6 foods and drinks for maintaining liver health
Your liver carries out several bodily functions, which means a healthy liver is an integral part of maintaining your overall health. It detoxifies your body, produces glucose, and even breaks down carbohydrates. Most importantly, it stores nutrients and creates bile, which aids the digestion and absorption of the food you intake. Abnormal functioning of your liver can lead to several issues like metabolic disorder and can also increase your risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Managing all the risks posed to your liver may not be possible, but you can take several measures to promote good liver health.
One of the best ways to do this to eat certain foods and drinks that render benefits to the organ:
- Garlic : Garlic is revered for the several benefits that it carries for your heart health. You may have not known it, but this food also has stimulating effects on the liver. Some studies say that regular garlic consumption may help you with reduction in weight and fat. This is especially beneficial as being overweight can trigger Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD due to a buildup of fat in your liver.
- Green tea : Known to carry several benefits, green tea also renders good effects for the liver.
It helps you in several ways, like the reduction of overall fat content in your body, fighting off oxidative stress, and protecting the organ against the symptoms of NAFLD. Increasing consumption of green tea has been found to have preventive effects against liver cancer, especially an intake of about 4 cups in a day.
Grapefruit : Grapefruit is abundant in two primary antioxidants: naringin and naringenin. These antioxidants are helpful as they reduce inflammation and protect your liver cells, reducing the risk of liver injury. They also disrupt the buildup of fat in the liver, making grapefruit very good for keeping NAFLD at bay. Oatmeal : Oatmeal is one of the best sources of fiber. Fiber is an essential element that contributes to the smooth functioning of your digestive system, while some fibers also contribute to maintaining liver health. Oatmeal is high in beta-glucans, compounds that strengthen your immune system and fight obesity. It also reduces the risk of liver inflammation. It is best to eat whole oats or steel-cut oats as they do not include other unhealthy ingredients like flour or sugar. Fatty fish : Fatty fish bring a lot of positive effects for your overall health as they are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for preventing inflammation. They also prevent the buildup of fats and maintain the level of enzymes in the liver. Including fatty fish in your diet at least twice a week can ensure that you have a healthy liver. Coffee : Here’s some good news for you if you are a coffee lover. Your favorite drink is found to have good effects on liver health as it has components that reduce your risk of contracting fatty liver disease. Studies suggest that it influences the liver enzymes and reduces the buildup of fat in the organ. The compounds may also protect the liver against fatal diseases like cancer. Fortunately, the liver also cares for itself, but picking foods that are good for your liver is a good way to avoid any potential health issues that can arise in the future. At the same time, several food types can harm your liver health, and they must be avoided to optimize your liver health.
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