<ul><li>We tend to forget that the liver is a part of the organs that respond first against viruses and bacteria. Our livers are filled with cells that help in defending our immune system;</li><li>There are certain times where the liver aids other organs such as the brain when a person's blood sugar level drops. Since the brain relies on sugar as a source of energy, the liver reserve then releases the nutrients needed.</li></ul>

The liver nourishes and protects other organs

Health

<ul><li>The liver is the first organ to receive the nutrients that are being absorbed by the intestine;</li><li>The liver is also a gatekeeper because it senses the overall nourishment of the body and stores sugar, fat, and some vitamins;</li><li>An overabundance of food intake may cause the liver to get overwhelmed and affect its storage capability.</li></ul>

The liver stores nutrients

<ul><li>The liver makes cholesterol, an important structure, despite its bad reputation;</li><li>It also makes blood plasma proteins.</li></ul>

The liver makes nutrients

<ul><li>Alcohol cannot be directly excreted thus needing to be transformed in order to be eliminated;</li><li>The processing of alcohol involves the production of acetaldehyde which is a foreign, toxic molecule so it is quickly transformed into a non-toxic molecule;</li><li>The consumption of alcohol faster on a regular basis than what the liver can process may cause it to become inflamed which can lead to cirrhosis and permanently scar the liver.</li></ul>

The liver metabolizes alcohol and other bad molecules

In this year's subdued St. Patrick's Day celebrations, a biochemist suggests thanking our livers for going above and beyond their ability to metabolize alcohol.

Your liver does more than you give it credit for

Marketers promote juice cleanses as a way to get rid of toxic overload, regaining balance after a period of unhealthful eating, or jump-starting wholesome habits.&nbsp;But juice cleanses and liquid detox diets are not a healthful or safe approach to weight loss. There's no scientific research that it provides benefits in the short or long term, and it's not an overall healthy approach to eating.

Juice Cleansing

The body detoxifies itself naturally, primarily through the action of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal (GI) tract.These organs help remove toxins or harmful substances that should not be stored in the body, so we don't need to do a juice cleanse or follow a liquid detox diet to be healthy.

People Don't Need To Detox To Be Healthy

A juice cleanse offers people a false sense of security that they are doing something beneficial, when in fact they're not.You may lose a few pounds on the scale during the first days, but once you come off a cleanse, and eat food, you could gain all this weight right back.

The False Security Of Juice Cleansing

Cleansing is ineffective as a long-term solution to weight loss. A person may shed pounds in the beginning of a cleanse, but this is due to a loss of water, she said.But the loss of water weight comes at the expense of a loss of muscle, which is a steep price to pay.

Juice Cleansing And Weight Loss

Many celebrities have popularized the idea of cleansing. Some stars have tried the approach as a quick way to lose weight, while others have done it to feel healthy after overindulging.&nbsp;And once people hear the hype and that the "famous and beautiful people" are doing it, everybody else wants to jump on the trends.&nbsp;

When Juice Cleansing Gets Endorsement From Celebrities

4 Myths About Juice Cleansing | Live Science

Juicing or cleansing practices** are techniques for detoxing. **
There are dozens of different protocols you can follow to perform a detox, though not all are created equal when it comes to safety or efficacy, and they don&#39;t necessarily need to include juicing.

Detoxing ≠ juicing or cleansing

T<a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13737/7-signs-you-have-too-many-toxins-in-your-life.html?mbg_ifs=0&amp;mbg_p=a&amp;mbg_ref=body&amp;mbg_a=15063">he effects of modern life</a> — pollution, poor dietary choices, contaminants in our food and water, stress or a sedentary lifestyle — can compromise the body’s ability to effectively detox the way it’s supposed to. 
The result of this toxic internal “congestion” is that we gain weight, develop diseases and lose our natural energy and vitality.

Your body's detoxing systems

While it’s normal to feel somewhat fatigued during the first few days of detox, most experience more energy and sleeping better once they’ve adjusted. Mostly, detoxing shouldn&#39;t make you feel tired or sick.
Part of the reason for this is that your body is doing less work digesting, which means you’re getting the benefit of that saved energy.

Tired or sick

<ul>
<li>Don&#39;t give up solid food during a detox, as this can imbalance your blood sugar levels and potentially disrupt your hormones. </li>
<li>Do eat a diet that consists of mostly vegetables, lean protein sources, some fruits, raw nuts and seeds, and perhaps a minimal amount of gluten-free grains like rice or quinoa.</li>
<li>Give your body a break from “offender” foods like alcohol, sugar, caffeine and dairy. </li>
<li>Curb hunger on a detox with plenty of healthy fat, which is found in foods like avocado or coconut oil.</li>
</ul>

You won't be hungry all the time

<ul>
<li>Continue with your regular exercise routine, provided you really listen to your body. </li>
<li>Walking is detoxifying, as is burst training.</li>
<li>Be sure to hydrate well after a workout — detoxing requires significant water consumption in order to flush out toxins.</li>
</ul>

Exercise during a detox

Detoxing has become a more mainstream topic in the last couple of decades or so, but the practice has been around for centuries and has roots in various cultures across the globe. But with all the hype from celebrities and health gurus about detoxing, there's still plenty of confusion about what it is, how to do it and whether or not it's really necessary.

5 Things I Wish Everyone Knew About Detoxing: A Doctor Explains

The toxicity in our body appears in different ways, ranging from a slow metabolism or craving for sweets or different substances to a lack of sleep and even depression. Most people have found detoxing as a way out of all these symptoms. A natural way to heal the system, reset it, and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Detoxing to recover your health

<ul>
<li>It is bad if you feel your system doesn&#39;t work properly without it: lack of concentration, tiredness, bad temper, headache.</li>
<li>Why should you keep it: Drinking 3 - 4 cups of black coffee a day provides the most health benefits overall, including a lower risk of several specific cancers and neurological, liver, and metabolic conditions.</li>
<li>If you’re nixing caffeine: Going cold turkey can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms like low energy, fatigue, lack of concentration, therefore a gradual reduction is suggested.</li>
</ul>

Caffeine

<ul>
<li>How bad is sugar? Sugar creates hormonal insulin swings and causing inflammation. People with a diet overloaded with sugar have poor cholesterol and are at risk of high blood pressure and other chronic conditions.</li>
<li>Can it be good? Sugar is a carb, and carbs are your body’s main energy source. That means the good kinds of sugar can be healthy.</li>
<li>If you’re cutting out sugar, remember this: You’re likely eliminating a lot of carbs, too. That can be pretty taxing on the body. Consume extra electrolytes, plenty of fluids, lots of proteins, bone broth, and soups to help with the transition.</li>
</ul>

Sugar

<ul>
<li>When is it good: Research shows that light-to-moderate drinking can be good for the circulatory system, and could even protect against type 2 diabetes and gallstones.</li>
<li>When is it bad: Too much alcohol has been linked with <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/diet-physical-activity/alcohol-use-and-cancer.html">several different cancers</a>, and can also impact the absorption of nutrients in the body and contribute to weight gain.</li>
<li>Keep in mind: Alcohol leaves your body completely in 24-48 hours.</li>
</ul>

Alcohol

The scene: You're not feeling so great after last night's five-course work dinner situation including-not one, but three-desserts. As you lay on the couch binge-watching Game of Thrones (spoiler: it's not worth it) reevaluating everything about your on-again, off-again relationships with whisky on the rocks: maybe I should do a detox.

Everything You Need to Know About Detoxing

There&#39;s no evidence that drinking a series of juices, teas, or any of other so-called &#39;detox&#39; products does anything besides profit the people selling them.
There are no shortcuts to health.

Detoxing is a hoax

A toxin is something that can be harmful to you, but this is about as broad a term as it gets. There&#39;s a spectrum; toxicity depends on what it is and how much you take in. 
The urge to detoxify your body when a new year starts has nothing to do with a buildup of toxins. Feeling bloated and fatigued is the result of the all the holiday eating.

Toxins and our urge to detoxify

Everything you eat goes to your liver and it determines what to do with the components of what you&#39;ve ingested: 
If it&#39;s something useful the liver sends it out into circulation, but if it&#39;s not immediately usable or could be harmful, your liver has enzymes to neutralize it and send it off as waste to be removed from the body through urine, mostly. The best you can do to help your liver out is to hydrate and exercise.

Your liver helps you detoxify

The enzymes your liver is using to break down unwanted compounds are made from substances in certain foods you eat—specifically whole fruits, vegetables, and protein.
You should be having whole fruits and vegetables, five to nine servings a day. The juice is not a substitute, as it lacks the fiber your body needs to support waste removal in the liver and in your intestines.

Eating whole fruits, not just juices

Dominik Martin/Unsplash Welcome to , our list of the most pervasive misfires in the effort to feel and look better. We asked the experts and consulted the best science on all the questions you have about each of these wellness fads. and share with your most misinformed friends and family members.