The liver is the most complex of the body’s detoxification organs. It works through a series of chemical reactions that neutralize toxins and prepare them to be expelled from the body — in two distinct phases.
Phase 1 Detoxification
This is the first step the liver takes to convert toxic chemicals into non-toxic, or at least less toxic, forms. It works through a class of over 50 enzymes known as P450 enzymes, which neutralize toxins such as pesticides, alcohol, caffeine, and many medications.
Phase 2 Detoxification
Some byproducts of Phase 1 can still carry some toxicity, so Phase 2 neutralizes these byproducts and any remaining toxins. It works by adding components to these chemicals — a process called conjugation — making them water-soluble so they can be excreted through the kidneys. Key reactions include glutathione conjugation, sulfation, methylation, glucuronidation, and acetylation. Glutathione, sulfur compounds, and glycine are among the most important molecules for this process.
21 Supplements That Support Liver Detoxification
General Liver Function
- Vitamin B-Complex
- Glutathione — one of the most powerful antioxidants
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid — helps restore glutathione
Direct Antioxidants
4. Vitamin C
5. Vitamin E
6. Selenium
Bioflavonoids
7. Chrysin
8. Luteolin
9. Carotenoids
Herbs for Liver Function
10. Milk Thistle
11. Dandelion Root
12. Burdock Root
13. Gentian Root
Anti-Inflammatory Herbs
14. Turmeric
15. Green Tea
Amino Acids (Phase 2 Support)
16. Glutamine
17. Glycine
18. Taurine
19. Cysteine
Sulfur Compounds (Phase 2 Support)
20. Cruciferous Vegetables, especially broccoli sprouts (which may contain 10–100 times more sulfur compounds)
21. Garlic
For more tips on natural liver health, download the free eBook Health Secrets at peacediet.org.
About Dr. Terry Shintani, MD, JD, MPH
Dr. Terry Shintani is a Harvard-trained physician and nutritionist, named a Living Treasure of Hawai’i and recipient of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Award for Excellence. He is the creator of the Peace Diet and the landmark Waianae Diet — published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and cited over 137 times — and the author of 16 books on natural health and nutrition, drawing on more than 35 years of clinical practice in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Learn more about Dr. Shintani’s work and recognition: NLM Native Voices
Sources:
- NIH/PubMed — Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Phase I Liver Detoxification
- NIH/PubMed — Glutathione Conjugation and Phase II Detoxification Pathways
- NIH/PubMed — Sulforaphane in Broccoli Sprouts and Liver Enzyme Support