The liver is ground zero for detoxification in the body. It’s also the body’s main fat-burning organ. If it’s not working right, you’re in big trouble.

What kind of trouble? Well, fatty liver disease for one. Known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), about 25% of all people in the US are living with it, including 10% of all children. Also known as NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), those who have it are at a markedly higher risk of developing liver-related death compared with the general population.

Even if you don’t have NAFLD, you’re still in trouble if your liver isn’t performing at its best. The liver processes your hormones, makes triglycerides, is critical for carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, makes cholesterol (and packages it into HDL and LDL), and generally detoxifies you from the panoply of toxins we’re exposed to every day—pesticides, chemicals in the air, PCBs, phthalates, bisphenol-A and pharmaceuticals. Its job is to take those toxins, render them harmless and then get them the heck out of your body.

That’s a huge job, and the liver does it 24 hours a day.

And it needs your help.

Detoxification 101

The liver performs its job of detoxification in two phases. In Phase One, it uses a complex series of enzymes called the Cytochrome P450 enzymes to make toxins more soluble in water so they can be more easily removed from the body (by the kidneys or the liver). Robert Crayhon used to liken this phase to removing the pin from a hand grenade—it’s the first step in disarming the grenade, but it doesn’t do you much good if you can’t throw the damn thing out the window.

Phase two is about throwing the grenade out the window. In phase two the toxins are combined with other substances (a process called conjugation) and then excreted into bile.

Both phases are highly dependent on nutrients.

Given the importance of detoxification to your health, (and to your weight), it’s not surprising that more and more people are turning to detoxes and cleanses.

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging

The first rule when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging, and the first rule when you want to detox your liver is to stop adding to its burden. That’s why, during any detox, you only want to eat the cleanest of food—organic, and non-GMO. At least temporarily, you’ll also want to eliminate the “usual suspects” for food intolerances and sensitivities—dairy, wheat, and soy. Obviously, sugar and processed carbs are completely out. And although I’m a huge fan of coffee, it’s probably better to eliminate that as well.

Obviously, processed meats (salami, hot dogs) are out, but grass-fed meat is fine. Vegetables, fruits, all good. Simple, clean and sparse are the key concepts. Eat lightly and cleanly, drink plenty of water, and don’t forget those fresh vegetable juices. You want a nutrient-rich array of foods. Avoid anything you can’t pronounce.

Here’s what I recommend

I recommend a two-week program of clean eating supplemented with a couple of products that will help support what you’re trying to do.

I’ve put together two products that, taken together and used with the clean eating program I’ve outlined above, will have you feeling lighter, more energetic, and less bloated in just about 14 days (or less)!

The first is Integrative Therapeutics’ Whole Body Integrative Cleansing System. It contains a 14-day supply of high quality milk thistle— probably the most helpful herb on the planet when it comes to liver health—together with a gentle, natural laxative and fiber. For 14 days, you take 4 capsules in the morning and 4 in the evening.

The second is a product by Metagenics called UltraClear Renew. Many of you may remember UltraClear, one of the first legitimate medical foods, which has been used in detox programs since I first started in the health field in 1990. UltraClear Renew is specifically intended to support detoxification. You only need to use it for two weeks (after which you can switch to any good protein powder, like Smart Fat grass-fed whey protein).

UltraClear Renew is not a meal replacement powder. It’s specifically formulated to load you up on the nutrients your liver needs most to perform the work of “cleaning up the shop”. You only need to take it for 14 days, and it works beautifully with the Whole Body Integrative Cleansing System. The protein in it is all rice protein, not because that’s “better” than whey (it’s not) but because it’s completely hypo-allergenic; almost no one in the world has a problem with rice, plus it’s completely friendly for vegans and vegetarians.

You can buy the two products together at a special price here.

Eat lightly and super-clean for two weeks, drink plenty of water, take a walk every day, work on getting a good amount of restful sleep, drink at least two glasses of homemade fresh juice a day, drink two Ultraclear Renew shakes and take 8 capsules of the Whole Body Integrative Cleansing System.

You’ll love the results. My favorite weight loss coach Anja Christy did the program exactly this way, and she says she’s never felt better. And though weight loss isn’t the primary goal of a detox program, she also lost some weight. She says it’s one of the best “jump-starts” she’s ever found. And she’s never looked better!