Liver is the body’s personal detoxing system. It removes toxins from the body and keeps your body healthy and clean. Liver is also responsible for ensuring that nutrients are more easily absorbed, it stores minerals, iron, and vitamin A, destroys old blood cells besides producing essential proteins and cholesterol and to digest food, it produces bile.
Who Needs A Liver Detox?
To help understand whether you need a liver detox, below are a few signs to tell you that your liver may need a little help;
- Bloating and gas
- Acid reflux and heartburn
- Constipation
- Skin and/or eyes that are yellowish
- Inability to lose weight
- High blood pressure
- Moodiness, anxiety or depression
- Dark urine
- Chronic fatigue
- Poor appetite
What’s Causing It?
Below are a few factors that can affect liver function:
- excessive alcohol consumption
- Consuming excess sugar
- Being overweight
- Incorrectly taking your medication
- High doses of supplements
- Poor gut health
Should I Do A Liver Detox?
There are a few concerns when it comes to liver detoxes and cleanses. These cleanses, if not done after consulting a dietician/nutritionist or your doctor may deprive you of essential nutrients, leading to deficiencies and malnutrition. Also, there have yet to be any scientific studies that support the benefits of liver detoxes and the products that claim to help to detox the liver are not regulated. That said, below is a list of liver-friendly foods that you can add to your diet, boosting your body’s personal detoxing system
Liver-Friendly Foods
1. Green Tea
Green tea is rich in antioxidants, and is good for the liver health.
For instance, a Japanese study published in the British Medical Journal found a strong association between drinking 5–10 cups of green tea per day and improved blood markers of liver health.
2. Cruciferous Vegetables
A food group that consists of broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and cabbage. These vegetables can help to boost liver health because they are rich in the compound glutathione.
3. Nuts
High in omega 3 fatty acids, as well as antioxidants and vitamin E, nuts are exactly what your health, and your liver, need.
A finding published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology found that, over a six-month period, 106 people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease experienced improved levels of liver enzymes following their regular consumption of nuts.
4. Olive Oil
Olive oil is considered one of the best sources of healthy fat in the world, and this can help to benefit your liver.
5. Berries
Berries, particularly the deep-hued ones like blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, are rich in antioxidants known as polyphenols, and these plant compounds may help to protect the liver from damage.
6. Coffee
Believe it or not, coffee may be what’s keeping your liver so healthy, as a result of its protective properties.
A study found that drinking coffee helps to lower the risk of permanent liver damage in people with chronic liver disease.
Which Foods To Avoid?
As there are foods that can help to keep your liver healthy, there are also those that may affect its health. These include:
- Fatty foods
- Processed carbohydrates
- Sugar
- Excess salt and of course,
- Alcohol
(Source: www.longevitylive.com)
