ONE WEEK SPRING-TIME LIVER CLEANSE: APRIL 4th- 11th, 2022

Open Circle's Spring Cleanse is starting soon!  If you are considering joining us, read more about it below and let us know soon so we can sign you up and help you get started!  There is no cost to join besides the supplements & tea which are strongly recommended but not required! 

WHY CLEANSE THE LIVER?

The liver is the body's natural filtration system, converting toxins into waste products, cleansing the blood and metabolizing medications and nutrients into essential proteins. Alcohol, processed foods, medications, stress & lack of exercise can burden the liver leading to symptoms such as bloating, reflux, constipation, difficulty losing weight, high blood pressure, anxiety/depression, chronic fatigue and more. Springtime is the season of the Wood Element which is ruled by the Liver & Gall Bladder.  It’s a time of rebirth and starting fresh.  By eating lighter and cleansing the excesses of the winter season, you are attuning yourself to the rhythms of nature.

BASIC LIVER CLEANSE PROTOCOL

1. Cut out white sugar, white flour, processed foods, unhealthy refined oils (canola, safflower, margarine etc.) & alcohol. (Eliminating dairy is optional but should be kept to a minimum!) 
2. Enjoy an anti-inflammatory diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, unrefined whole grains, healthy fats, legumes, grass-fed beef, chicken, turkey & fish.  (Try your best to get organic & natural sourced options)
3. Add high fiber foods- apples and pears with skin on, flaxseeds, dark leafy greens and bitter greens, spring herbs such as parsley and mint, green smoothies (see our recipe for ideas!), psyllium husk, beets and beet greens, cruciferous veggies (including broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and kale), bananas etc.  It’s very important to keep regular during a cleanse, so if you are finding that you are not, even with the fiber, consider adding Thorne’s Magnesium Citramate supplement to further support digestive regularity!
4. Add lemon or lime to your water- lemon water is very detoxifying for the liver and getting enough water while working to flush the liver is important, too!  Drink plenty of filtered water throughout the day!
5. Take Thorne’s Liver Cleanse supplement daily:  This is a combination of botanical ingredients (Berberine, Burdock, Chicory & Milk thistle seed) that can synergistically enhance liver function.  Together they enhance the production & flow of bile which optimizes the metabolism and excretion of the substances that the liver detoxifies.  There are no known contraindications to this formula, and we recommend 1 capsule in the AM and 1 in the PM.  This can continue for a full 30 days even if you only officially ‘cleanse’ for this week!
6. Drink Gaia’s Daily Detox Tea: Delicious liver cleansing herbal tea with peppermint & lemon essential oils.  Enjoy 1-2 cups/day!

OPTIONAL PRACTICES: 

• Have a tablespoon of high-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil daily:  Can be consumed on its own to blended with lemon & water.  It might seem counterintuitive, but olive oil is one of the BEST natural remedies for a ‘fatty liver’, improving liver enzymes and fat levels.
• Have a shot of Apple Cider Vinegar daily:  Organic, unfiltered ACV has many health benefits including improved metabolism, digestive support for acid reflux, balancing blood glucose, improving cholesterol & yes detoxification of the liver.  Start with a teaspoon diluted with water in a small glass to start.  It’s ok to add a little honey if the taste is too intense!
• Green Smoothies &/or Raw Juice:  If you have a blender or juicer, dust it off and start using it!  Blending veggies & greens together with some healthy fats & fiber is an excellent support to any cleanse.  If you are like us and don’t have time for juicing, head over to a local health food store and try something new!  We don’t have to do all the work

FOODS THAT CLEANSE THE LIVER:

• Coffee- can help prevent cirrhosis and a common type of liver cancer, decreases inflammation, and increases antioxidant glutathione
• Green tea- improves liver enzyme levels, reduces oxidative stress and fat deposits in LV
• Grapefruit- contains antioxidants that protect liver, reduces inflammation, reduces development of hepatic fibrosis, increases ability to metabolize alcohol and counteracts alcohol’s negative effects
• Blueberries and cranberries- contain anthocyanins, increase immune cell response and antioxidant enzymes, slow development of lesions and fibrosis
• Grapes- increase antioxidants and reduce inflammation
• Beet juice: Beetroot juice contains antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, and iron. These compounds help protect the liver from inflammation and oxidative stress while enhancing its ability to remove toxins from the body.
• Cruciferous veggies- brussels sprouts, broccoli, mustard greens- high fiber and help increase levels of detoxification enzymes
• Nuts and seeds- may help prevent fatty liver disease
• Fatty fish- high in healthy omega- 3s
• Olive oil- improve liver enzyme and fat levels, improve insulin sensitivity

SELF-CARE SUGGESTIONS DURING YOUR CLEANSE:

• Get some exercise & movement that inspires you and makes you feel good 
• Practice deep breathing, meditation, journaling 
• Prioritize a good night’s sleep
• Get some acupuncture to support detoxification and allow for some restorative relaxation time.

Email us at [email protected] to sign up and HAPPY SPRING!!