The liver is the largest internal organ, responsible for many essential body functions. It helps to deliver essential nutrients to other organs, helps convert food into energy, and breaks down toxins and chemicals naturally absorbed by the body, and then helps them be excreted through the urine.
Because the liver is primarily responsible for the body’s natural detoxification process, it is very important to care for the liver. Ensuring that it is functioning optimally will prevent you from suffering from many health problems.
The liver is a hardworking, multifunctional organ that deserves proper care and maintenance, and there are a variety of ways to help keep it healthy. For example, eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, drinking alcohol only in moderation, avoiding toxins (such as smoking), and being careful of the medicines you ingest as many harm the liver.
We are lucky to be living in a time where there is wider access to information, affording us better options for maintaining good health.
There is another effective way to keep your liver in tip-top shape, and that is by doing a liver cleanse.
A liver cleansing diet is one of the safest ways to keep your liver healthy. It is a natural method of detoxifying your liver. This diet is less impacting and confronting than a liver cleanse.
You eat antioxidant foods that boost the liver’s ability to break down toxins and fight free radicals (which are highly damaging to the cells and tissues of the body).
Liver Cleansing Ingredients
Here are some liver cleansing foods to add to your diet, and a few of their particular benefits.
Apples
Apples contain a high level of pectin which is a chemical that aids in the body’s detoxification process. The apple skin also helps in digestion.
Asparagus
Asparagus is rich in glutathione and sulfur that aids in the body’s detoxification process. It also contains powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.
Avocado
Classified as a superfood, avocados help the body naturally produce glutathione. This compound helps the liver rid itself of toxins.
Beets
Beets help break down toxic waste in the body and help flush it out. Beets have high levels of fiber and vitamin C, making them a powerful antioxidant. Beets also boost enzymatic activity and help with bile flow.
Berries
Berries are packed with powerful nutrients. Blueberries help increase immune cell response and antioxidant enzymes. They are also full of fiber to help cleanse the liver and the digestive tract.
Broccoli and Cauliflower
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower contain glucosinolate which aids the liver in producing detoxifying enzymes that flush out toxins and pollutants in the body.
Carrots
Carrots are high in beta-carotene and plant-flavonoids which generally help support liver function.
Celery
This is a great liver cleansing food; celery is loaded with antioxidants. It contains diuretic properties that can help remove toxins and contaminants in the body. Consumed regularly, celery can help promote kidney health and prevent liver diseases.
Citrus Fruits
Lemons, oranges, lime, and grapefruit are some of the best fruits to help boost the liver’s ability to detoxify your body. They help the liver produce more detoxifying enzymes to flush out toxins and pollutants. Lemon juice taken daily will boost your liver health immensely!
Green Tea
Green tea is great for your liver because it contains catechins – plant-based antioxidants that are known to improve liver function. It also increases phase 2 liver detoxification reactions.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens such as kale, collards, dandelion leaves, and spinach are loaded with antioxidants that are perfect for your liver health and can help block free radicals. They also contain chlorophyll which filters toxins.
Sesame Seeds
These little seeds contain sesamin, which is a compound that protects the liver from damage. Sesame seeds are a powerful antioxidant that can protect the liver from the damaging effects of alcohol too.
Turmeric
Contains curcumin that helps increase glutathione levels. It is a powerful antioxidant that repairs liver cells. It further helps the liver in detoxing metals and boosts bile production.
Walnuts
Walnuts are high in glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids that promote and support natural liver detoxification. High in the amino acid arginine, walnuts also assist the liver in detoxifying ammonia.
Watercress
A herb that contains phenethyl-isothiocyanate, watercress assists in killing cancer-causing substances.
