Your liver is a key player in your body’s digestive system
All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver. The liver processes this blood and breaks down, balances, and creates the nutrients and also metabolizes drugs into forms that are easier to use for the rest of the body or that are nontoxic. The liver is a powerhouse of an organ. The liver’s position is mostly in the right upper portion of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm. This article lists the 11 best foods to eat to keep your liver healthy.
COFFEE: Coffee doesn’t just keep you awake — it may also make you smarter. The active ingredient in coffee is caffeine, which is a stimulant and the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world. When your body digests caffeine, it makes a chemical called paraxanthine that slows the growth of the scar tissue involved in fibrosis. That may help fight liver cancer, alcohol-related cirrhosis, non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease, and hepatitis C.
GREEN TEA: Green tea has gained huge popularity in the past years for the amazing health benefits it offers. Green tea has plant-based antioxidants known as catechins, the compounds that are known to assist liver function and eliminate liver fat accumulation. A smaller study in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients found drinking green tea high in antioxidants for 12 weeks improved liver enzyme levels and may also reduce oxidative stress and fat deposits in the liver.
BEETROOT JUICE: The beet is a bulbous, sweet root vegetable that most people either love or hate. Beetroot juice contains antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, and iron. These compounds help protect the liver from inflammation and oxidative stress while enhancing its ability to remove toxins from the body. Beets also get their rich color from betalains, which are water-soluble antioxidants. According study Trusted Source, betalains have chemo-preventive abilities against some cancer cell lines.
TURMERIC: Turmeric contains approximately 3-6% curcuminoids. Recent studies show that curcumin has many beneficial effects derived from its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. It has also been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a range of health issues like breathing problems, rheumatism, serious pain, and fatigue. Turmeric prevents alcohol and toxins from turning into harmful compounds that can damage the liver. Adding turmeric in a glass of hot milk makes the absorption of curcumin easy.
FATTY FISH: Fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are the good fats that help reduce inflammation. Fish doesn’t only impact your waistline, but also other functions of your body including your brain, and even your sleep. So make sure you’re incorporating fish into your diet to reap these 20 health benefits of fish. According to The National Institutes of Health, fish are high in vitamin D, and are considered one of the best dietary sources for this essential nutrient. According to the NIH, vitamin D is beneficial for calcium absorption for bone health and growth.
OLIVE OIL: In relation to diet, it has been proven that olive oil can have a beneficial effect. Several studies conclude that its intake can significantly reduce the deposit of fat in the liver. In addition, it has been shown that olive oil can have indirect beneficial effects on the vascular system (arteries, etc.) since it lowers the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) without affecting those of good (HDL). Olive oil can protect your liver health from the negative effects of oxidative stress, associated with a large number of health problems that are also considered to accelerate the aging process. Find out about the nutrition bar that 99% of liver health experts would recommend!
GARLIC: Garlic contains a sulfur compound called alliin, which converts to the active ingredient allicin, when this root herb is chopped, crushed or minced. It also contains arginine, an amino acid important for relaxing the blood vessels, and selenium, a mineral important for increasing the action of antioxidants. These compounds are responsible for garlic’s characteristically pungent odor and they are also the source of many of its health-promoting effects. It’s basically the antioxidant value of the garlic that helps the most since they help keep levels of toxic substances in your body low.
