Liver Detox Foods
If you’ve been struggling through the day and feeling tired or if you’ve been experiencing stomach and digestive issues, there’s a chance you’re overworking your liver
The liver is one of the essential organs in your body.
It’s responsible for performing a variety of functions such as;
Activating enzymes,
Eliminating toxins from the bloodstream,
Metabolizing alcohol,
Producing and excreting bile,
Regulating carbs, fat, and protein levels in the blood,
Producing and excreting bile,
Storing essential glycogen, minerals and vitamins.
Turning lactate into energy.
This means our bodies cannot manage to operate without the liver. The continual process puts a lot of strain on the liver, so it can easily be destroyed if not properly cared for.
The liver purifies itself, which begins around midnight, so experts and physicians recommend that you eat your dinner as early as possible so that your liver can rest.
That being said, this is a general article about foods that help cleanse the liver. Always consult your physician before starting a liver detox diet.
Some foods, such as apples and soy, stimulate the detoxification process.
So it goes without saying that taking care of your liver is vital; it’s time that you pay attention to this often-overlooked organ and enhance its performance.
A proper diet is one of the ways to cleanse your liver and boost your overall wellbeing.
The foods you eat have an impact on how your liver functions. Let’s look at some foods that can help clean your liver naturally.
Foods You Can Take to Cleanse the Liver
Apples
Liver Detox Foods – Apples
Incorporating sliced Granny Smith apples in your snack rotation can be quite beneficial to your digestive system.
Apples, which are rich in fiber, can help with colon cleansing and the introduction of beneficial microorganisms.
To up your fiber intake, leave the peel on your apples and have them for breakfast with chia seeds, another valuable source of gut-friendly fiber.
Avocado
Avocados
Avocados contain large amounts of glutathione. This compound is found all over the body and helps to protect cells from oxidation and cleanse the bodies of heavy metals.
It boosts the creation of liver enzymes, as well as liver function, in the same way, that tomatoes do.
Avocado offers about 3g of fiber per serving as well as healthy fats. What’s more, the antioxidants in avocados have been proven to lower cholesterol and protect the liver.
This means adding a variety of avocado dishes to your meal plan is a no-brainer.
Berries
Berries
Blueberries are rich in flavonoids and provide a wide range of health benefits.
Studies show that flavonoids found in berries, such as anthocyanins, can help boost immune cell response, shield the liver from damage and slow the progression of fibrosis.
Broccoli Sprouts
Sprouts
Broccoli sprouts are highly nutritious and enhance glutathione levels even more than regular broccoli; thus, they help with both phases of liver cleansing.
The benefits of broccoli sprouts aren’t limited to the liver. They include precursors of sulforaphane, a compound that has been reported to help prevent some diseases.
Grapes
Liver Detox Foods – Grapes
Grapes are beneficial fruits in the battle against liver illnesses because they contain a powerful plant compound known as resveratrol.
This compound helps minimize liver inflammation, which can help to boost antioxidant levels and prevent liver damage.
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is a native herb that has been used for hundreds of years to cure liver disorders.
While research on this supplement is still underway, it appears to have antioxidant and toxin-blocking properties, which can help with the recovery of your liver after a previous injury.
Milk thistle is a supplement that you’ll come across in most organic health outlets.
Oatmeal
Liver Detox Foods – Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a simple way to add more fiber to your diet. Fiber is a crucial component of digestion, and the fibers found in oats can be beneficial to your liver.
What’s more, oatmeal is also rich in compounds known as beta-glucans.
If you want to include oatmeal in your diet, buy steel-cut oats or whole oats instead of the instant kind.
Instant oatmeal may contain fillers like wheat gluten or sugars, which aren’t as beneficial to your overall wellbeing.
Prickly Pear
Foods to Cleanse Liver
Prickly pear, or Opuntia ficus-indica, in scientific terms, is a popular edible cactus. It’s been used as a therapy for conditions such as fatigue, liver disease, ulcers, and wounds.
According to studies, prickly pear juice can help keep antioxidant and inflammatory levels steady while reducing oxidative damage to the liver following heavy alcohol use.
Soy
Soy is not only a nutritious protein substitute for meat, but it can also help to prevent your liver from being fatty. Breaking down and processing fat is one of the liver’s main functions.
Eating soy can help to decrease liver fat accumulation and protect against alcohol-related liver cirrhosis. Soy is present in edamame, tofu, and certain types of non-dairy yogurt.
Water
Foods to Cleanse Liver
If you’re trying to cleanse your liver, don’t overlook the importance of being hydrated. Drinking adequate water supports optimal liver function and helps eliminate toxins from the body.
Watermelon
Liver Detox Foods – Watermelon
Watermelon is another fruit that’s good for your liver. A two-cup serving is just right as per the guidelines of the ALF (American Liver Foundation).
Watermelon also has massive amounts of lycopene, an antioxidant that has been proven to boost the levels of glutathione in the body.
Foods to Avoid When Cleansing the Liver
Finding an optimal balance in your diet will keep your liver healthy. But, some foods present a challenge to the liver when it comes to breaking them down. They include:
Fatty foods: These include fast food meals, fried foods, and restaurant takeout. Packaged chips and snacks also contain massive amounts of fat.
Liquor: If you’re looking to give your liver a much-needed break and you take liquor, consider reducing your intake or eliminating it from your diet altogether.
Salt: Some easy ways to minimize salt intake include avoiding canned meats or veggies, avoiding bacon and salted deli meats, and eating out less often.
Starchy foods: These included processed foods such as bread, cakes, pasta, etc.
Sugar: Cutting down on table sugar and sugary foods such as candies, baked goods, and morning cereal can help alleviate the stress on your liver.
Final Thought
To sum it all up, although the liver primary takes care of itself, you can help boost its wellbeing by consuming certain foods and beverages, as illustrated above.
Consuming liver-friendly foods can help you avoid potential health issues in the future.
Printable Liver Detox Foods (PDF)
| Foods That Help Cleansing Liver | Foods to Avoid When Cleansing the Liver |
|---|---|
| Apples | Fatty foods: These include fast food meals, fried foods, and restaurant takeout. |
| Avocado | Liquor: Mainly spirits such as brandy, gin, vodka, tequila, whisky etc. |
| Berries: Blackberries, blueberries, cranberries etc. | Salt: Minimize intake of bacon, canned meats or veggies and salted deli meats. |
| Broccoli Sprouts | Starchy foods: These included processed foods such as bread, cakes, pasta, etc. |
| Grapes | Sugar: Cutting down on sugar and sugary foods such as candies, baked goods, and morning cereal. |
| Milk Thistle | |
| Oatmeal | |
| Prickly Pear | |
| Soy: Edamame, tofu and certain types of non-dairy yogurt | |
| Water | |
| Watermelon |
See Also