Your liver is your body’s caretaker. It is constantly removing toxins, such as processed foods, chemicals, and alcohol, from your body, which allows your other organs to function properly. The more toxins your body ingests or absorbs, the harder your liver has to work.
Now’s the time to give your liver a break. You can do that by consuming the following all-natural, liver-loving foods and beverages.
8 Natural Ways to Cleanse Your Liver
1. Lemon Juice
Lemon is a natural cleanser. If you raid your cabinet of cleaning products, you’ll find that most of them probably contain lemon. Some people even make their own DIY cleaner with lemons as one of the main ingredients. Therefore, it’s not surprising that it can clean up your insides, too. Give your liver a boost by squeezing a wedge of lemon into a mug of lukewarm water. The acidity of the lemon promotes healthy digestion, which results in better bowel movements.
2. Avocados
While avocados are known for their healthy fats, they’re also great for your liver. A Japanese study showed that avocados contain a compound that protects the liver from harmful toxins. The study involved comparing avocados to 20 different types of fruit and testing how effective they were at protecting the liver from galactosamine, which is a toxin that, in large doses, can cause long-term liver damage that’s similar to the damage caused by human viral hepatitis. As it turns out, avocados contain an antioxidant called glutathione, which can repair damaged liver cells.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric is widely known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It not only relieves chronic liver inflammation, but it can also help wipe out viral infections. Turmeric contains curcumin, which offers anti-bacterial, anti-septic, anti-viral, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it can protect your liver from harmful infections and prevent damage as well as aid the liver cells in tissue regeneration. In addition, turmeric can increase the body’s bile production, which helps remove toxins from the body.
4. Zinc
Zinc helps the liver break down alcohol, so it can be safely removed from the body. Therefore, if you drink alcohol regularly, you should take a zinc supplement. Studies show that adults with lower levels of zinc in their bodies often have more liver damage caused by alcohol. The studies also show that increasing your zinc intake can act as a preventative measure to protect the liver and GI tract from alcohol. Zinc has also been shown to protect fetuses from alcohol-related damage during pregnancy. In fact, during a study, a group of pregnant mice was given both zinc and alcohol, and in the end, the zinc successfully protected the fetuses from ethanol exposure.
5. Dandelion Root
Even if you hate the appearance of dandelions in your yard, you’ll love the health benefits they have to offer. Dandelion root has been used throughout history to help treat a variety of liver ailments. It was often steeped like tea or brewed like coffee. A lot of Korean and Mexican botanical medicines use dandelion root because it’s a wonderful antioxidant. The Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Poland discovered that dandelion root contains kynurenic acid, which aids in digestion. In fact, dandelion root has the highest concentration of kynurenic acid that’s required to increase bile production and remove toxins from the body, making it one of nature’s best immune response aids.
6. Garlic
Garlic doesn’t just deter vampires. It also has fantastic anti-viral properties. Garlic helps strengthen the immune system, but it also contains sulfur compounds that stimulate enzyme production in the liver. In addition, garlic is a great source of selenium and allicin, both of which help protect the liver. The best part is that garlic is delicious and can be used in nearly any recipe to give your liver the respite it desperately needs.
7. Water
We all know that water is good for you, but did you know that it can also promote liver function? Beverages like herbal teas and lemon-infused water help flush your system of toxins and prevent the development of gallstones in the liver. Drinking an adequate amount of water can help your body eliminate waste, chemicals, and other toxins via sweat, feces, and urine more efficiently. Just make sure the water you’re drinking is room temperature, clean, and free of sugars and chemicals.
8. Brussels Sprout
While not everyone loves to eat (or smell) Brussel sprouts, these miniature cabbages contain a sulfur compound, called glucosinolates, that helps protect the liver from toxins and chemicals. The glucosinolates are why Brussel sprouts have such a strong smell and flavor, but they also aid in the creation of compounds such as nitriles and indoles, which have cancer-fighting properties.