These days, most people perform more than one job. Your liver is no exception. Its main job is to filter blood coming from the digestive tract before it travels through the body. The liver also detoxifies chemicals, creates bile to break down fats, and on the side, the liver produces proteins to help the blood clot when necessary. Your liver is one hard-working organ. Better take care of it! Read all of the delicious and nutritious foods you can eat to help cleanse your liver to avoid it taking any “sick days” from work.
1. Beets
Beets—they do the body good. Especially the liver. Betaine, pectin and betalains are three of the many nutrients this superfood provides, helping the liver remove and eliminate toxins in the blood. Above is a delicious Apple and Roasted Beet Salad. See also #10.
2. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens, the darker the better, are some of the most nutrient- and vitamin-rich vegetables on the planet. Not only do these veggies carry calcium, they’re packed with chlorophyll which purifies the blood — good news for the liver, and also Vitamin K. Here’s some more good news: leafy greens neutralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides. . .saving the liver from working overtime.
3. Lemons And Limes
These flavorful citrus fruits are full of Vitamin C, and C aids the liver by neutralizing toxins. Removing toxins from the liver saves the body from a massive release of free radicals. Instead, lemons and limes stimulate the release of enzymes that help turn toxins into a water-soluble form the body can easily excrete. For the best result, experts advise squeezing fresh lemon juice into a glass of water first thing in the morning.
4. Broccoli
Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and Brussels sprouts, help turn dangerous toxins into less toxic compounds that the body can safely eliminate. One study showed that this positive effect lasted two weeks after people at the veggies!
5. Garlic
Little garlic cloves pack two powerhouse nutrients for your liver: allicin and selenium. They work to cleanse and nourish the entire body, including the blood which helps the liver. Garlic also activates enzymes in the liver that flush out toxins and assist with overall digestion.
6. Onions
Like garlic, onions are also rich in allicin that cleanse the liver and help with digestion. And the flavonoids they pack repel toxins like onions repel a goodnight kiss. Onions also provide antioxidants which protect the body from those pesky free radicals.
7. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamins A, B6, C, pantothenic acid, biotin, potassium, manganese and copper. Wow! With all these vitamins and nutrients, sweet potatoes help many parts of the body. The antioxidants they deliver fight free radicals, and this helps the liver to stay clean and do its job.
8. Lentils
Lentils are high in fiber, great for cleaning out toxins before they are absorbed back into the bloodstream. A bowl of hot lentil soup will save the liver from working two shifts.
9. Apples
Come and get your pectin! This soluble fiber, found in apples, helps remove toxins, keeping your liver clean and lightening its workload. Apples are also rich in malic acid, a nutrient that removes carcinogens and other toxins from the blood.
10. Walnuts
Walnuts have a low level of toxicity and are especially rich in properties that help the body to produce glutathione, the “mother of all antioxidants.” Three Japanese researchers praised walnuts as “remarkable” for the rare and powerful antioxidants they provide. And their polyphenols can reduce chemically-induced damage to the liver. Seven walnuts a day is all most people need to enjoy the health benefits these tree nuts deliver.
11. Pumpkin Seeds
Your liver needs fat to function properly, and pumpkin seeds have a healthy amount of these beneficial fats that also protect important cellular components. The antioxidants and fiber in pumpkin seeds help the liver to work more effectively.
12. Carrots
Carrots are extremely high in plant-flavonoids and beta-carotene which converts to Vitamin A in the liver. Eating carrots can help stimulate and improve your overall liver function.
13. Green Tea
Antioxidants—beverage style! These cell-helping, free-radical busting antioxidants are known as catechins, and they help your liver to function, and in some cases even help to fight liver disease. What’s in your cup?
14. Avocados
Called a super-food, avocados helps the body produce glutathione, an important compound that helps detox the liver. This delicious drupe also delivers close to 20 essential vitamins and minerals.
15. Olive Oil
Olive oil helps the liver work less. This healthy oil provides a lipid base that can remove harmful toxins…thus removing some of the burden from your hard-working organ.
16. Cabbage
When you eat cabbage, you give your liver a real boost. Cabbage activates two enzymes crucial for cleansing the liver of toxins. And green cabbage, in particular, is high in chlorophyll, and chlorophyll purifies the blood and strengthens the liver.
17. Quinoa
Pronounced keen-wah, this whole grain’s star is on the rise. It’s a complete protein and it’s gluten-free. That’s good news for livers everywhere, because there seems to be a link between gluten and liver disease. The folate and vitamin B quinoa packs actually helps eliminate toxins.
18. Turmeric
If liver had a favorite spice, turmeric would get the nod. Smelling like orange and ginger, this somewhat bitter-tasting spice is found in curry powder and sometimes replaces saffron powder. Tumeric not only promotes overall liver health, it assists the enzymes that cleanse the liver of carcinogens and has even proven to repair damaged liver cells. All signs point to sprinkling some turmeric on your next bowl of soup or plate of veggies.
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