A naturopath once said to me that the liver is a very forgiving organ which is just as well as so many people abuse their livers.
It’s certainly a very special organ because it is the only organ in the body that can regenerate itself but that does not mean that you should not do your best to look after it.
As one of the largest and the most important metabolic organ in your body, your liver’s efficiency is vital to your overall health. It has an astonishing number of functions but one of the most important is it’s detox function.
The liver filters toxins from the bloodstream and chemically changes them into harmless substances that can easily be excreted.
Heavy exposure to chemicals in your environment, perhaps related to your job, hobbies, or where you live can place a substantial stress on your natural detox system. Heavy metals, hormones, food additives, chemicals in cosmetics, and medications are just a few of the toxins that challenge your liver on a daily basis.
With todays lifestyles, poor, processed dietary habits and overindulgence, it is easy for your liver to become overwhelmed and clogged. Many people have been surprised to find out they have a fatty liver when they have gone to their doctor for some other problem.
If your liver is unable to remove all of the harmful substances from the bloodstream, the toxins build up in your tissues which can result in numerous health problems, including elevated cholesterol, digestive problems, constipation, nausea and irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, depression and poor blood sugar control. Chronic fatigue and pain are often signs of a liver that is not functioning efficiently.
The good news is that there are many foods that can help cleanse the liver naturally by stimulating its natural ability to clean toxic waste from the body.
Dr Group, naturopathic doctor , says eating the following foods is the best way to keep your liver healthy and functioning the way you need it to:
1. Garlic
Just a small amount of this pungent white bulb has the ability to activate liver detox enzymes that help your body flush out toxins. Garlic also holds high amounts of allicin and selenium, two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing.
2. Beets and Carrots
Both are extremely high in plant-flavonoids and beta-carotene; eating beets and carrots can help stimulate and improve overall liver function.
3. Green Tea
This liver-loving beverage is full of plant antioxidants known as catechins, a compound known to assist liver function. Green tea is not only delicious, it’s also a great way to improve your overall diet. Learn more about the benefits of green tea.
4. Leafy Green Vegetables 
One of our most powerful allies in cleansing the liver, leafy greens can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced. Extremely high in plant chlorophylls, greens suck up environmental toxins from the blood stream. With their distinct ability to neutralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides, these cleansing foods offer a powerful protective mechanism for the liver.
Try incorporating leafy greens such as bitter gourd, arugula, dandelion greens, spinach, mustard greens, and chicory into your diet. This will help increase the creation and flow of bile, the substance that removes waste from the organs and blood.
5. Avocados
This nutrient-dense super-food helps the body produce glutathione, a compound that is necessary for the liver to cleanse harmful toxins.
6. Apples
High in pectin, apples hold the chemical constituents necessary for the body to cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract. This, in turn, makes it easier for the liver to handle the toxic load during the cleansing process.
7. Olive Oil
Cold-pressed organic oils such as olive, hemp and flax-seed are great for the liver, when used in moderation. They help the body by providing a lipid base that can suck up harmful toxins in the body. In this way, it takes some of the burden off the liver in terms of the toxic overload many of us suffer from.
8. Cruciferous Vegetables
Eating broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage will increase the amount of glucosinolate in your system, adding to enzyme production in the liver. These natural enzymes help flush out carcinogens, and other toxins, out of your body which may significantly lower risks associated with cancer.
9. Lemons & Limes
These citrus fruits contain very high amounts of vitamin C, which aids the body in synthesizing toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water. Drinking freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice in the morning helps stimulate the liver.
10. Turmeric
The liver’s favorite spice. Try adding some of this detoxifying goodness into your next lentil stew or veggie dish for an instant liver pick-me-up. Turmeric helps boost liver detox, by assisting enzymes that actively flush out dietary carcinogens.
Whether you’re trying to drop unwanted pounds or flush out unwelcome toxins, you need a healthy liver to make it happen. Scientists are only just beginning to understand the impact that impaired liver detoxification can have on our health.
Dr Group recommends that most people over the age of 30 should perform a liver detox two to three times a year. It looks like detoxing your body may well be a valuable therapy for many niggling symptoms and chronic diseases that modern medicine can’t solve.
Adding these foods to your diet every day is an easy way to detox your liver naturally. Kick start your liver cleansing with this Liver Cleanse Kit.
