The liver is a vital organ in our body performing numerous functions. It regulates your digestion, breaks down the fat, keeps your metabolism running and most importantly filters out the toxins you ingest through food intake.
If you suffer from a bad liver, it is all the more necessary that you follow a healthy lifestyle and include the right foods in your diet so that further damage to the liver can be prevented.
The following foods should be avoided to maintain your liver health.
Avoid animal based foods
The protein contained in animal based foods like red meat, beef, dairy and poultry cannot be optimally metabolized by a bad liver. It is hence recommended that patients with a bad liver eliminate these foods from their diet. To meet the recommended protein needs, include lean meats and vegetarian sources like bean and nuts.
Avoid salty foods
Canned foods, packaged and junk foods contain a very high amount of salt and a bad liver is not a position to process the excess quantity of salts. Hence it is advisable to limit the intake of salt and follow a low sodium diet.
Avoid alcohol
Alcohol is liver’s biggest enemy. There is a very good chance of not aggravating your liver condition by completely abstaining from alcohol.
While the above foods must be excluded from your diet, a nutritious diet comprising of raw fruits and vegetables does wonders for your liver health. Foods that help to detoxify the liver and those which contain high amount of anti oxidants are helpful to heal a bad liver.
Fruits
Fruits like apples, berries, prunes, grapefruit, cantaloupe, pears and oranges high in anti oxidants and fiber that help the liver to eliminate the toxins.
Leafy greens
Leafy greens are natural cleansers. They help to neutralize the effect of the heavy metals that are ingested through food. Dandelion, chicory, rocket and endive are liver friendly greens.
Vegetables
Artichokes, beet, garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) are liver friendly vegetables. They contain chemical compounds that help to detoxify the liver.
Herbs & spices
There are certain herbs and spices that help to cleanse the liver and promote detoxification. These include turmeric, milk thistle, astragulus, licorice, parsley and cinnamon.
Fluids
Adequate hydration helps to reduce the toxicity in the liver. Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Lemon water, green tea and green juices help in liver detoxification.
Generally patients with bad liver are recommended to eat high amount of carbs along with a moderate intake of fat. This will prevent protein breakdown in the liver. Those suffering from bad liver must necessarily take vitamin supplements, especially Vitamin B supplements.
A bad liver ruins your health. But by following a nutritious and liver friendly diet, it is possible to revert the damage to the liver. In fact, the liver regenerates itself very fast provided you do not subject it to a toxic loading. Follow the right diet and avoid the foods mentioned above to have a healthy liver.