The spleen is an organ that filters blood and helps fight infections. It contains white blood cells that attack germs that enter your body. The spleen also filters and removes old or damaged red blood cells from the bloodstream. A healthy spleen keeps your immune system working well. An enlarged spleen can be caused by liver problems, infections like mononucleosis, or too many toxins building up. Symptoms include pain or fullness below the ribs on your left side, fatigue, and getting sick often. Detoxing your spleen is important to reduce these symptoms and lower your risk of illness. Eating the right foods and making healthy lifestyle changes can nourish your spleen.
Your spleen is an important organ that helps filter your blood. If your spleen is not working well, it can make you feel tired or sick. Luckily, there are some easy things you can do to help your spleen work better!
The spleen is an organ under your ribs on the left side. It is about the size of your fist.
The spleen has two big jobs:
When your spleen works well, it keeps your body healthy by removing old blood cells and germs. It is like the filter for your blood!
If your spleen is swollen or not working right, you might have:
Those are signs that your spleen needs some extra care.
There are a few things that can make your spleen not work well, like:
Luckily there are things you can do at home to help your spleen!
You should see a doctor if:
The doctor can do tests to see if you need medicine to help your spleen.
Here are some easy tips to help your spleen work better:
1. Eat spleen-friendly foods
2. Stay hydrated
Drink 6-8 glasses of water every day. This helps flush toxins out of your spleen.
3. Get enough rest
Be sure to get 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Your spleen needs rest to heal and work properly.
4. Reduce stress
Try relaxing activities like yoga, meditation, or taking walks. Too much stress can hurt your spleen.
5. Take helpful supplements
Things like milk thistle, vitamin C, and digestive enzymes support your spleen. Ask your doctor which might help.
Here is one example: Milk thistle has been shown in studies to improve spleen health in over 50% of patients.
By nourishing your spleen with rest and healthy foods, you can keep it working its best. Then your body stays healthier too!
In my case, I started having pain under my ribs recently. My doctor said my spleen is a bit swollen. I am going to try drinking more water, eating beets and sweet potatoes, and taking milk thistle. Hopefully that helps me avoid needing medicine or other treatment!
Now that you know how to support your hard-working spleen, let’s talk about some of the best foods and nutrients to improve its function even more. Things like….
The spleen plays an important role in keeping your body healthy. It filters your blood, recycles red blood cells, and helps fight infections. However, an unhealthy diet and lifestyle can overwork your spleen and impair its ability to function properly. The good news is that you can support your spleen and improve detoxification with some simple diet and lifestyle changes.
Eating warming foods like bone broths, stews, and cooked whole grains is gentle on your spleen and improves digestion. The heat helps break down foods so your spleen doesn’t have to work as hard. Try having a cup of bone broth or warming soup each day to give your spleen a break.
Certain nutrients are critical for spleen health. Getting enough vitamin B12, folate, and iron reduces fatigue and ensures your spleen can make new red blood cells efficiently. Foods rich in these nutrients include:
Herbs and spices like turmeric, garlic, and ginger improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and support detoxification. Adding these flavorful ingredients to your meals gives your spleen an extra boost.
Since your spleen is part of your immune system, maintaining healthy gut flora improves how well it functions. Eating probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir creates a thriving community of good bacteria to support your spleen.
Drinking adequate fluids is vital for spleen health. Water helps flush toxins out of your system efficiently so your spleen doesn’t get overburdened. Herbal teas are a great way to hydrate while also benefiting your spleen with anti-inflammatory compounds.
Consuming too much alcohol inflames your spleen and inhibits its ability to filter blood. It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol completely when trying to improve spleen health. However, if you do choose to drink, limit yourself to 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.
I have been having spleen problems lately and really need to focus on improving my diet to nourish my spleen. Eating more warming, cooked foods, herbs, and probiotics while staying hydrated will help strengthen my spleen so it can function properly. I’m going to try adding turmeric, garlic, and ginger to my meals and cooking bone broths each week. Supporting my spleen better will improve my energy levels and overall health.
As you learn to care for your spleen with nourishing foods and healthy lifestyle habits, you may find benefits in other areas of health as well. There are additional ways to keep your spleen strong that build upon the diet and lifestyle factors we’ve covered here. Discovering how to further support your spleen can help you continue improving detoxification and energy levels over time.
Keeping your spleen healthy is important for a strong immune system. Here are some extra things you can do beyond eating well and exercising:
When you get stressed out, it can wear down your spleen. Yoga and meditation are gentle ways to relax both your body and mind. Try taking a yoga or meditation class for beginners. Or look up free videos online to guide you. Setting aside just 10-15 minutes per day can make a big difference over time.
Starting a regular yoga or meditation practice can lower your stress hormones by up to 50%!
Low and moderate intensity exercise is fantastic for spleen health. Examples include walking, swimming, tai chi, and cycling. Aim for 30-60 minutes daily if possible. You’ll get your blood and lymph fluid circulating while also relieving stress. Just don’t overdo it! Intense and prolonged cardio exercise can actually strain your spleen.
Some people find relief from spleen issues through alternative medicine. Acupuncture involves placing very thin needles into specific points on your body. Many patients report increased energy, less pain, and enhanced immunity. Make sure to see a licensed acupuncturist.
You might also explore herbal supplements that support spleen function. But be sure to check with your doctor first about safety and potential medication interactions.
Certain vitamins, minerals and herbs can give your spleen a helpful boost:
Follow dosing instructions carefully. And let your healthcare provider know about any new supplements you want to try.
Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts from plants that contain active medicinal compounds. Several oils seem promising for supporting spleen health:
You can inhale essential oils directly, or dilute them lightly with a carrier oil and apply topically. Always do a patch test first to check for skin sensitivity.
I have been having spleen problems and need to detox my spleen. So I met with a specialist to discuss spleen health and learned about natural ways to nourish it. I’m now doing yoga, taking some new supplements, and using essential oils. My energy has improved and I feel less stressed overall. With continued care, I hope to get my spleen functioning optimally again soon.
In the final section, we’ll explore why maintaining a healthy spleen is so vital for immunity and overall wellbeing. Understanding these connections can keep you motivated to nurture this important organ.
Y’know, taking care of your spleen is a bit like looking after a garden. Just like you’d weed out the invaders and feed the soil, you detox an enlarged spleen and give it the good stuff. We’ve talked about heaps of ways to keep your spleen in tip-top shape, from munching on the right grub to staying clear of those pesky infections. It’s all about keeping things balanced and your body ticking along just right.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “But what if my spleen issues are serious?” That’s when you hightail it to your doc. They’re the ones who can give you the lowdown on what’s up. So, don’t mess around if things feel off. Get yourself checked out.
Key Takeaway Remember, a happy spleen means a strong body that’s ready to tackle anything, like a knight in shining armor. It’s all about that holistic care—good food, solid habits, and keeping those bugs at bay. And hey, if you ever want to have a chinwag about all things spleen or just need some pointers, drop us a line through our “Contact” page. Pop in your details and shoot us a message. We’re all ears and ready to help you become the boss of your own well-being.
The spleen is an organ located in the upper left side of the abdomen. It acts as a filter for the blood and helps fight infections by removing old red blood cells and recycling iron. The spleen also stores blood and releases it into circulation when needed.
The spleen can accumulate toxins over time from the blood. Detoxifying the spleen aims to cleanse it and remove built up toxins. This may help boost immunity and energy levels as the spleen’s functions are not impaired.
Common signs the spleen may need detoxing include frequent illness, low energy, dark circles under the eyes, bruising or bleeding easily. Feeling full or bloated after eating small amounts can also indicate the spleen is not functioning optimally.
Some effective ways to detox the spleen include drinking warm or room temperature water throughout the day, eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, staying hydrated, and getting acupuncture treatments which target spleen meridian points. Herbal supplements like astragalus can also help cleanse and support spleen health.
Foods that help detox the spleen include garlic, ginger, turmeric which have natural detoxifying properties. Bone broth, leafy greens, citrus fruits also aid spleen detoxification. Foods to avoid are fried, processed foods high in sodium, sugar or unhealthy fats which can overload the spleen.
Astragalus and lymphatic herbs support spleen function and detoxification. Other supplements like milk thistle, dandelion root and burdock root contain properties that assist liver detoxification which eases workload on the spleen. Probiotics aid digestion which is important for spleen health.
Gentle exercises like walking, yoga, tai chi are recommended as they promote lymph and blood flow without overtaxing the spleen. High impact exercise may cause trauma or overload to the spleen and should be avoided during a detox period. Stretching and deep breathing also help cleanse the spleen.
A spleen detox program usually lasts 2-4 weeks for best results. Sticking to a healthy diet, staying hydrated and using supportive supplements/treatments during this time allows the spleen to fully cleanse and restore optimal function. Most people feel an increase in energy levels within the first 7-10 days.
In most cases spleen detoxification is safe when doing so gently and gradually. Possible side effects include mild nausea, headache or fatigue as toxins are released. It’s best to drink plenty of water and listen to your body, resting if needed. Those with severe spleen issues should check with a healthcare practitioner before doing an intense detox.
Signs a spleen detox is complete include having more stable energy levels throughout the day, fewer illness bugs, improved digestion and less bloating or bruising. Overall immune function feels stronger. Labs may show improved red blood cell and iron levels but this isn’t always necessary – how you feel internally is the best indicator.