3 Great Foods For Liver Health
Maintaining proper liver function may be as simple as eating the right foods for liver health.
The liver is an organ for which we don’t give much thought and just take for granted. We just expect that it does its job – that is until it stops working properly!
There are a variety of reasons that may contribute to a shut down or slowing of the liver, and this can present itself in some very serious symptoms.
If the liver doesn’t function as it should, this may start off as simply a sluggish feeling and weight gain.
However over time it can ultimately result in severe liver disease. It is therefore extremely important to care for our liver in the best way possible.
As toxins build up in the body, the liver is often the first place that they are stored. We need to do our part to cleanse the liver regularly and to ensure that it is free and clear of anything that may be harmful.
We’ve heard much about liver cleanses in the recent decade, and with good reason. Anything we can do to help remove any sort of toxin build up can be extremely helpful.
However before you go out and try one of the fancy, expensive liver cleansing and detoxifying programs, take a look at the foods that you eat. Quite often you will find that what you are eating is doing your liver more harm than good.
The following good foods for liver health can ensure that you liver is in working order, and that you help it to do its job of removing any potentially harmful substances in the body efficiently and effectively.
Artichoke
If you are not familiar with this funny looking vegetable, then learn to embrace it because it’s high on the list of foods for liver health!
Eating artichoke has been shown to increase bile production, and this is an important function of the liver.
The active ingredient in artichoke that causes this cholertic effect is cynarine (1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid). Showing a quite drastic increase in only a short while after eating artichoke.
The bile that your liver produces is what helps to actually remove the potentially dangerous toxins and digest fats. Therefore this increase is very important in maintain a healthy liver.
Artichokes also contain a flavonoid known as silymarin. Silymarin is an antioxidant which prevents the breakdown of the liver.
This is achieved by preventing the process of lipid peroxidation from occurring in the cell membranes of the tissues of the liver. Artichokes therefore act as a protector of the liver.
There are a variety of ways to prepare and enjoy artichoke, and your liver and whole body will thank you. Many people enjoy them raw in salads or you can just steam them and have them on the side of any meal.
So start slowly by introducing artichoke to your diet and in no time at all, you will find that this delicious vegetable is actually a lifesaver for your liver.
Garlic
It may seem as though garlic has no limit to its powers, as we see it as a tremendously helpful food for liver health and many other organs.
Garlic helps the liver and works through its natural antibiotic and antibacterial properties. Garlic can therefore remove toxins, additives and other potentially harmful substances from the body.
Also not many people think of drinking garlic in liquid form.
This causes fermentation to occur in our intenstines. This fermentation results in an increase in the production and secretion of bile and thus improves liver function.
So both eating and drinking garlic works as a direct aid to the liver, and offers a huge benefit a huge benefit.
If you can’t stomach a couple of raw garlic cloves each day or hate the smell, then try a cooked variety. Add garlic to your meals as a tasty spice, and ultimately help ensure proper liver health.
Hot Water with Lemon
Perhaps you’ve seen people order this out at restaurants and never really understood it.
This soothing beverage can be a very powerful ingredient in a healthy liver diet by stimulating liver function.
A cup of hot water with lemon also helps to cleanse the liver and detoxify by acting as a dissolvent for many forms of bacteria and waste, such as uric acid.
Uric acid is a waste product of the breakdown of the organic compound purine and a common cause of the health condition gout.
If that’s not enough lemon also helps to clean out other parts of the digestive tract, including the kidneys.
If you want to jumpstart the liver detoxification process, then be sure to drink this beverage first thing in the morning. This is an easy one to sip each day!
Be sure to use a freshly squeezed lemon in a cup of hot water for the very best effects.
Ensuring proper liver health is as simple as making the right food choices. If you focus on the good foods for liver health that help with the detoxification process and ensure that the liver is kept clear and clean, then you are doing the very best thing you can for your liver.
By keeping your liver healthy and happy, you are well on your way too good overall health!
Related Article:
5 Essential Cleansing Foods For The Liver
Eat these cleansing foods for the liver and get your liver back on the healthy track.