Detox Your Liver With These 5 Superfoods

The human liver is truly amazing! Did you know that it has the remarkable capability of regenerating itself even when 70 % of it has been removed? The liver is one of the most vital organs we have in the body! It is our largest internal organ and performs over 500 essential functions within the body. Without our liver, our bodies would be overrun with toxins. One of the most critical roles of the liver is detoxifying our bloodstream of harmful substances like alcohol, medicines, hazardous substances, and metabolic waste. It changes these toxins into compounds that are easier for the body to process and then remove from the body.

We would also be unable to digest and metabolize fats. This would lead to many nutritional deficiencies which are the root cause of many serious diseases and bodily ailments. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels would become a problem and our body would also suffer from not producing enough cholesterol. Having a healthy liver is incredibly important to our overall health, wholeness, and longevity.

But sometime the liver can become overburdened from the excess of toxins our body is exposed to. We live in a world that is heavily laden with chemicals, pollution, and innumerable harmful substances that we encounter daily. Our liver must remove pollutants that we encounter through drinking impure water, breathing unclean air, eating vegetables and fruit grown with pesticides and herbicides, and eating meats from animals that have been fed antibiotics, hormones, and other medicines. We also absorb many chemicals, additives, and preservatives in the products we use on our body daily. Lotions, creams, shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, and mouthwash can all contain ingredients that are not healthy for our liver.

Our liver is responsible for protecting us from so many kinds of contaminants. Because our liver performs so many necessary functions within our body it is imperative that we identify some of the greatest offenders to the health of our liver. Three of the leading causes of liver disease are obesity, an undiagnosed hepatitis infection and excessive use of alcohol. But there are numerous other causes we should beware of.

A diet full of overly processed foods containing vegetable oils like canola, soy, corn, safflower oil, partially hydrogenated oil, and excess sugar are very hard on the liver. High fructose corn syrup is particularly damaging. Eating too much of these foods can lead to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We should avoid commercially baked goods like cookies, cakes, and muffins. Additionally, microwave popcorn, nondairy coffee creamer, sodas, margarine, shortening and fried foods like French fries, doughnuts, and fried chicken need to be avoided in our diet. This is an abbreviated list, because most pre-packaged foods are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, unhealthy vegetable fats and partially hydrogenated oils. It is imperative that we begin reading all food labels when purchasing groceries.

We also need to begin limiting and distancing ourselves from fast foods. Making these changes to our diet may seem like a lot, but the goal is to replace these unhealthy choices with delicious life-giving foods that will nourish, protect, and naturally cleanse our liver so that we can live a vibrant and active life as we get older.

These foods are called Superfoods because they provide the body with so many beneficial and exceptional nutrients that are known to encourage good health. This list of superfoods is especially good for the liver. The first superfood is well known for its potent and pungent bite!

Superfood #1 Garlic

Without a doubt, garlic is widely known for its ability to fight infections and kill bacteria. Garlic has an antibiotic substance called allicin that can suppress various fungi, bacterial strains, and some viruses. It is an immune system powerhouse! When used regularly it can assist with normalizing blood sugar levels. And because garlic is a natural blood thinner, it can be used to help with regulating blood pressure. What makes it such a great liver superfood, is its ability to increase an antioxidant called glutathione, that is used by the liver to reduce and neutralize free radicals that damage the liver. Garlic also has anti-inflammatory properties that help protect the liver from accumulating excess fat which leads to a disease called fatty liver.

The best way to use garlic is by first crushing or dicing it raw, and then allowing it to rest for several minutes before adding it to dishes. Garlic can be eaten raw, taken in a capsule, or as an extract. One of the best ways to take advantage of all the wonderful benefits of garlic is by eating black garlic. Black garlic is fresh garlic that has been fermented at a very low temperature for 3 to 6 weeks. This process produces a delicious, savory, tangy, sweet, and chewy treat. It is a must try!

Superfood #2 Beetroot

Beetroot is known for its vibrant reddish-purple flesh that is the result of a powerful antioxidant called betanin. This antioxidant reduces inflammation which prevents fat from collecting on the liver. Beetroot is also rich in glutathione which helps to detoxify the liver of impurities. It is a good source of minerals like calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. It is one of the healthiest foods on the planet! Drinking beet juice has been considered one of the best natural remedies for a fatty liver. Juicing raw organic beets is probably the best method of adding it to the diet. Just remember to dilute it with other fresh fruits and vegetables like carrots, celery, romaine lettuce or apples when choosing to juice it. Raw beet juice is very potent. It may cause your urine and bowel movements to become temporarily reddish or pinkish in color. This is normal. And lastly, raw beetroot can be added to salads or even cooked as a side dish. The green leafy tops are also very nutritious. They are one of the highest sources of potassium around!

Superfood #3 Cruciferous vegetables

This is quite a diverse group of vegetables belonging to the Brassica family. You are probably already familiar with many of them. Arugula, cabbage, kale, horseradish, Bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, collard greens, mustard greens, radishes, and turnips are just some of them. Cruciferous vegetables provide us with a very special sulfur containing phytochemical called glucosinolates that have been shown to be effective in reducing blood pressure, managing cholesterol levels, and improving blood sugar. In addition to glucosinolates, cruciferous vegetables also contain carotenoids, indoles, and isothiocyanates. Indoles are naturally found in our gut bacteria and in cruciferous vegetables.

Studies have indicated that it has been used to control nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in some cases. Since the treatment of this disease usually begins with a weight loss plan, cruciferous vegetables are ideal to include within the diet plan. They are high in fiber, loaded with disease fighting phytochemicals and are super low in calories. They can be eaten raw in salads or steamed. Cruciferous vegetables are an excellent dietary choice for anyone interested in losing weight loss, protecting their liver, and pursuing optimal health.

Superfood #4 Broccoli Sprouts

Sulforaphane is the powerhouse super nutrient found in broccoli sprouts. It is an antioxidant that has been shown to improve the body’s ability to remove potentially carcinogenic toxins. Broccoli sprouts contain 100 times the amount of sulforaphane as the adult broccoli plant. Though the liver is incredibly efficient in removing toxins and dangerous substances from our blood stream, anything that increases the detoxification process within the body reduces the risk of an overburdened liver. Sulforaphane is regarded as anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor. In one study, consuming broccoli sprouts extract was shown to improve liver markers in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Adding broccoli sprouts to a well-balanced diet is a winning combination! They can easily be eaten within salads or smoothies. Yum!

Superfood #5 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Some call it liquid gold. Those who are familiar with the Mediterranean diet know that extra virgin olive oil is a wonderful life-giving elixir. Extra Virgin olive oil can protect the health of our liver by negating many of the problems that arise from oxidative stress within the body. High quality extra virgin olive oil is full of strong antioxidants called polyphenols that are known for lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease, improving cognitive function, and lowering the risk of diabetes.

Hydroxytyrosol is one of the most notable polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil. In animal studies, hydroxytyrosol has been shown to reduce acute inflammation and the related pain. Inflammation of the liver is called hepatitis. This inflammation is swelling that occurs when the body's tissues are damaged from oxidative stress or infection. By digesting quality extra virgin olive oil regularly in our diet, we can greatly diminish the risk of free radical injury throughout our body.

This rich and healthy oil can be added to homemade salad dressings, drizzled on raw or cooked vegetables and used to lightly sauté some of your favorite foods. When buying olive oil, always choose extra virgin olive oil because it has been extracted during the first pressing of the olives. Regular olive oil is extracted through a process involving heat that destroys some of the beneficial qualities of the oil. Regular olive oil is usually blended with other unhealthy processed oils.

Having a healthy liver is imperative for a robust and long life. Without our liver our bodies would be susceptible to and overwhelmed by toxins. Because our liver detoxifies our bloodstream from innumerable and unwelcome invaders, we must commit to making whatever dietary and lifestyle decisions are necessary. Great decisions today lead to better outcomes in the future. Begin taking care of your liver today by adding these five superfoods to your diet. Enjoy!