Foods to detoxify the liver

Liver detoxifying foods

Vegetables, essential to cleanse the liver

When the liver is being cleaned, we should make a diet with plenty of vegetables, because they provide the necessary antioxidants for liver toxic cleaning functions to be performed.

Raw vegetables or those prepared with a gentle cooking are recommended, so as to better retain their nutrients. Fried food or sauteed food are not recommended.

Among the cooking options we can point out: creams, boiled, steamed cooking, purees, papillotes, etc.

Vegetables should always be the major food meals.

For liver cleansing, nutritious vegetables should be chosen, among which artichokes, cardoons, garlic, onions, and the whole group of cruciferous vegetables, which are considered very potent detoxifying antioxidants. Among them, the following ones: Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, turnip, cauliflower, etc.

In salads: arugula, grated radish or turnip.

Vegetables for people with difficult or heavy digestion

People with gastritis, slow digestion, constipation or heartburn, should eat orange vegetables, because their vitamin A, strengthen the digestive system.

It is recommended for people with obesity, diabetes, or women in menopause to increase the proportion of fresh vegetables (carrots, radishes, etc.)

Green lettuce salads are adequate, it is also recommended to mix lettuce with other leaves such as radicchio or arugula, sorrel and dandelion, which will provide more bitter tonic components.

The main component of the meals should be vegetables, and may include those rich in carbohydrates such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc.

Fruits to purify the liver

Fruits are highly recommended because they have a lot of vitamin C. In general, in a superior amount to vegetables. They also provide other flavonoids. They are the best natural sweet.

You can sprinkle cinnamon on fruits, which has hypoglycemic effect.

In general, seasonal fruit is recommended. Do not take fruit juice or juices.

Fruits recommended for the liver are sour apples, which by its high content of malic acid, aid in the digestive process.

Malic acid is used in rheumatic treatments to help you feel more energetic and with a greater vitality.

This component is also located on mangoes, figs, apricots, pineapple, peach, tamarind and guava. Pomegranate is one of the favorite fruits for its high content of antioxidants, polyphenols, tannins, citric, malic and ellagic acid. In autumn and winter you can not miss this type of food.

Grains and legumes to purify the liver

In less quantity than vegetables, whole grains, like brown rice, oats, buckwheat and millet are also recommended. Occasionally you can have leavened wheat bread or sourdough).

An example of ideal breakfast is oatmeal porridge. Other breakfast options are fruits, nuts, seeds, etc. If you get up with the pasty mouth, do not eat breakfast, take some tea and have breakfast in half an hour.

Legumes provide a lot of vegetable protein, when combined with grains or seeds. You should soak all beans before cooking, to clean dirt and to eliminate their anti-nutrients.

During meals whole grains can be ingested (brown rice with vegetables, millet cake, cabbage with potatoes, potato salad, etc.). This is not a diet without carbohydrates, it is to eat foods the most natural and nutritious as possible. All meals must start with a plate of vegetables, you should always eat more vegetables than animal protein or cereals.

Whole grains should preferably be organically grown, because, when they are not organic, they have traces of pesticides and plant protection products in the husk (wash them with water).

Healthy oils for the liver

For cooking and dressing, use olive oil. or if you do not have this oil, other seed unrefined oils (first cold pressing).

Avocado salad and pomegranate salad

It is recommended a moderate consumption of oils and fats: half avocado (or a couple of tablespoons of guacamole salsa), a handful of almonds or sunflower seeds (unsalted).

These foods provide vitamin E (antioxidant, fertility, etc.), They also increase the absorption of carotenoids (antioxidants) and provide essential fatty acids omega 3 and omega 6.

However, they should be consumed in moderate amounts not to produce very slow digestion.

* See: Fats are not harmful to purify the liver

Other aid to purify the liver

Other dietary recommendations include:

• Chia seeds: Take 1 teaspoon of chia seeds with 1 cup of water at each meal (3 times daily), which, because they are high in soluble fiber, they collaborate on cleansing the body.
• Algae: For its high content of calcium and iron, seaweeds are highly recommended.. They can be added within the creamed vegetables or salads.
• For nonvegetarian diets, the most recommended animal protein are those from organic farming: meat, wild fish or eggs. During this diet, it is recommended to moderate consumption of this food group. It is desirable to take a balanced vegetarian diet at least the first 3 days.
• Food of organic farming is recommended since it contains fewer chemicals, especially animal products.
• Daily physical exercise is necessary to mobilize fat. We recommend at least one hour a day of briskly walking. For this type of exercise is not necessary to take sports drinks and alike, only 1 fruit before exercise, and the next meal with the foods listed in this article.

How many times a day should you eat?

Do not have breakfast if you wake up with the pasty mouth. In those cases, take hepatobiliary plants, drink a camomile tea, and do not have breakfast until after half an hour or an hour.

¿3 or 5 meals a day? Depending on the habits of each person, you can distribute food in 5 meals a day, or concentrate them all in 3. What is not recommended is to be eating all day. People with poor appetite can be organized into 3 full meals, not to be hungry all day, control hunger between meals and to rest the digestive organs (both ways you can eat the same calories). A fruit and / or a handful of nuts are well suited afternoon options.

Avoid toxic and other substances that will spoil the liver

• Do not take multivitamins or drugs not prescribed by your doctor. It is advisable to consult your doctor to avoid taking too many drugs.
• Avoid alcohol, tobacco, coffee, spicy and too much fried food.
• Avoid processed foods: Precooked, flour (bread, pasta, sugary cereals, cakes, biscuits, bechamel, cakes,…), snacks, pastries, chocolate, packaged goods, sugar (sweets, jams, yogurt flavor, glues, industrialnatural juices or fruit,…), sweeteners (sugarfree gum, agave syrup, sodas, colas, diet products…), canned foods, etc.

Go on reading: Symptoms of liver congestion

More information on liver diseases.

Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

24 January, 2021