As the days get longer and the weather warms up, your body naturally shifts into a more active, cleansing state. You sweat more, move more, and tend to crave lighter, fresher foods. This makes summer an ideal season to gently support your liver and immune system with natural strategies—but that doesn’t mean turning to extreme juice fasts, risky colon cleanses, or harsh detox kits.

At the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine, we believe in honoring how the body was designed by God to heal and renew itself—especially when supported by the right nutrition, movement, and supplements. A true summer detox isn’t about punishing your body—it’s about helping it thrive.

Why summer? Warmer temperatures promote circulation, encourage water intake, and offer an abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables that naturally assist liver function and cellular cleansing. It’s a season where your body wants to feel lighter and more vibrant—and you can give it the support it needs to do just that.

Common Summer Detox Mistakes to Avoid

Extreme Juice Fasts or Cleanses

While a green juice can be refreshing and nutrient-rich, going on a full juice-only cleanse for days or weeks is often too extreme. These diets typically lack:

• Protein, which is essential for liver detox pathways
• Healthy fats, needed for hormone balance and cellular repair
• Fiber, which binds and eliminates toxins through the gut

Additionally, juice cleanses can lead to blood sugar spikes, fatigue, and muscle breakdown, especially for those with insulin resistance or adrenal fatigue. At the Stengler Center, we recommend whole-food detox strategies that nourish—not deplete—the body.

Unsupervised Colon Cleanses

Colon cleanses may seem like a way to “flush out toxins,” but in reality, they can:

• Disrupt the gut microbiome, affecting digestion and immune function
• Cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances
• Interfere with normal bowel function over time

Unless medically indicated and overseen by a professional, aggressive colon detoxes are unnecessary and potentially harmful.

Overuse of Detox Teas or Laxatives

Many detox teas contain stimulant laxatives like senna, which may cause temporary weight loss from water and stool—but they don’t support liver detox. Over time, they can:

• Deplete electrolytes
• Irritate the digestive tract
• Stress the kidneys and adrenals

Natural elimination should be supported gently—with hydration, fiber, and targeted herbs, not harsh diuretics or laxatives.

Nutrition for Liver and Immune Support

Focus on Detox-Supportive Foods

To nourish your liver and support immune function, incorporate foods that contain antioxidants, sulfur compounds, fiber, and phytonutrients known to stimulate the body’s natural detox enzymes.

• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale contain compounds such as sulforaphane that promote Phase II liver detox pathways—helping neutralize and eliminate harmful substances.
• Leafy greens (spinach, arugula, dandelion greens) are rich in chlorophyll, which binds to toxins and supports blood purification.
• Beets and garlic promote bile flow, assisting the liver in breaking down fats and removing waste efficiently.
• Lemon and turmeric offer liver-protective compounds. Lemon stimulates digestion and alkalizes the body, while curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) reduces liver inflammation and supports regeneration.
• Berries are rich in antioxidants like anthocyanins and vitamin C, which support both immune function and oxidative stress reduction.
• Hydration is critical: aim for pure, filtered water throughout the day. Add lemon or cucumber slices for extra cleansing power. Unsweetened herbal teas like dandelion or ginger can soothe digestion, while coconut water replenishes electrolytes and supports kidney detox.

Foods to Avoid

While you’re adding in detox-friendly foods, it’s equally important to remove dietary stressors that place a burden on your liver and immune system.

• Alcohol directly taxes liver enzymes and depletes glutathione—your body’s master antioxidant.
• Processed sugars and refined carbs feed inflammation, increase fat storage in the liver, and weaken immune responses.
• Fried foods are high in oxidized fats that stress detoxification pathways and promote systemic inflammation.
• Chemical-laden snacks often contain preservatives, food dyes, and flavor enhancers that your liver must work overtime to neutralize.
• Avoid high fructose corn syrup and synthetic additives, which are linked to fatty liver disease and poor metabolic health.

Lifestyle Practices That Enhance Detoxification

Sweating

Sweat is one of your body’s most overlooked detox tools. When you sweat, you eliminate waste products like heavy metals, BPA, and other fat-soluble toxins through the skin.

Regular exercise—even light to moderate activity—increases circulation and encourages toxin release via sweat. For enhanced benefit, infrared saunas offer deep tissue heating that mobilizes toxins stored in fat and improves lymphatic flow.

Pro tip: Always rehydrate with purified water and trace minerals to replace what’s lost through sweat.

Deep Sleep

Your liver does some of its most important detox work while you sleep—particularly between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., when detox enzymes are most active.

If sleep is cut short or poor in quality, detoxification is impaired. That’s why it’s essential to prioritize 7–9 hours of deep, restorative sleep each night.

Practical tips include:

• Shutting off screens at least 1 hour before bed
• Avoiding late-night meals
• Using blackout curtains or a sleep mask
• Incorporating magnesium or calming herbal teas if needed

Daily Movement

You don’t need intense workouts to detox—gentle, consistent movement is key. Brisk walking, rebounding, stretching, or light cardio all support:

• Lymphatic drainage (which requires movement to circulate)
• Gut motility, helping eliminate waste
• Improved circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to detox organs

Aim for 20–45 minutes of movement daily to assist your body’s cleansing efforts without adding physical stress.

Breathwork & Prayer

Your nervous system directly influences detox through the parasympathetic (rest and digest) response. Chronic stress activates the sympathetic (fight or flight) system, which slows detoxification, impairs digestion, and triggers inflammation.

Practices like deep diaphragmatic breathing, guided breathwork, and daily prayer calm the nervous system and help create a healing internal environment.

Natural Detox Supplements to Support the Liver

Milk Thistle (Silymarin)

Milk thistle is one of the most well-researched herbs for liver health. Its active compound, silymarin, acts as a powerful antioxidant that helps:

• Protect liver cells from damage caused by toxins and oxidative stress
• Stimulate the regeneration of liver tissue
• Reduce inflammation in the liver and bile ducts

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)

NAC is a potent amino acid compound that serves as a precursor to glutathione, your body’s most important internal antioxidant and detoxifier. It helps:

• Rebuild glutathione levels, especially in times of oxidative stress
• Protect liver tissue from chemical exposures and environmental toxins
• Improve immune function by supporting detox enzyme systems

Glutathione (Liposomal or IV)

Glutathione is known as the “master antioxidant” for a reason. Every cell in your body relies on it for detoxification, especially in the liver.

Unfortunately, oral glutathione is poorly absorbed unless in a liposomal form. At the Stengler Center, we may also recommend IV glutathione for patients needing rapid detox or immune support.

Key benefits include:

• Neutralizing toxins in Phase II liver detox
• Supporting cellular repair and DNA protection
• Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress

Dandelion Root

Often underestimated, dandelion root is a gentle yet powerful herb used traditionally to support both liver and kidney detoxification.

Its natural compounds promote:

• Healthy bile flow, which aids fat digestion and waste elimination
• Diuretic activity, helping flush excess fluids and toxins through the kidneys
• Digestive regularity, especially when detox symptoms include bloating or sluggish bowels

Artichoke Extract

Artichoke isn’t just a delicious vegetable—it’s also a therapeutic liver ally. Rich in cynarin, artichoke extract helps:

• Stimulate bile production to support digestion and detox
• Reduce cholesterol levels naturally
• Enhance liver enzyme activity, helping the liver process and eliminate toxins more efficiently

Dr. Stengler’s Liver Support Formula

This clinically formulated blend combines several of the ingredients above into a synergistic supplement that reflects years of integrative practice.

It includes:

• Milk thistle, dandelion, artichoke, and other herbal extracts
• Key nutrients to assist Phase I and Phase II liver detox
• Ingredients that support glutathione production and antioxidant defense

Designed for safety and efficacy, Dr. Stengler’s Liver Support Formula is used by patients at the Stengler Center who want gentle yet effective liver support, whether for seasonal detox, chronic inflammation, or post-medication recovery.

A Smarter Way to Detox This Summer

Detoxing doesn’t have to involve extreme cleanses or unnecessary restrictions. In fact, the most effective detox is one that supports your body’s natural processes—nourishing the liver, encouraging elimination through the kidneys and skin, and enhancing immune balance through rest, hydration, and proper supplementation.

By choosing whole, detox-supportive foods, incorporating gentle lifestyle practices, and using targeted natural detox supplements—you give your body the environment it needs to cleanse, heal, and thrive.

Whether you're looking to boost energy, reduce inflammation, or support your immune system, a well-designed summer detox can be the fresh start your body needs.

If you're ready to begin a personalized summer detox plan that’s safe, clinically guided, and tailored to your health goals, we invite you to connect with us today.

Contact Dr. Mark Stengler

Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine
📍 324 Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas, CA 92024
📞 Phone: 760-274-2377
📧 Email: clinic@markstengler.com
🌐 Book Your Appointment Online

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