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Top 10 Foods For Liver Cleansing

Submitted by Nick on October 11, 2011

The liver is not just one of the most important organs in your body; it is also one of the most overused and pressurized organs. It is the main detoxifying component of the body, as it gets rid of the harmful substances and the impurities from the bloodstream. Therefore, it is important to keep the liver healthy at all times. Some people use supplements and pills to cleanse their livers and their internal systems. However most of us avoid taking such supplements, mainly because of the fear of any side effects.


Fortunately, there are a couple of liver cleansing foods too that you can use instead, which are believed to be quite safe, but effective nonetheless. You can also consume drinks to cleanse liver

In case you lead a hectic lifestyle, are under a tremendous amount of stress or follow an unhealthy diet on a regular basis, you are at a much higher risk of suffering from liver diseases and problems. Some of the conditions that could affect a weakened liver include cancer, cirrhosis or the formation of crystals in the liver.


There have been several cases, of people suffering liver problems, mainly because of heredity factors too. This is why most health experts advise people to consume natural liver cleansing foods on a regular basis, not just to keep the liver in good health, but also to ensure overall fitness of the body, for a longer period of time. The liver cleansing foods list comprises of vegetables, fruits, herbs and certain beverages too.


Some of the important nutrients required for keeping the liver healthy include selenium, beta carotene, vitamins and minerals. More information on juices for liver cleansing

Top 10 Liver Cleansing Foods

There are many food items, which can help reduce the risks of liver problems, by cleansing it and keeping it fit. The best liver cleansing foods include:

  • Apples are quite high in pectin and they help in releasing many of the toxins that have accumulated in the digestive tract.


  • Avocadoes help the body to produce glutathione, which enables the liver to get rid of the harmful substances present.
  • Beetroot helps in stimulating certain liver enzymes, which improve its functioning. It is also high in beta carotene and plant flavonoids
  • Carrots are high in beta carotene and flavonoids, which improve overall liver health and functioning
  • Cruciferous veggies, like broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprout are excellent for good liver health, as they flush out the carcinogens from the body, thereby reducing the risk of liver cancer
  • Garlic, as just a small amount of it helps to activate certain enzymes in the liver, which flush out the toxins from the body. This pungent bulb also contains allicin and selenium
  • Grapefruit is high in antioxidants and Vitamin C and therefore, it increases, the natural cleansing process of the liver
  • Green leafy vegetables are known to improve the health in many ways and this includes to liver too. However, it is important to ensure that they are eaten raw or cooked with minimal oil and spices.
  • Lime contains a very high amount of Vitamin C, and therefore it helps the body in synthesizing toxic material into substances, which are absorbed by water.
  • Walnuts are high in amino acid arginine, as they help the liver to get rid of ammonia. However, it is important to ensure that the walnuts are chewed very well and are actually liquefied, before they can be digested.

The importance of water should never be overlooked in any diet, which also includes a liver cleansing diet. One of the first steps you can take for better liver health is to make sure that you drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water each day. Other beverages like unsweetened grapefruit juice and lime juice or green tea may also be very effective.

Foods To Avoid For Liver Cleansing

Just like certain foods help improve the health of the liver, there are certain that can have an adverse effect on it. Hence, there are certain liver cleansing foods to avoid too, which people should bear in mind, when they are on a cleansing diet. The most common liver cleansing foods to avoid include foods that are high in salt, cholesterol, fat, sugar and calories. Hence, in case you are on a liver cleansing diet, make sure that you do restrict or preferably eliminate the following the following foods from your diet.

  • Aerated drinks
  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Foods that contain a high amount of preservatives or additives
  • Fried food
  • Junk food
  • Processed food
  • Salt and food high in sodium
  • Red meat as well as luncheon meat
  • Sugar or artificial sweeteners
There are many kidney cleansing recipes too that are easily available through online. However, it is absolutely essential to check with a doctor and get an approval before using any kidney and liver cleansing foods. This is all the more important in case of people who are elderly or are suffering from any preexisting conditions.
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