The liver is a vital organ that supports almost every organ in the body. It has an important role in detoxification as it converts the nutrients from food into compounds that the body can utilize.
Moreover, it removes toxic compounds and converts them into harmless substances. Hence, it is of utmost importance to maintain the proper function of this organ.
How does your liver help you detox?
The blood from the digestive organs reaches the liver. It carries nutrients, toxic compounds, and medication. This is how it eliminates byproducts and removes alcohol from the blood.
Liver Detox Food #1: Garlic
Many people can’t stand the strong smell of garlic. However, you should include it in your diet since garlic is significantly beneficial, especially for the liver. It contains nutrients like arginine, selenium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Selenium has the ability to increase the activity of antioxidants, thus helping the liver in the detoxification process.
Arginine relaxes the blood vessels and improves blood pressure in the liver, vitamin B6 acts as an anti-inflammatory agent in the liver while vitamin C protects against cellular oxidation.
Liver Detox food #2: Turmeric
Turmeric is significantly helpful for the liver. Its active compound, curcumin has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can promote liver detoxification and prevent alcohol and toxic matter from being converted into harmful ingredients to the liver. What is more, turmeric can increase bile flow, thus cleansing the liver.
Liver Detox Food #3: Matcha Green Tea
Green tea has anti-cancer properties. According to a recent study, green tea can promote liver health and proper detoxification. Green tea contains compounds that can increase the production of detoxification enzymes in people with low levels of these proteins.
Liver Detox Food #4: Avocados
Avocados are packed with glutathione essential for liver detoxification. What is more, they contain vitamin C and vitamin E, both of which have potent antioxidant properties and can protect the liver from damage. Furthermore, avocado is rich in vitamin K, which also has the ability to protect the liver.
Liver Detox Food #5: Cruciferous Vegetables
Veggies, especially those from the cruciferous family, such as broccoli, cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts, are beneficial for the overall liver health. They can prevent free radical damage and stimulate the production of detoxification enzymes, thus protecting the liver.
Liver Detox Food #6: Beets
Beets are rich in betaine and polyphenols. It has been shown that the regular consumption of beets can improve the ability of the liver to produce superoxide dismutase and glutathione which are critical for detoxification.
Having the ability to stimulate detoxification, beets can protect against toxic chemicals. According to one study, the regular consumption of beet juice can prevent skin and lung cancer. Another study showed that the antioxidants from beets caused apoptosis in leukemia cells.
Liver Detox Food #7: Grapefruit
Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, a nutrient that can prevent cellular oxidation. Moreover, this citrus fruit is packed with glutathione that helps the liver in the production of detox enzymes. One grapefruit contains more than 70 milligrams of glutathione. It is used in various body processes, including the production of proteins and tissue repair.