Do you often find yourself thinking about your liver health as you go throughout your daily life? When it comes down to it, the probability of that answer being ‘yes’ might not be so high. Even if you take important steps in sustaining a good quality of life through exercise and considerate meal options, how your liver is affected by these choices is most likely not high on your list of priorities. You might want to start changing that sooner rather than later.
Putting off your liver health will lead to difficulties pertaining to your overall health. Being aware of the state of your liver is one task you should prioritize if you want to live a life of wellness, and one step you can take towards mindfulness is to actively think about what you consume on a daily basis. The food you put into your body has a direct influence on your health and will help to naturally detox your liver.
Getting Acquainted with the Liver
What Your Liver Does for You
Your liver plays a crucial role in contributing to your well-being. Some of the jobs this organ is responsible for are removing harmful toxins and waste from your body, along with providing nutrients. The liver isn’t something you want to put off when it comes to your health. Problems that develop within the liver can have drastic effects on the body when they are not properly dealt with, so be sure to be on the lookout for any unusual activity.
It is a simple fact that you cannot live without a liver. Filtration, detoxification, and mineral storage are all important functions of the liver, and it also works to synthesize proteins and help with digestion by producing bile. The liver filters blood that comes from the digestive tract and makes it so it is safe to carry on throughout your body. If your liver begins to falter in doing any of its assigned duties, then it’s time for a checkup.
Signs of Liver Damage
Though you should be cautious of changes in your quality of health by default, you must also realize that some disturbances may be attributed to problems with the liver. Jaundice occurs when the liver has difficulties clearing the substance bilirubin, resulting in a yellow coloration of the skin and sclera. Some diseases can even increase your likelihood of developing liver cancer later in life.
What to Watch Out For
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
8 Foods to Remember for a Liver Detox
The following foods are not an end-all-be-all to the quality of your life, but the beneficial effects they have on your liver cannot be ignored. If you wish to improve your liver health, then incorporating these foods into your diet is a smart and easy way to begin.
Garlic
You probably use this herb frequently when you cook, but you may not be aware of the positive impact it has on your liver. Garlic is filled with sulfur and selenium, which both play a part in activating liver enzymes that allow your body to rid itself of toxins.
Turmeric
This powerful spice contains the active ingredient curcumin, which assists liver enzymes with flushing out toxins and contains antioxidants that repair cells in the liver.
Nuts
Packed with fats and nutrients, nuts are beneficial to having good gut health while simultaneously boosting liver enzymes. Walnuts in particular are great for the liver since they contain glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids, both of which support natural liver cleansing. They are also a good source of arginine, an amino acid that helps the liver detoxify ammonia.
Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals, work to improve your gut health, and some even have compounds that lessen the risk of developing cancer. Some vegetables in this category consist of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, arugula, and collard greens. The glutathione in cruciferous vegetables prompt liver enzymes that clean toxins, helping to flush out your system of unwanted waste products.
Tea
The plant-based antioxidant known as catechin found in green tea has been shown to help with liver functionality. Though green tea has a positive impact on your liver, try to stay away from green tea extract since it can cause opposite effects.
Citrus
Citrus fruits are incredibly important in benefitting your liver health since they aid in making toxic materials into harmless substances that can be absorbed by water. They also provide a good boost of vitamin C to your diet. Some fruits, like grapefruit, have certain antioxidants that prevent injury to the liver by protecting its cells and combating inflammation.
Beetroot
Fiber is crucial to sustaining a healthy digestive system, and beets just so happen to be rich in fiber. Beets also help with increasing oxygen through cleansing the blood. They can stimulate the flow of bile and assist in breaking down toxic wastes through increased activity of enzymes, permitting the waste to be excreted faster than normal.
Practices to Promote Liver Health
There are many steps you can take to maintain good liver health. The type of diet you adhere to has a profound impact on your liver, which is why you should always be thoughtful about the food you consume. However, a healthy diet by itself cannot be a solution for everything. Where the liver is concerned, you must put in the effort to look after the organ and be aware of any changes that can develop over time.
The Steps You Can Take
- Detox your liver naturally with smart food choices
- Exercise to maintain a healthy weight
- Routine doctor visits
- Keep alcohol consumption at a moderate-to-low level
- Be mindful about medications
- Utilize supplements to aid your liver health
Giving Supplements a Try
If you want to go even further to improve your liver health, or if any of the previously mentioned methods don’t seem to be working out for you, there’s a good chance that a liver supplement can be what you’re looking for.
Ingredients found in some liver supplements, like milk thistle, promote liver cell production and repair. Bloating is reduced and digestion is improved, leading to higher energy levels and less feelings of unpleasant stomach pains. The benefits of liver supplements can be life changing, so give them a try!
