People were not necessarily healthier a century ago, but they were not plagued with the same health problems we have today. The majority of people did not eat, drink and breathe in toxins every day of their lives. It has been the later generations who decided that our foods need extra treatment in order to produce more, last longer, and be safe from insects. The toxins in our food, air and water are inside us, stored in fat cells and blocking the liver. Why? The liver is our cleansing organ and we are overloading it with work. Thousands of people are looking to liver detoxification as a means of becoming healthy.

There are certain kinds of foods and herbs that aid the liver in detoxifying the body as well as foods that do not cause undue stress on the most vital organ of our body besides our heart. It is not surprising to vegetarians that these foods are fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The problem is that many of these products now contain chemicals and preservatives which were never meant to be consumed by living organisms.

The best foods are organic. If you cannot afford to buy organic foods or do not have the time or space to grow them yourself, the next best thing is to wash every vegetable and fruit before you eat it.

Never smoke, drink alcohol or use any kind of drug while you are detoxifying your liver. If you are an addict or alcoholic, do not detox without the supervision of a medical doctor. A medically unsupervised detox from drugs or alcohol can be harmful. It has even been known to be fatal. If you really want to try this kind of detox, wait until you have gone through a treatment program.

An exception is addiction to tobacco. If you quit smoking and go on a liver detoxification plan, you will cleanse your body of nicotine faster than quitting without the cleanse. There are many former smokers who claim detoxification helped them get rid of biological cravings for nicotine.

The hormones we take in through dairy products and meats have been linked to early reproductive development and cancers. It doesn't take a scientist to recognize that adding hormones to our bodies is an unhealthy way to live. Even if you decide a liver detoxification plan is not for you, go organic in this area. Eat dairy and meat that is hormone free.

Depending on the detox plan you choose, you will either be eating specific foods and forgoing others, drinking elixirs, or doing a combination of the two. It takes a little longer to detox your liver if you choose an eating plan, but it is also less stressful on your body.

If you choose to use the elixir type of detox, go into it slowly by eating the foods described above and leaving out sugars, fats and meats for a couple of days before going into a fast. When you are done with your elixir plan, gradually add these foods back in. Keep things moderate and be gentle with your body. Liver detoxification is meant to help, not hurt.