You have many organs in your body, and each of them is responsible for specific tasks. Your liver is a filtration system that helps keep your blood clean, removing toxins that could otherwise cause you harm. But, sometimes, your liver’s functions can become slow or inefficient – and when this happens, you may start to notice some symptoms. With the right liver detox foods, you can keep the organ healthy and ensure it does its job. Let’s take a look at the role of your liver and share some of the best foods you should include in your diet.

The important role of liver health

When blood leaves your intestines or stomach, it passes through your liver[1] before moving around your body. As blood goes through the liver, a couple of things happen. The organ helps to ensure certain nutrients break down. Plus, your liver helps to metabolize certain drugs.

However, when your liver can’t function properly, you may have too many toxins running through your body. Drugs may not work as you would expect them to, and you could develop a number of potential health problems.

Signs that your liver needs a detox

If you have a damaged liver or one that’s not functioning properly, then these are some of the symptoms and warning signs that may develop:

  • The yellowish appearance of your eyes or skin
  • Itchiness
  • Pain and swelling in your abdomen
  • Nausea (sometimes also vomiting)
  • Consistent fatigue
  • Urine is dark
  • Ankles and legs remain swollen
  • The stool has a pale color

The best liver detox foods to include in your diet

From preparing a liver detox drink to simply adding some extra foods to your diet, there are several options when it comes to using your dietary habits to improve your liver’s well-being. Let’s take a look at 11 of the best foods that you can eat to maintain a healthy liver. These foods are also good for detoxifying your liver.

  • Coffee: The antioxidants in coffee help to protect your liver against oxidative stress. Plus, it has been found that coffee may also reduce the risk of cirrhosis and fibrosis[2].
  • Tea: Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet, and it’s loaded with antioxidants. This also helps to offer protection against free radical damage.
  • Grapefruit: The naringenin and naringin antioxidants in grapefruit are very helpful in reducing inflammation in the liver. Plus, these antioxidants also offer protection for your liver.
  • Blueberries and cranberries: These fruits also contain powerful antioxidants that protect the liver against free radicals.
  • Grapes: There are a couple of different plant-based chemicals in grapes that are useful for your liver. These include antioxidants as well as compounds that offer protective properties.
  • Prickly pear: The betalains in prickly pear are also really good for reducing liver inflammation, a factor associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
  • Beetroot juice: This is a powerful option when it comes to detoxifying your liver. Beetroot juice offers antioxidants and helps your liver get rid of toxins more effectively. A lot of liver support supplements contain beetroot extracts.
  • Cruciferous vegetables: These veggies, like Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, give you access to a good source of fiber. Plus, they have antioxidants as well as compounds known as phytochemicals. When you add these vegetables to your diet, you may notice signs that your liver is healing.
  • Nuts: While processed foods contain saturated fats, nuts offer you a source of healthy fats. Nuts can also help you load up on fiber, antioxidants, and protein.
  • Fatty fish: The healthy fats in fatty fish, such as salmon, help to improve your cholesterol levels. Eating more fish can help you notice signs of liver detox working and even contribute to your overall mental and physical health.
  • Olive oil: Finally, olive oil. The monounsaturated fatty acids in this type of oil help reduce inflammation and protect your liver from oxidative stress.

Why are some foods good for the liver?

Now that we’ve taken a look at foods that detoxify your liver, there’s an important question you might have – how do you know what foods are good for this organ?

Many foods can be good for your liver. It’s critical to look for food items that are high in fiber and those that contain healthy fats – these are some of the things that can make food helpful for the liver.

Other strategies to maintain liver health

Apart from eating more liver detox foods, there are a couple of other things that you can also do. In this section, we’ll take a look at these extra strategies that can help keep your liver healthy and functioning well.

  • Reach and maintain a moderate weight: If you’re overweight or obese, your risk of liver problems increases significantly. This is why you should try to maintain a healthy weight – with a BMI that ideally falls below 25.
  • Stay active: Exercise can help make weight management easier and always goes a long way in helping improve your liver health. Research shows[3] that exercise helps reduce the collection of fatty acids in your liver, which lowers your risk of conditions like fatty liver disease.
  • Moderate your alcohol intake: Alcohol can have a major impact on your liver. If you drink too much, then alcohol can cause serious, lasting damage to this organ, which is why you should try to limit how much you drink.
  • Practice good hygiene: You don’t necessarily associate hygiene with liver health, but it’s important to remember that your liver needs to remove toxins from your blood. If you don’t practice good hygiene, you may be exposed to more toxins, which puts more stress on your liver.
  • Use barrier methods: Some sexually transmitted infections can also cause serious damage to your liver. Using barrier methods like condoms can help reduce your risk of being infected with them during sexual intercourse.

Taking one of the best liver supplements can also be very helpful.

However, there are a lot of these supplements on the market, so be careful when picking one, and make sure you assess every ingredient. An option like the Liver Health 365 supplement is a great example of a high-quality choice that supports not only liver health but also the functioning of this organ.

FAQs

Which drink clean liver?

There are a couple of things you can drink to help cleanse your liver. These include lemon water, grapefruit juice, and green tea, amongst other things.

How can I detox my liver quickly?

Adding some of the best liver detox foods to your diet can be very helpful. However, it’s also important to avoid things that damage your liver when you’re looking for a detox.

What 3 foods harm the liver?

You should avoid processed foods, foods with added sugar, and alcohol. These are things that can have an impact on your liver health.

Outlook

Your liver is an incredibly important part of your body, and when it is damaged, this organ can’t properly filter toxins out of your blood. Luckily, there are several liver detox foods that you can turn to. We shared 11 options that you should consider adding to your diet. – these are a great start to help clean and detox your liver and make it healthier.