11 Foods that Cleanse the Liver Naturally
Liver is one of the busiest organ in the human body. It works
tirelessly to detoxify blood, produce the bile needed for the
digestion of fat, and also store essential vitamins, minerals
and iron.
The liver also makes proteins important for blood
clotting and other functions. Liver serves as the body’s
primary site of detoxification, metabolizing harmful external
substances such as alcohol, drugs, and toxic chemicals;
breaking down excess insulin, estrogen, and other
hormones.
Improving liver function helps give the whole body
a reboot.
Important functions
of liver
Destruction of old red blood cells.
Processing nutrients absorbed by the intestines.
Produces essential chemicals to help blood clot
properly.
Regulating blood composition to balance protein, fat and
sugar.
Breaking down and metabolizing of alcohol and
medications.
Producing essential proteins and cholesterol.
Storing of minerals, iron and Vitamin A.
Removing toxins from the blood stream such as
bilirubin, ammonia.
Causes associated
with impaired liver
function
Alcohol abuse
Prescription drugs, including acetaminophen, herbal
remedies
Viral infections
Tattoos or body piercings
Blood transfusions
Exposure to certain industrial chemicals and
environmental toxins
Unprotected sex
Obesity, and a diet high in saturated fats, and processed
foods
Autoimmune diseases
Symptoms your liver
isn’t functioning
efficiently
Bloating and gas
Acid reflux and heartburn
Constipation
Skin and/or eyes that are yellowish (a symptom of
jaundice)
Inability to lose weight
Moodiness, anxiousness, or depression
Dark urine
Chronic fatigue
Excessive sweating
Bruise easily
Poor appetite
To take care of the body, liver must work efficiently. An
unhealthy diet and poor lifestyle can overload the liver. When
the liver is overworked and overloaded, it can’t process
toxins and fat in an efficient way. There are many foods that
can help to cleanse and rejuvenate the liver naturally by
stimulating its natural ability to clean toxic waste from the
body.
Here are the best 11 liver cleansing super foods:
1. Garlic
Garlic contains allicin and selenium, two natural compounds
that play an integral role in the protection of the liver from
damage.
Garlic contains numerous sulfur-containing
compounds that has the ability to activate liver enzymes
responsible for expelling toxins from the body. Garlic also
helps to reduce cholesterol.
Eat 2 to 3 raw garlic cloves everyday instead of processed
garlic or powder.
2. Grapefruit
Grapefruit is high in vitamin C and glutathione antioxidants, it
helps to increase natural cleansing processes of the liver.
Grapefruit contains over 70mg of glutathione, which assists
the liver in the production of detox enzymes.
Glutathione
help in several processes in the body, tissue building and
repair, production of proteins and strengthening immune
system.
Drink a small amount of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice for
a few days.
3. Turmeric
The main active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is a
powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Turmeric
increases natural bile production, helps for regeneration of
damaged liver cells and aids in keeping the body toxin-free.
Turmeric also reduces joint pain, is an effective antidepressant, aids in digestion, helps to restore a healthy
blood sugar balance, and supports healthy liver tissue and
liver metabolism[1].
Include Turmeric in your food or take Turmeric capsules for
two week.
4. Avocados
Avocados are rich in glutathione, a compound that is
necessary for the liver to cleanse harmful toxins and function
properly.
Avocados also helps to reduce low-density lipoproteins or
“bad” cholesterol(LDL) and increase high-density lipoproteins
or “good” cholesterol(HDL).
Eat 2 or 3 avocados every week for the liver cleansing.
5. Lemons
Warm lemon water is a great way to detox your liver, it
produces more enzymes in response to water with lemon
than to any other food. Lemon contain very high amounts of
vitamin C and antioxidant D-Limonene, which helps to
produce enzymes for digestion and helps mineral absorption
by the liver.
Also D-limonene is a powerful cancer fighting antioxidant.
Drinking warm lemon water in the morning helps stimulate
the liver. You can add honey for a taste but not sugar.
6. Apples
Apples contain high amount of pectin which helps to release
toxins from the digestive tract. This in turn prevents liver to
handle toxic load during the cleansing process.
Pectin has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol(LDL)
levels.
7. Green Tea
Green Tea beverage is full of antioxidants known as
catechins, a compound which assist liver function. Drinking
green tea daily can help body to flush out toxins. Catechins
in tea stimulate lipid catabolism in the liver which prevents fat
accumulation in the liver.
8. Beetroots
Beetroots are extremely high in plant-flavonoids and betacarotene, which stimulate & improve overall liver function.
Beetroots also naturally cleanse the gallbladder and improve
bile flow.
9. Dandelion Root
The root of the dandelion plant may act as a mild laxative
and used to improve digestion. Preliminary research
suggests that dandelion may help improve liver and
gallbladder function. Dandelion root has a natural diuretic
effect, allowing your liver to eliminate toxins more quickly. It
also helps to strengthen the immune system, balance blood
sugar levels, relieve heartburn, and soothe digestive upset.
10. Walnuts
Walnuts contain high amount of the amino acid arginine
which aids the liver in detoxifying ammonia. Walnut also
contain glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good
for liver-cleansing.
11. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes are rich in potassium and beta-carotene.
Increase in potassium level can help liver function efficiently.
Potassium rich foods help to lower systolic blood pressure,
lower cholesterol and support a healthy cardiovascular
system, in addition to cleanse liver.
Cleansing and detoxing the liver helps to clear pesticides,
medications, heavy metals from your body, resulting in a
healthy liver. Keep your liver running efficiently all the time,
add above foods into your diet to maintain healthy liver!
