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Not many people know this, but the liver is actually one of the most important body parts you'll ever have. In fact, the functions it plays actually do a great deal in keeping health and overall excretory functions in check. One of its key roles is aiding in detoxification by identifying substances that are not part of the body and getting rid of them in 3 ways-via sweat, urine or feces.

These harmful substances, called toxins, will always unfortunately find a way to enter our bodies. Major culprits for these are poor lifestyle and eating habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol, even drugs and medications.

While the liver normally is capable of processing all these harmful toxins, it also has a saturation point that can be reached when a person doesn't regulate his intake and consumption of toxic-laden food or substances. In this case, the liver may slow down or even cease functioning altogether-and this may create a host of new health problems that may be more difficult to cure.

This is why it is highly important to look after one's liver, and one of the best ways to do this is by a liver detox diet.

A liver detox diet varies in length-you can choose to do it in 3, 7 or even 21 days-but no matter how long it lasts, it works for the purpose of cleansing your liver to help restore normal function and health. The diet plan for such a diet involves the regular consumption of organic and raw fruits, vegetables and whole grains-boosted by regular water therapy for added cleansing.

And of course, this also means discounting harmful food and beverage products such as alcohol and caffeine, items that have a high amount of fat and sugar, junk food and even drugs, especially during the detox program.

Here's what a 7-day liver detox diet typically looks like:

Days 1-3:

The best way to begin your liver detox diet program is via a liquid diet.

Have your 10-12 glasses of water a day and refrain from eating solid food in the meantime. Add in freshly squeezed lime juice for some flavor. This part of the diet is understandably the most challenging for certain people, as it takes time getting used to.

However, this is the period in which the toxins are eliminated from your body. Try some light exercises such as walking to help you unwind and keep your focus.

Days 4-6:

Now you can introduce raw and organic fruits and vegetables to your liquid diet. Create juices from your favorite items, whether oranges, apples, carrots, celery or others. Feel free to mix and match according to taste and flavor preference. Grab a cup or two of herbal tea to add in some variety.

For your meals, go for chopped or boiled vegetables and add in some broth for extra substance.

Day 7:

Continue your liquid diet along with your fruits and vegetables. To aid your liver detox diet, go for some rosemary or dandelion supplements.

Feel free to modify these choices as long as the basic principles are still being followed. After the 7th day, you can resume your normal diet patterns so long as you still hold back on the alcohol.

To make sure that you are on the right track, seek the advice of a medical expert and allow him or her to guide you through the process.