract, licorice root offers many liver-health benefits.

4. Dandelion

Perhaps the easiest liver-detoxification herb to find, dandelion roots and leaves have many valuable medicinal properties. Dandelion leaves can be used in salads and are a natural diuretic, which is good for the liver. The roots can be made into a tea. Check out this article to see other awesome dandelion benefits.

Liver health is total body health. By caring for your liver naturally, you can increase your immune function and your digestive health as well. These herbs, along with a diet rich in natural plant foods, are a perfect start to natural liver health. And if you want to take things a step further, you can also take a liver-cleansing supplement to hasten the cleansing process.

Other Popular Stories:

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http://naturalsociety.com/4-foods-detox-liver-naturally/

Five herbs your liver will love - detox, boost function and more

Friday, September 06, 2013 by: PF Louis

(NaturalNews) The liver is the largest solid organ in our bodies. It can be adversely affected by poor diet and lifestyle choices, alcohol consumption, acetaminophen, non-prescription pain killers, and the myriad of toxins in our environment.

It is responsible for filtering blood from toxins and converts waste products from metabolic functions into urea to be eliminated by urine. It creates bile to help digest fats and carbohydrates.

It also filters out toxins from the blood stream and synthesizes glutathione, the master antioxidant that also helps recycle other spent antioxidants. It also helps balance blood sugars and creates red blood cells.

As our liver goes, so goes our overall health. A poorly functioning liver can push one into diabetes. Acute liver dysfunction includes hepatitis A, B, and C, which are considered infectious, viral inflammations caused by interpersonal contact, sexual contact, or blood.

Not everyone agrees to the viral aspect of hepatitis, especially hepatitis C, but everyone agrees that inflammation is the issue. Cirrhosis of the liver is usually from too much alcohol consumption. But the latest large surge in liver disease comes from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Mainstream medicine is quick to jump on serious interventions, such as liver transplants, if they perceive too much damage for the liver to recover.

Fortunately, under the right conditions, the liver can remain very healthy or be healed regardless of the affliction because it can self-repair cell damage.

Herbs that will benefit the liver regardless of its condition

The more serious the liver problem is, the more of these herbs can be utilized. For maintaining liver health, one or two are worth considering.

Herbs (1) through (4) can be purchased in bulk to make your own tinctures or extracts. Here's a DIY (do it yourself) recipe for any tincture or extract: http://www.naturalnews.com/032298_herbs_tinctures.html

When using root chunks of any herb, don't exceed the one-third point in a large jar with the alcohol-water solution. Use even less in smaller jars. Those little root chunks swell up more than leaves, powders, or seeds.

 (1) Milk Thistle (silymarin): This is the most recommended herb of all for liver ailments and/or protecting a normal liver from daily toxins. Milk thistle is available in capsules or extracts, sometimes it's called silymarin, which is the active ingredient that's in the seeds.

Milk thistle is a flowering plant of the daisy family indigenous to Europe, North Africa, and the Mid-East. It has been clinically proven to improve liver function and repair liver damage. Standardized 80 percent silymarin is recommended in either pill or extract form with dosage amounts ranging from 100 to 1,000 mg.

It's common for people with liver issues to take 300 mg three times daily. Whether the liver needs healing or protection, milk thistle can be used for as long as someone wants. It's best to use milk thistle seeds for DIY tinctures.

 (2) Dandelion: is another safe liver herb sometimes mixed with milk thistle in capsules, an excellent combination. Some prefer extracts or even teas made from dandelion. Those weird looking weeds with small yellow flowers that many complain about when they pop up in their lawns are dandelions.

In addition to being a good source of most major vitamins, the plant provides iron, potassium, and zinc. Its most cherished function is stimulating the production of bile and its flow between the gall bladder and liver to improve liver function and overall health.

Use bulk root chunks for DIY dandelion liver tinctures.

(3) Burdock root: also purchased as rough cut root chunks that can be easily made into teas. This is a favorite blood purifier among Ayurvedic medicine doctors.



It also stimulates bile flow while helping a weakened liver by purifying the blood and restoring damaged cells. Small burdock root chunks are ideal for DIY tinctures. Allow for swelling during the soaking process.

 (4) Artichoke (cynarin): This herb also assists bile production and flow. It helps prevent gallstones and can also dramatically curb jaundice. Dried leaves or dried leaves and flower buds combined are used for tinctures. A DIY tincture can be made without concerns for root chunk swelling.


(5) Turmeric (curcumin): This is the most clinically tested and written about herb for any and all inflammation. Since most liver ailments are inflammatory, it's wise to include it in a liver healing protocol.

Curcumin capsules are readily available. But to ensure maximum absorption, get those that include piperine, an active ingredient from black pepper that helps extract nutrients from foods considerably.

Some also suggest emptying the curcumin capsule contents into a little extra virgin olive oil and downing it. Traditionally, turmeric is mixed with a heated fat, such as gee, milk, or coconut oil to enhance the bio-availability of turmeric's curcumin.

Much more on turmeric/curcumin here: http://www.naturalnews.com/curcumin.html

Sources for this article include

http://oneearthherbs.squarespace.com

http://www.energiseforlife.com

http://newblender.hubpages.com

http://altmedicine.about.com

http://www.acupuncturebrooklyn.com

http://www.medicinenet.com/liver/article.htm

http://www.naturalnews.com/041944_liver_function_detox_medicinal_herbs.html

Protect Yourself From The Radiation Danger

Dr. Isaac Eliaz | Aug 23, 2013

News reports describing ongoing radioactive water leakage from Japan’s damaged Fukushima nuclear plant tell us that this tragic story is far from over. Independent analysts point to a series of cover-ups about the level of contamination.

In addition, inadequate efforts by responsible parties to protect people and the environment from dangerous levels of nuclear radiation that continue to leak into the Pacific Ocean and surrounding areas have also been kept out of the public record. People living closest to the failed plant are most at risk. Our hearts and prayers are with them — but nuclear experts believe it’s only a relatively short time before ocean currents transport the radioactive seawater to the Americas, the South Pacific and elsewhere. Never before have we experienced this level of nuclear contamination polluting our world’s oceans.

Sorting Out The Truth

So how dangerous is this situation from a public health perspective? This controversial issue is being hotly debated, but one thing is clear: The radioactive elements leaking from the Fukushima plant produce global impacts on our Earth’s ecosystem. Increases in radioactive rainwater, contaminated seafood and soil samples, and other alarming situations continue to crop up worldwide, following the March 2011 disaster. And with the news emerging about ongoing problems at the site, it appears we face unknown consequences from one of the largest environmental disasters in history. Conservative estimates suggest increases in cancer rates in Japan over the next decades, and other consequences are equally concerning.

Until public health experts and nuclear authorities can sort through the true health risks, it’s wise to maintain your body’s natural defenses against this type of low-level, radioactive contamination. Due to the uncertainty surrounding this issue, my best advice is to play it safe without giving in to fear, since stress is so detrimental to the body’s protective systems. These efforts at defense can help boost your overall health and protect against problems related to radiation of all types — especially the radioactive elements leaking from Fukushima like cesium 134 and 137, iodine 131 and strontium 90.

The best way to protect against the damaging effects of any kind of radiation is to consume an abundance of foods and natural supplements. These not only defend against radiation and remove it from the body, but offer numerous other health and immune benefits as well. Natural detoxifiers, trace minerals, antioxidants and immune boosters are among the most important types of nutrients that offer substantial radiation protection.

Kelp Can Help

Kelp has one of the highest mineral contents of any food and includes therapeutic levels of the mineral iodine. Dietary iodine blocks radioactive iodine from being absorbed by the thyroid.

The minerals in kelp help balance this form of iodine and make it much safer than taking high-dose synthetic iodine supplements. Kelp’s minerals also help prevent the absorption of other radioactive isotopes in the body and make them easier to eliminate.

Sea vegetables like kelp provide critical support and protection for the immune system, a part of the body essential during times of stress and exposure to harmful pollution, including radiation. Kelp is also a powerful detoxifying agent, thanks to its high levels of chlorophyll and other nutrients, mainly a substance called sodium alginate. Sodium alginate effectively binds to and removes radioactive particles, heavy metals and toxins from the body and was used to treat Chernobyl victims even years after the accident. However, there’s just one caveat: If your kelp is sourced from the Pacific Ocean, reports show that there is a chance it may be contaminated with radioactive elements from Fukushima. Make sure to inquire about the kelp you purchase to ensure that it is safely harvested from oceans such as the North Atlantic and/or tested for radioactive contamination.

Pectins And Alginates

Two of the most important nutrients that remove radiation from the body are modified citrus pectin (MCP) and sodium alginates. MCP has been shown in clinical studies to selectively remove toxic heavy metals from the body while not affecting the essential minerals. Furthermore, both pectins and alginates were used to treat victims of Chernobyl: They have been proven to bind to radioactive isotopes, heavy metals and toxins, removing them from the body safely. In addition, MCP helps maintain cellular health by protecting against abnormal cellular replication. This is an important consideration because of the significant damage to DNA replication that can result from radiation exposure.

Medicinal Mushrooms

Medicinal mushrooms such as reishi and Cordyceps have been proven effective in preventing radiation-induced damage to bone marrow, intestines, internal organs and cells. These mushrooms can help protect against and repair radiation-induced changes in the body, boost immunity, detoxify tissues, regulate healthy cell replication and boost overall health. Look for a comprehensive medicinal mushroom formula that is grown in the United States in controlled conditions for optimal quality and purity.

Antioxidants, Nutrients And Botanicals For Detoxification And Cellular Protection

High-powered antioxidants are very important for protecting against radiation damage. Antioxidants protect DNA integrity, counteract inflammation from toxins and radiation, boost immunity, detoxify the body and promote overall health.

Glutathione is one of the most potent natural antioxidants produced by the human body. It is known to detoxify and protect against heavy metals and radioactive toxins. The best way to supplement glutathione is to take nutrients and herbs that act as precursors to glutathione. These include cilantro, garlic, milk thistle, dandelion, R-lipoic acid, n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and whey powder.

I also recommend taking a Phase II detox formula containing a synergistic blend of glutathione precursors and other botanicals and nutrients specifically shown to remove heavy metals and toxins from deep within the body. Additional protective antioxidants include vitamins C, A, and E; selenium; and vitamin D-3. Rosemary and sea buckthorn are two other potent antioxidant botanicals that demonstrate protection from radiation damage.

Zinc, B12, folic acid and magnesium are essential cofactors for numerous detoxification pathways. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage are powerful, nutrient-dense foods that can provide additional cellular protection and detoxification support.

Engage In A Seasonal Fall Cleanse

Seasonal cleansing and detoxification protocols are important to enhance immune function and overall health. In the case of potential radiation exposure, a seasonal cleanse can play a vital role in making sure your detoxification channels are functioning optimally to avoid the accumulation of radioactive particles deep within your tissues and organs.

Stay Healthy And Stress-Free

Overall, the most important thing to do is keep stress levels to a minimum and make sure your body is properly nourished with the right nutrients and botanicals for maximum immune function and detoxification capacity. While these protocol recommendations can help against radiation damage, they also boost overall health, help reduce stress and protect your body from chronic illness over the long term.

For more detoxification and wellness information, visit www.dreliaz.org

http://easyhealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/protect-yourself-from-the-radiation-danger/

Detox Your Body With A Common Weed Found Everywhere

Danica Collins |

Did you know…a common weed has such astonishing medicinal benefits that gardeners may want to start growing it instead of uprooting it?

While gardeners can’t get rid of the dreaded dandelion fast enough, Western medicine is eager for more of this potent medicinal plant.

Used for centuries by herbalists for healing and preventative purposes, scientific scrutiny confirms that the medicinal properties of the dandelion are not only legitimate, but highly impressive.

Traditional Native American and Arabic medicine employed the dandelion health benefits to treat conditions including…

• Spleen problems
• Digestive disturbances
• Skin disruptions
• Liver and kidney diseases

Today, alternative health practitioners make natural diuretic tonics from dandelion health benefits greens to boost renal (kidney) health and use dandelion root to detoxify the liver.

Dandelion’s Detoxifying Power—From Roots to Greens

In August 2009, the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published proof of the diuretic properties of dandelion greens.  The study found those properties made the greens an effective treatment for liver, gallbladder, and kidney imbalances.

Dandelion root also positively affects the liver by controlling the gall bladder’s release of bile.  This improves digestion, especially of fats, a base requirement for good health.  Many underestimate the importance of the liver.

However, this large organ—shaped like a rubber reflex hammer and located in the front lower abdominal cavity, manages a variety of crucial bodily functions, such as…

• Protein creation
• Filtration of blood to remove toxins
• Production of master antioxidant glutathione
• Creation of infection-fighting immune cells
• Formation of blood coagulation factors

Liver stress leads to a host of unpleasant consequences.  Indicators of compromised liver function range from mild symptoms such as gas…bloating…constipation…or diarrhea to full-blown jaundice, easily diagnosed from its trademark yellowing of the skin and sclarae (whites of the eyes).

Emotional and psychological problems, chronic fatigue, and puzzling aches and pains may also point to decreased liver functions.

The most common diseases of the liver include…

• Hepatitis
• Fatty liver
• Cirrhosis
• Liver cancer

In addition to having astounding detoxifying effects, dandelions are extremely nutritious.  Compared to other nutritive vegetables powerhouses—such as spinach and broccoli—dandelion greens stack up well.

The greens provide 1.5 times as much vitamin A, 4 times as much calcium, and 7.5 times as much vitamin K as broccoli.  Dandelion greens beat spinach 2 to 1 on iron content and 3 to 1 on riboflavin.

Additionally, dandelion health benefits are a potent source of vitamin E (17% of the daily adult dose) and lutein and zeaxanthin, crucial carotenoids completely absent from spinach.

Where to Find Dandelions…Everywhere!

The fresh, mildly bitter flavor of dandelion greens attracts fans of haute cuisine as well as the health-conscious.  The greens may well be available at your local health food store at a reasonable price.

However, as long as you abstain from chemical fertilizers and other toxic lawn treatments, you could consider controlling your yard’s dandelion population by harvesting and eating the nutrient-packed plants instead.

Dandelion leaves make a wonderful addition to salads or stir-fries.  Additionally, the flowers can be made into wine, and the whole plant can be consumed in tea, capsule or extract form.

Further Related Reading:

• Those Pesky Dandelions in Your Yard Are A Non-Toxic Cancer Therapy
• Activated Charcoal – the Secret to Total Body Detox
• The Forgotten Health Benefits of Vitamin K – Could You Be Deficient?

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/dandelion-health-benefits

Dandelion: Your medicinal powerhouse ...

Dandelion: Your medicinal powerhouse go-to herb for spring cleansing

Saturday, May 04, 2013 by: PF Louis

(NaturalNews) Dandelion is a common weed flower that is usually considered somewhat of a nuisance by fastidious lawn keepers. It can grow wild anywhere. But this weed with it's cute little yellow flowers packs a punch medicinally.

It has been used as a healing and preventative herb for centuries. And currently it's one of the top herbs being researched by western medical science. Thus far, that scientific scrutiny has confirmed the medicinal value of dandelion, known for centuries by herbalists and ancient Asian medical practices.

The dandelion greens are commonly used as natural diuretics that boost renal (kidney) health. For the liver, you need the dandelion root as root extracts, teas or tinctures.

Don't bother pulling those dandelion weeds for your teas if you're in a heavily polluted area or chemicals are used on the grounds. It's better to deal with commercially sold organic or wild harvested dandelion or supplements containing the extracts.

Dandelion root for restoring and maintaining proper liver function

The liver's importance is often underrated. But as you realize its importance, you'll be taking better care of that large organ in the right front lower abdominal cavity. The liver is partly or mostly responsible for:

* Protein creation
* Creating the master antioxidant glutathione
* Managing bile distribution to digest fats
* Creating blood coagulation factors
* Removing toxins from several source by filtering the blood
* Contributing immune cells to fight infection

The more well known serious liver diseases are hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. A poorly functioning liver also causes less dangerous symptoms of indigestion such as gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.

Jaundice, a yellowing of skin or whites of the eyes, is an obvious sign of a liver on the decline. Even unexplained aches and pains and chronic fatigue and could be attributed to liver stress. Liver stress can be largely responsible for emotional and psychological problems too.

Chronic irritability, depression, resentment, and indulging in unnecessary angry outbursts often are also indicative of low liver stress. Chinese medicine associates courage or will to the liver's condition.

Dandelion root stimulates the liver's bile production for the gall bladder and helps the liver control the gall bladder's releasing of that bile for digestive purposes, especially fats. Good digestion is the foundation for good overall health.

Dandelion root keeps the liver's blood detoxification pathways open, which some pharmaceuticals shut down.

Dandelion greens for kidney health

The kidneys are twin, fist-sized and kidney bean-shaped organs located in the lower back area, one on each side. Their primary function is to filter the blood and eliminate toxins through urine. They also help regulate blood pressure and electrolyte balance while assisting the liver with red blood cell production.

Kidney issues share a few symptoms of stressed liver. Basically, toxins begin backing up in the blood because they're not being eliminated.

Edible dandelion greens can be used in salads or steamed. But that may not be feasible for most. Dandelion juice is high in minerals, especially magnesium. It's possible to order dandelion green liquid extracts that can be added to water or juice.

Dandelion greens for teas have been used in several cultures for many years as a mild, natural diuretic. This keeps the kidneys from building up waste products and prevents the body's tissues from retaining too much fluid. Usually, dark urine indicates a level of dehydration. Drinking more pure water could clear that up, literally.

There are other diuretics that make you pee. But dandelion offers more nutritional protective support than the others. Dandelion greens also help restore damaged tissue and protect against inflammation. They also help cleanse the blood, assisting the liver with that task.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.care2.com
http://www.ehow.com/list_6132968_signs-symptoms-liver-stress.html
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com
http://realfoodforlife.com/dandelion-root-health-benefits/
http://www.medicinenet.com/kidney_failure/article.htm

http://www.naturalnews.com/040187_dandelion_root_kidney_health_liver_support.html