Liver health
Your liver works hard to keep you well. It stands sentry, ready to transform and eliminate any harmful compounds that find their way into your body.
Even if you carefully avoid pesticides and chemicals, you unavoidably absorb toxins from gasoline fumes, pollutants, second-hand smoke, out-gassing furniture and building products, etc.
One of the best ways to keep your liver from becoming overworked is by including delicious super-foods in your diet. These top-quality foods are rich in compounds that help your liver do its job more effectively and efficiently. It’s like keeping your car tuned up—there’s less wear and tear.
You probably have several of the liver’s most powerful allies waiting for you in your refrigerator.
Super Foods to Support the Liver
Avocado: Avocados are rich in glutathione, sometimes called the “mother of antioxidants.” Your liver needs glutathione to do its detoxification work.
Cabbage family vegetables: Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens are all members of the cabbage family. These vegetables are rich in sulfur compounds that bump up the activity of the detoxification process in the liver.
Cilantro: This tasty herb is often included in detoxification programs. Add it to your salads or smoothies.
Garlic: Just a small amount of this pungent herb aids your liver in its cleansing efforts. Garlic contributes the antioxidant selenium and sulfur compounds that increase beneficial detoxification activity.
Green tea: Rich in potent antioxidants, green tea shields liver cells from damage by toxic substances.
Greens: Dark-green leafy vegetables are your liver’s best friend. Extremely high in plant chlorophylls, they protect you from environmental toxins. Because greens decrease the absorption of heavy metals, chemicals, and pesticides, they offer powerful support for your liver. Take advantage of these wonderful foods. Eat them raw, cooked, sautéed, or juiced.
Lemon juice: Lemon juice flushes out unwanted wastes from your body. It encourages the liver to produce bile, required for digestion. Lemon juice aids digestion by encouraging hydrochloric acid production in the stomach. Anytime you aid digestion, the liver has less work to do.
Olive oil: Olive oil is a good-quality fat with an affinity to the liver.
Turmeric: This powerful spice protects the liver from damage, and encourages regeneration of liver cells. In addition, it increases natural bile production and helps keep the body toxin-free.
