April 06, 2016 · Written by Foodtolive Team
5 Delicious Foods That Cleanse the Liver Naturally
The liver is the best ‘filter’ our bodies have. This vital organ removes dangerous toxins and generally protects us from various threats that come from the outside. Nature supplied it with the ability to cleanse itself and flush all the nasty chemicals that are filtered through it. However, the environmental pollution and some other factors increased a number of toxins that get inside our bodies and reduced the organ’s ability to function properly. Therefore, it’s essential to enrich your diet with foods that cleanse the liver naturally.
This is the safest way to promote the health of your body’s ‘filtering system’ as any medications and even detoxifying supplements carry certain risks of negative side effects. Foods, on the other hand, cleanse your body naturally and provide a boost of valuable nutrients that strengthen your health as a whole. Each of the products that have a great detox effect on this particular organ also offers other important health benefits, so including them in your diet is a good idea even if your liver is strong and healthy.
Leafy Greens: The Champion among Foods That Cleanse the Liver
The health benefits of leafy green vegetables are so numerous, it’s hard to say which part of your body they don’t help. Consuming them regularly is a must if you want to prevent diseases, keep your immunity strong, and stay in good physical shape. Even weight loss programs benefit from green smoothies as they have very few calories but give you an enormous boost of nutrients and antioxidants, in particular.
Due to the fact that they are the most effective food that can protect you from the detrimental effects of free radicals, leafy greens do not only help reduce the risk of dangerous conditions, like cancer and heart disease. They also produce a slight anti-aging effect because oxidation is the #1 reason that speeds up the process of physical aging.
The liver detoxifying properties of green leafy vegetables come from their high antioxidant content and plant chlorophylls. They literally suck up the toxins from your blood, and then bind and neutralize them, removing the dangerous chemicals from your body.
All leafy green vegetables fall into the category of foods that cleanse the liver, so it doesn’t matter which you consume. If ‘regular’ choices like spinach and kale aren’t to your liking, you might try mustard and dandelion greens or arugula. This will add some versatility to your diet and allow you to enjoy experimenting in the kitchen. The greens can be eaten raw, roasted, boiled, steamed, or added to smoothies.
Lemon Water for Liver Detox
Lemons are the second most effective liver detoxifying agent among foods. However, you need to understand that simply drinking lemon juice won’t have a vastly positive effect on your health. Like with any ‘natural treatment’ of this kind, the desired effect is achieved through a combination of elements. In this case, a well-balanced diet must be the basis of a lemon-induced liver detox. It’s imperative to ensure you consume a variety of nutrients and don’t drink raw lemon juice alone as its acidity is too high.
As far as foods that cleanse the liver goes, lemons are one of the most beneficial to a healthy diet because they are packed with essential nutrients. The high content of vitamin C makes lemons effective in not only stimulating a detox but also protecting your body from oxidation, strengthening your immune system, stimulating digestion, and boosting natural collagen production.
The best way to take lemons for liver detox is to start your day with a glass of lemon water. Adding some lemon juice to cocktails, smoothies, and various dishes will also be a good choice. An occasional lemon tart will be welcome as long as it doesn’t contain any white sugar. You should cut down your sugar consumption, as a whole, if you want to promote your health.
Detox Value and Health Benefits of Lentils
Lentils are one of the most nutritious foods that cleanse the liver. In fact, their detox properties aren’t the best thing about this particular legume. Health benefits of lentils include but aren’t limited to:
- Protection from cancer.
- Normalizing blood sugar levels.
- Improved heart function.
- Keeping your digestive system healthy.
All types of lentils are great sources of proteins and a variety of essential minerals. Liver-wise they assist with cleansing through plant-based nutrients that stimulate liver function. The proteins in them are very easy to digest, so they are safe to consume even for people with some digestive disorders and similar conditions.
Beets for a Liver Detoxifying Nutrient Mix
Beets are one of the most outstanding foods that detoxify the liver. This particular vegetable often goes underestimated. However, it is one of the most potent detox agents one can find. The best thing about it is that beets are completely safe to eat for people of any ages. The risk of developing an allergy to this vegetable is extremely small, and even those affected by various stomach conditions can consume beets without fear of problems.
The cleansing effect for the liver comes from the ability of beets to thin the bile, which enables it to be safely and effectively removed to the thin intestine. From there, it leaves your body with the waste. The positive effect of beets on the liver is so strong, the doctors actually recommend them to patients suffering from various diseases that affect this particular organ.
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If you want to make an antioxidant meal that will really ‘pack a punch’, including beets is a must. There are studies that prove the ability of this vegetable to increase the body’s resistance to free chemicals. The fact that beets are delicious and go well in a great number of recipes is a nice bonus.
Baked and roasted beets are the best nutrient-wise, but you need to save the skin as it contains a large number of precious vitamins and minerals. You can even eat the greens, though it might be best to steam them beforehand.
Fresh beet juice is the best of the foods that cleanse the liver because it contains betaine, an element that actually stimulates the organ’s self-detoxifying function. There are other products that can provide you with this substance, but it’s notoriously unstable. The main benefit of beet juice is its ability to keep the betain intact.
Apples for Delicious and Healthy Liver Detox
Apples are great in many ways, not the least of which is their high fiber content that makes them a valuable addition to any diet. Apple juice, in particular, is regaled as a potent natural liver detoxifier. However, this claim has not been scientifically proven.
The theory behind the claim is that malic acid removes toxins from the liver and dietary fiber helps remove them from your body. This might be true and there are hundreds of people that claim their apple-based liver detox programs work.
The truth is that even if apples aren’t one of the effective foods that cleanse the liver, they are exceptionally good for your health as a whole. Therefore, including them in your diet is always a good idea. If you want to target liver problems, in particular, you should complement your detox plan with other foods said to possess these properties, and not rely on apples alone. This way, your diet will be full of great nutritious products that will make you a stronger and healthier person.
Why Cleansing Your Liver Matters So Much
It’s essential for you to understand the importance of this particular organ in your body. A person can live with only one kidney or lung, but any damage to your liver is extremely debilitating to your health as a whole. Once the liver starts to fail, the risk of fatality is huge, and restoring it is almost impossible.
Therefore, it’s essential to do your best in order to keep this crucial part of your body strong and able to remove dangerous substances from your systems. Alcohol and sugar are the most dangerous enemies to your liver, so the effects of any detox program will be greatly reduced if you don’t limit the consumption of these products. In a perfect case scenario, you should give up both completely and switch to a well-balanced diet that includes the foods that cleanse the liver. This way, you will be able to maintain the organ’s health and good function for many decades to come.
