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 anti-depressant, 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 beta-carotene, 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!