Doctors all around the world talk about hypertension as “the silent killer”. But liver disease is in the same category. According to some stats, fatty liver disease is something that 80 million Americans suffer from. Most people have never even heard of fatty liver disease. Some of the people suffering from the disease do not know they have it. Unlike the popular opinion, fatty liver disease is not related to alcohol consumption. What you can do to prevent the disease is consume liver detox foods. These foods help you flush out toxins, the main cause for fatty liver disease.
The cause for the disease is consumption of starches, refined carbs, processed foods, and sugar. These plague diets and damage the entire body. Here are some liver detox foods you should consume to prevent liver disease and help your liver.
Garlic
Some people cannot stomach garlic. The acidity is just too much. But garlic is one of the healthiest vegetables you can find. Just a small amount of garlic will activate all liver enzymes that flush out toxins. In addition, garlic contains natural compounds that help your liver cleanse.
Onion
For those that cannot stomach garlic and its acidity, onions are always a great alternative. Onions contain almost the same healthy nutrients as garlic. The difference is onion comes without the acidity.
Grapefruit
Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C are a welcome addition to your plate. Grapefruit and other citrus fruits are high in vitamin C and antioxidants. That helps support the natural cleansing abilities of your liver. The best way to consume grapefruit is to squeeze one grapefruit and drink.
Beets and carrots
Both beets and carrots are rich in plant-flavonoids and beta carotene. These two active compounds help with the aging process, but also stimulate liver function. A beets and carrots salad is a great dinner meal.
Learn the healthy facets of fasting – because it’s not just about skipping meals!
Click here to learn more!
Leafy green vegetables
The best part is that you can consume leafy greens raw, cooked, or even juiced. There are so many ways you can add spinach, kale, arugula, mustard greens, and other leafy veggies to your diet. They are high chlorophyll, a compound that soaks up all environmental toxins form your blood stream. Leafy greens neutralize heavy metals and chemicals, supporting the natural cleansing process of your body.
Avocado
Avocado is known as one of the best omega-3 fatty acids source. In addition to fatty acids, avocado contains glutathione, a compound essential to help your liver cleanse toxins. You can consume for breakfast, as avocado is a great protein source to help you kick start the day.
Apples
The saying is “an apple per day keeps the doctor away”. There are so many health benefits of consuming apples. In terms of liver detox foods, apples contain pectin, a chemical that helps your body cleanse toxins from the digestive tract. This helps the liver handle the toxins load.
Alternative grains
Wheat, flour, and other standard grains are actually high in processed sugars. That is toxins for your body. It is time to make a change. Grains like millet and quinoa are a great alternative. They are gluten-free. People with gluten-sensitivity need to pay extra attention to their liver and the foods they consume.
Cruciferous vegetables
All cruciferous vegetables are good. However, broccoli and cauliflower are on the top of the list since they contain glucosinolate, an active compound that supports enzyme production. The enzymes your liver produces flush out carcinogens from the body.
Lemons and limes
We talked about citrus fruits when we mentioned grapefruit. Another option is lemons and limes, two other fruits high in vitamin C, and low in sugar. Vitamin C helps your body synthesize toxic materials, making them easy to flush out. Drinking a glass of water with freshly squeezed lemon is the best way to start the day.
Cabbage
Same like broccoli and cauliflower, cabbage supports your liver to produce enzymes. Cabbage comes in different forms, like cabbage soup, kimchi, sauerkraut, and coleslaw.
Turmeric
Turmeric is your liver’s best friend. This spice is the best for cleansing and detoxifying your liver. You can add turmeric to any stew, soup, or veggie dish. Turmeric assists enzymes that flush out toxins. You can even get some turmeric supplements.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain more potassium than banana, and more vitamin C than carrots. One medium sized sweet potato contains around 700 milligrams of potassium, and even more beta-carotene and fiber. Sugars from sweet potato are slowly released into the bloodstream, and they do not cause spike in blood sugar. In fact, sweet potato helps your body control the blood sugar level.
Tomato sauces
Tomatoes are part of the liver detox foods. But you can reap the most benefits by preparing a tomato sauce. That way, you get the most out of the potassium in the tomato. Use only organic tomatoes for maximum benefits.
Beans
Next on the line of liver detox foods are beans, all of which are extremely rich in potassium. The list includes kidney beans, lima beans, and white beans. You can substitute them in any hummus recipe and consume with celery or carrot sticks.
Banana
Considered the best fruit in terms of value to price ratio, banana is great addition to your smoothie as part of a liver detox diet. Banana contains potassium, liver, and many other minerals and vitamins that improve your digestion and flush toxins and heavy metals.
Olive oil
Many cold-pressed organic oils help your liver flush out toxins. That includes olive oil, but also hemp and flaxseed oils. Use them in moderation. Olive oil provides a lipid base that absorbs toxins in your body. By doing that, takes the burden off the liver.
Walnuts
All nuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids. But walnuts contain arginine, an amino acid the helps your liver detoxify ammonia. They also support normal and natural liver cleanse. Just make sure to chew walnuts so that they release the amino acids.
Green tea
Green tea has become a staple in healthy living in the past few years. The reason is simple, green tea contains more antioxidants than any other food. Green tea contains plant-based antioxidants. They are called catechins, and they assist your liver in the flushing out toxins function.
Why you need liver cleanse?
To understand why you need a liver cleanse, let’s take a look at some of the essential functions of your liver. When your liver is burdened with toxins, it cannot perform properly. Here are the functions of the liver:
– Process nutrients absorbed by the intestines
– Regulate blood composition to balance sugar, fat, and protein
– Produce essential chemicals that help blood clot properly
– Metabolize alcohol and medications
– Remove toxins from the blood stream
– Store minerals, iron, and vitamin A
– Produce essential proteins and cholesterol
Nowadays, we are faced with many environmental toxins, as well as low quality diet. When your diet is not rich in healthy nutrients, your liver suffers. Some of the risk factors that are associated with impaired liver function include low potassium levels, alcohol abuse, exposure to environmental toxins and industrial chemicals, unprotected sex, obesity, diet high in processed foods, diet high in saturated fats, intravenous drug use, high levels of triglycerides in the blood, viral infections, prescription medications, and autoimmune diseases.
Symptoms of liver disease
You should consume liver detox foods on a regular basis. But if you notice any of the following symptoms, it is time to take things to the extreme. Once you notice the symptoms, chances are you are suffering from a liver disease. Check with your doctor, and try to increase your consumption of liver detox foods. Here are the symptoms to pay attention to:
– Bloating and gas
– Constipation
– Inability to lose weight
– High blood pressure
– Acid reflux
– Moodiness and anxiousness
– Chronic fatigue
– Poor appetite
– Bruise easily
About the Author:
Emily is head editor of Ritely.com. She is very passionate about health and nutrition. She aspires to learn something new every day and share her knowledge through words with others.
