Got Brown Spots? Uneven Skin Tone?

Whatever is happening on the outside is a direct reflection of what's happening on the inside.

Brown spots and uneven skin pigmentation can be a direct result of liver toxicity -- which is how the term "liver spots" originated. You've probably heard it's from overexposure to the sun, when it's your liver's inability to properly cleanse itself so that the rest of your body is able to properly defend itself from sun damage.

Not everyone is a candidate for a commercially sold detox, as the body should be built up before it's detoxed. How can you tell if you're a candidate? It's always best to check with a trained natural health practitioner, ND or MD before starting any detox program.

A safe, easy and inexpensive way to detoxify the liver is by eating organically grown (pesticide/herbicide-free) foods which strengthen, clean and tone the liver. Some examples are:

• Beets, carrots and red onions which contain beta carotene and flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants.

• Apples help excrete heavy metals off the intestinal walls. There's a lot of truth in the old saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away."

• Eggs, broccoli and spinach, which contain B-Complex vitamins, promote liver decongestion and improve liver function. Vitamin B12 helps metabolize fats and improves liver function.

• Garlic contains Allicin, an antioxidant, and Selenium, a detoxifying mineral, as it assists the removal of heavy metals (ie., mercury) from the liver.

• Cruciferous vegetables broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc., contain gluconsinolates which help the liver produce enzymes for detoxification.

• Grapefruits are rich in antioxidants and assist in naturally detoxifying the liver.

• Bitter vegetables such as dandelion greens, mustard greens, bitter gourd and chicory promote the production and flow of bile -- essential to healthy liver function.

Some tips to enhance performance and function of the liver:

• do not overeat

• avoid environmental stresses (smoke, toxic fumes and chemicals, etc.), and poor-quality foods.

• overwork and emotional stress can cause the liver to overload, leading to a decrease in the ability to clear toxins and hormones, and manufacture bile.

• foods which contain high levels of antioxidants help protect the liver and keep it healthy while other foods cleanse the liver.

Herbs such as milk thistle are also helpful in detoxifying the liver. Make a tea from a high quality tincture which can be purchased at a local health food store.

OC