The liver – together with the kidney – acts as the body’s filtration system, preventing toxins and pollutants from actually circulating all over the organs.
Despite the efficiency of the liver in performing its job, the fact is that too much stress piled on to it can cause severe problems – in some cases, causing this vital organ to fail with its function.
This is where the word “detox” comes in. The idea is to “flush” out the toxins in the body by following a certain diet and limiting / stopping the amount of toxin-infested materials from entering your system until all the others are completely removed.
Unfortunately, this fosters the idea that you’ll have to:
1 starve yourself to perform a detox and
2 you’ll have to confine yourself to an unappetizing liquid diet.
Although those are one way to do a liver detox, that’s not the only one. If you really love your liver and want to take care of it, you can simply up your intake of liver-loving food items like:
1 – Water
Yes –it’s not food, but you’ll be amazed at just how well water can help flush your system and rejuvenate the liver and kidney. Water is the ultimate flushing product – it acts as a powerful hydrant that aids with the distribution of vitamins while getting rid of toxins through sweat, urine, and bowel movement. Unfortunately, very few people actually drink the required 8-glasses a day but this is a very minimum effort considering all the benefits you’ll get! Note though that if you’re going to drink water, it’s best to focus on those that have been specially filtered for drinking purposes.
2 – Green Tea
Another liver-loving drink is green tea. Although technically not food, green tea contains antioxidants which can help get rid of any toxic material in your intestines. You can add some lemon into the mix if you’re not happy with how green tea tastes.
Specifically, go for milk thistle and dandelion root since these are the ones best for liver protection. As much as possible, go for non-powder green tea.
3 – Fruit Infused Water
This one is incredibly popular nowadays and has been circulating in Facebook for months. Basically, you’ll soak favorite fruits in water overnight and use it as your basic hydrant for the day.
It doesn’t really change the taste of water much, but the infusion process allows for the transfer of vitamins and minerals in the water! The best option is usually lemon infused water with some peppermint, but the choice is really up to you.
4 – Avocado
Avocado is currently one of the most popular detox fruits today. They aid with the production of glutathione and manage to provide tons of vitamins and minerals with each serving. Keep in mind though that they’re best eaten fresh with no other additions that could cause imbalance.
5 – Apples
The adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is true. In this case, apples are loaded with pectin which is used by the liver for handling toxins that pass through it every day. With more pectin in your diet, the higher the toxin load your liver can clean out in a given day.
6 – Artichokes
High in cynarin, these vegetables manages to protect the tissues of the liver even as it increases bile flow for better digestion. Aside from being a very powerful antioxidant, artichokes can also help you lose weight through increased metabolism.
Note that all cruciferous and leafy green vegetables are actually counted as perfect for the liver – kale, spinach, etc.
7 – Beets
Beets have a way of cleansing and purifying the blood which lowers the amount of work your liver has to do. Plus, it’s also rich in fiber, capable of making you feel full for longer periods of time! Beets are a popular ingredient in making juice cleansing recipes today but eating them as solid fruits will give you more access to their goodness!
8 – Turmeric
Turmeric doesn’t just make food taste good, it also helps remove enzymes that cause dietary problems.
9 – Citrus
Basically, all types of food items high in the vitamin C are perfect for the liver. Studies show that vitamin C can help prevent fatty liver disease.
10 – Onion
Much like garlic, onions also contain minerals that promote the health of liver tissue as well as aid with the removal of toxins. No needs to try complicated onion recipes – just add this product in some of your food items and eat them with relish to gain the positive effects!
11 – Coffee
Yes – coffee is healthy for the liver, but only in small amounts. Sticking to black coffee without too much sugar is always a good idea. Study shows that coffee aids with the production of bile, plus it also comes with a host of other health benefits. If you want some flavor in your coffee, add some lemon wedges in the cup.
12 – Cilantro
A powerful herb that can be added to almost all types of food preparations, cilantro is also a well-known liver-loving product What’s great about this is that you can plant this in your backyard and just pick some up whenever they’re needed!
13 – Asparagus
Perhaps one of the best diuretics known to man – asparagus helps with the production of urine which is one of the body’s natural ways of flushing out toxins. If your urine production is quite low, try munching on these stalks to promote liquid flushing.
14 – Tomatoes
Tomatoes are popular for their cancer-fighting lycopene content, but they’re also rich in glutathione known for improving liver function.
15 – Walnuts
If you’re looking for a healthy liver-loving snack, walnuts are it! They’re high in omega-3 fatty acids which help with liver protection. Note though that they’re high in calories too so be careful.
16 – Olive Oil
Olive oil is credited with so many health benefits today and as it happens, it also works wonders for the liver! Specifically, flax seed, hemp, and olive manage to suck toxins circulating in the body and flush them out quickly and efficiently.
17 – Garlic
Add a bit of garlic each time you eat – perhaps grating the material and sprinkling some of them in your recipes. Garlic is known for its high sulfur compounds which helps reactive the liver. This manages to boosts the organ’s function, making it easier for the liver to handle and flush out toxins.
NOTE- ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USING ANY THING NEW IN YOUR DIET.
