We live in a world where disease is everywhere, and becoming more prevalent by the day. This should not come as a surprise, the environment we choose to surround ourselves with is extremely toxic; the food we eat, the air we breathe, the chemicals we use to clean out houses all have become potentially hazardous to our health.
One of the main ways to rid your body of toxins is through the liver. The liver helps regulate most of the chemical levels in the blood and excretes a product called bile to help break down fats, preparing them for digestion and absorption. All the blood that leaves the stomach and the intestines passes through the liver, where the blood is processed, broken down, balanced and made into nutrients for the body to use. The liver works constantly to detoxify the blood and produce bile to store the essential vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. When the liver stops functioning properly, the digestive process, especially the digestions of fats is greatly affected.
To begin the detoxification process of your liver I suggest doing a liver cleanse! It is extremely simple and once it is done you will feel so much better. A liver cleanse should be done for no more than 3 days, I like to do it on Saturday and Sunday limiting myself to the weekend.
The liver cleanse that I like to do it the Dr. Oz liver cleanse; you can visit his website here, and find everything that you need to get started!
After your liver cleanse is done, you should strive to include the below foods into your everyday diet.
These are the best foods to help the liver:
- Garlic
Whether you love it or hate it, garlic is filled with a variety of powerful benefits for your liver and your body as a whole. Selenium is a mineral in garlic that increases the action of antioxidants to assist the liver in the detoxification process. Arginine is an amino acid in garlic that plays an important role in relaxing the blood vessels, which helps to ease the blood pressure in your liver. Garlic also contains B6, which acts as an anti-inflammatory in the liver, and Vitamin C, which is the body’s primary antioxidant defender against cellular oxidation that leads to cell damage.
- Grapefruit
Grapefruit is high in Vitamin C as well as glutathione, which is produced naturally by the liver. Glutathione is involved in several processes in the body, including tissue building and repair, production of chemicals and proteins that are needed in the body, and strengthening the immune system.
- Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes (along with carrots and winter squash such as butternut and pumpkin) are all rich in beta-carotene, which is a natural anti-inflammatory nutrient that your body loves. Beta-carotene converts to Vitamin A in the body, directly in the liver.
- Lemon
Lemons love your liver and your liver loves them right back! Lemons are a natural cleansing food and essentially one of the best to “get things going” in all areas of the body. Lemons provide a plethora of antioxidants, primarily Vitamin C, and they help your liver produce more enzymes which give you more energy and help with digestion.
Avocado is rich in glutathione-producing compounds, avocados actively promote liver health by protecting it against toxic overload and boosting its cleansing power. Research has shown that eating one or two avocados a week for as little as 30 days can repair a damaged liver.
- Turmeric
The main active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Curcumin is believed to help protect the bile duct to improve the flow of bile, acting as a liver cleanser. It helps rejuvenate liver cells by preventing toxins and alcohol from being converted into harmful compounds that can damage the liver. Sprinkle a little turmeric over your food, a little can go a long way!
- Cruciferous Vegetables
Eating foods like cauliflower and broccoli will increase the amount of glucosinolate in your system, adding to the enzyme production in the liver. These natural enzymes help flush out carcinogens and other toxins out of the body, which may significantly lower cancer associated risks.