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Did you know that your liver is the second-largest organ in your body? The liver works around the clock, helping to cleanse what comes into your body and what goes out. As a result, it is frequently referred to as the “gatekeeper of the body.” We may be aware that the liver cleanses the blood of toxins (yes, along with your heart, give the liver some credit as well), but we are unaware that the liver also creates bile that aids in the breakdown of meals and stores glycogen. Due to this, your diet directly affects the condition of your liver. Learn about a few superfoods for liver that will help to naturally cleanse this precious organ.
Health Shots spoke to Palak Midha, a nutritionist, certified supplement advisor, and the founder of Palak Notes, to suggest some of the best superfoods that can help you maintain good liver health.
For better liver health, you need foods that can detoxify your liver, removing all the toxins from the body.
Here are 5 superfoods for the liver:
1. Vegetable juice
Juice from vegetables is helpful for liver detoxification. You may make juice from veggies including carrots, cucumbers, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and more. According to Midha, cabbage juice is best to detox your liver.
You can also try orange or carrot juice with a little ginger root. The ginger roots have soothing properties that soothe the digestive tract, reducing flatulence in the stomach. The high content of vitamins and minerals present in vegetables is beneficial for good health.
2. Bitter foods
The liver’s detoxification process depends on glutathione, an antioxidant, which is present in bitter leafy greens including broccoli, Swiss chard, and collards. They also include sulphur, which is a component of bile. Bitter melon and cocoa are other bitter foods that are healthy for the liver. The bitterness typically indicates the presence of enzymes that will help your other digestive systems as well.
3. Potassium rich foods
“It has been found that a low potassium diet is directly linked with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty acid disease. Therefore, to support your liver, it’s important your potassium intake is high,” says Midha. Foods such as sweet potatoes, bananas, beets, tomatoes, spinach, beans, salmon, apricots, etc. are potassium rich foods. You can consume that.
4. Probiotic
You can aid your liver detox by including fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir, buttermilk, idlis, sauerkraut, fermented vegetables, etc. in your diet. These foods are also excellent for maintaining the overall health.
5. Herbs and spices
- Turmeric: Turmeric contains curcumin, which gives it its yellow colour. What’s this? It offers numerous health advantages. Curcumin aids in detoxification by supporting the liver’s detoxifying cells and keeping them healthy. Additionally, it aids the gallbladder in producing bile (digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder). To get the best absorption of curcumin, use a little amount of black pepper with it.
- Neem: Neem helps to detoxify the liver while also cleansing the blood. Additionally, it is antibacterial and has a diuretic impact.
- Coriander leaves: Coriander leaves have a great role in the removal of heavy metals from the body. You can make juice from them. For liver detoxification, it is highly beneficial.
Takeaway
These foods can undoubtedly maintain a healthy liver. In addition to these, plant-based foods (like avocado, barley, brown rice, figs, etc.), coffee (which supplies antioxidant protection), oatmeal (for fibre), berries, and fatty fish or fish oil are all other top foods that can safeguard and strengthen your liver health and can prevent fatty liver disease by lowering the fat buildup in the liver. Avoid junk food and fast food as well. And every day, engage in at least 20 minutes of exercise.
