Foods that Are Good for the Liver

In defining which foods are good for your liver, you must first understand that the liver needs healthy support in order to keep it functioning well. So it all boils down to choosing foods that fight off the free radicals, (chemicals which promote disease,) and promote detoxification of the liver.

Beets are an excellent food for the liver. They contain a lot of folate. Folate is a type of B vitamin that we need daily in order to keep the body functioning properly. Eating one cup of beets on a steady basis provides a good cleansing for the liver in that it cleanses the blood.

The cruciferous vegetables of which are cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cabbage are some of the best foods you can eat for your liver's health. These vegetables all contain phytochemicals which in turn break down harmful toxins to the body. Another helpful phytochemical that is found in these vegetables is glucosinolates. Glucosinolates aid the liver in the production of healthy enzymes. These enzymes are needed for cleaning the blood of harmful toxic substances. Try including some of these great vegetables daily in your salad, steamed, or boiled, eating at leat one cup.

An apple is also great for the liver. The reason being for this is that apples do contain pectin, and pectin will attach itself to heavy metals in your body that are not healthy to leave behind. The pectin will act as a magnet, picking up these harmful heavy metals and causing you to excrete them from your system.

Fruits are always wonderful for many different reasons, including the liver. Fruits contain several antioxidants as I have mentioned in many previous articles, that protect you from harmful susbtances. Berries, grapefruit, apples, and blueberries especially, help to guard the liver from many harmful substances. Therefore, it is wise to eat at least 3 servings of fruits daily.

Garlic is yet another food that is excellent for liver health. This is due to the fact that garlic contains a sulfur-like compound known as allicin. Allicin is a cleanser for the liver, in that it helps the liver get rid of harmful mercury, and other particles in foods that are unwanted. To cleanse the liver with garlic, put garlic cloves in foods that you cook, or take garlic pills.

Keeping good liver health is essential since this is the body's central system for cleaning your system of impurities next to your kidneys. You can't live without it, so doing what you can to keep it healthy and functioning is well worth it!