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Long Live the Liver: 10 Ways to Look After Your (Second) Largest Organ
By Sarah Stevenson
When was the last time you checked in with your liver? In truth, most of us don't give our livers much thought, except maybe the morning after a night spent drinking too many dirty martinis. And that's too bad because the liver is an organ that is critical to your health.
Next to your skin, your liver is the second largest organ in the body. You can find this lovely maroon colored organ under your upper right ribcage. Every single nutrient that enters the body must pass through your liver in order to be transformed into something useful. Your liver plays a key role in blood production, producing proteins, iron and vitamin B-12. It turns carbohydrates, proteins, and fat into glucose that can be used throughout the entire body. Its most famous job is ridding the body of harmful and useless toxins also known as detoxification.
Too much alcohol, processed junk, and greasy fried foods can negatively impact this miracle organ. In addition, stress and environmental pollution can severely reduce your liver's capabilities. Fortunately, there are many foods you can eat to nourish and heal your liver.
Dr. Sandra Cabot, the author of The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book, suggests that individuals eat foods to pamper their bodies. To fully support your liver, you need to eat a combination of foods. Some foods help the liver in the detoxification process. Others protect the liver while it's doing its detoxifying. Here are 10 suggestions that can help you pamper that oh so precious organ that answers to the name liver:
1. Garlic. Thank goodness food tastes better with garlic, because this natural addition to food can help your liver function more efficiently. Garlic activates liver enzymes that aid in purifying your body of toxins. Garlic also contains protein, potassium, vitamins A, B, B2, and C, calcium, and zinc. These help your heart, immune system, and decreases blood pressure. Researchers suggest that raw is better when dealing with garlic. Once you heat it to a certain temperature it loses all of its nutrients and medicinal benefits. So add a couple of raw cloves in your next meal. Your organs will thank you.
2. Hot water with lemon. In his book Biological Ionization in Human Nutrition, Dr. Beddoe states, "Lemon water is used in every person that can tolerate it. The purpose of the lemon is to: provide a natural strengthening agent to the liver enzymes when they are too dilute. The liver can make more enzymes out of fresh lemon juice than any other food element. The lemon helps fix oxygen and calcium in the liver because it regulates blood carbohydrate levels which affect the blood oxygen levels." It is also best if you start your day with this so that you promote healthy liver functioning first thing in the morning.
3. Apples. An apple a day keeps liver disease at bay. Apples are a great source of fiber, which aids in moving foods naturally through your system. They also contain pectin, a "setting agent" that binds to heavy metals in the colon and helps remove them. This gives the liver the break it needs so it can properly finish the detoxification process without being overworked. Researchers found that rats fed on an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer due to these cleansing effects.
4. Grapefruit. This yummy fruit was developed in Jamaica in 1814 by crossbreeding the sweet orange and the pomelo. Grapefruits help the liver clean up your body. They contain vitamin C and antioxidants that increase production of enzymes that serve as detoxifiers of many toxins including carcinogens. Grapefruits are the perfect breakfast solution to the busiest of mornings. Cut it in two, slice each of the little triangles with a knife, and devour it with a fork or simply juice it and take it on the road.
5. Walnuts. These nuts contain the amino acid arginine that helps the liver cleanse itself of ammonia, a toxic waste produced when protein is metabolized. Walnuts are also rich in glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids which help support healthy liver cleansing. Walnuts are a great snack food that can travel with you anywhere. You can eat them raw all by themselves or crush them up and add them to your salad or yogurt.
6. Avocados. This green, creamy fruit helps increase the level of glutathione, an antioxidant that helps the liver perform its job of cleansing the body of dangerous toxins. Studies have shown that eating 1 or 2 avocados a week can increase your liver function and help repair damage to your liver as quickly as 1 month.
7. Artichokes. This lovely lotus-looking veggie increases the production of bile in the liver. Bile is responsible for breaking down dietary fat into digestible forms. Some researchers suggest that there is a 100 percent increase in bile flow only 30 minutes after eating an artichoke. Indulge in one of these delectable artichokes at your next meal.
8. Beets. These scarlet-stained blood-purifying vegetables are high in flavonoids and beta-carotene. This gives them a great reputation for absorbing heavy metals that weigh the liver down and slow its cleansing properties. Many detox cleanses contain beets. The entire beet is beneficial to your health. You can juice it or cook it.
9. Onions. These strongly scented Liliaceas will flush your eyes of tears and flush your liver of toxins. Onions contain vitamin B, niacin, and potassium. Their acidic properties have anti-parasite agents. Researchers suggest that strongly flavored onions can fight the growth of liver cancer cells. Onions are considered one of the healthiest foods for your liver. Bring out the tissue and chop your way toward a healthier liver.
10. Leafy Green Vegetables. Props to Popeye, famous for his words, "I'm strong to the finish, cause I eats my spinach." That muscle man knew what he was talking about if you want to get your liver in tip top shape. Leafy green vegetables including kale, collards, spinach, chard, leaf mustard, dandelion greens, bok choy, chicory, and seaweed all qualify. These green veggies contain fiber, protein, calcium, iron, chlorophyll, and vitamins A, B, C, and K. These leafy greens have amazing antioxidant effects; they neutralize heavy metals that the liver would normally get overworked processing, and help cleanse the blood of toxins. Head to the store and green up your cart so you can punch out liver disease Popeye-style.
Eating a delicious, balanced diet can keep your liver happy and healthy or even heal a damaged liver in a very short period of time. Take the power back when it comes to your health and watch carefully what you put in your body. Make sure you are helping your organs and not causing them to work harder than they need to. You will reap a lifetime of benefits.
.
By Sarah Stevenson
When was the last time you checked in with your liver? In truth, most of us don't give our livers much thought, except maybe the morning after a night spent drinking too many dirty martinis. And that's too bad because the liver is an organ that is critical to your health.
Next to your skin, your liver is the second largest organ in the body. You can find this lovely maroon colored organ under your upper right ribcage. Every single nutrient that enters the body must pass through your liver in order to be transformed into something useful. Your liver plays a key role in blood production, producing proteins, iron and vitamin B-12. It turns carbohydrates, proteins, and fat into glucose that can be used throughout the entire body. Its most famous job is ridding the body of harmful and useless toxins also known as detoxification.
Too much alcohol, processed junk, and greasy fried foods can negatively impact this miracle organ. In addition, stress and environmental pollution can severely reduce your liver's capabilities. Fortunately, there are many foods you can eat to nourish and heal your liver.
Dr. Sandra Cabot, the author of The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book, suggests that individuals eat foods to pamper their bodies. To fully support your liver, you need to eat a combination of foods. Some foods help the liver in the detoxification process. Others protect the liver while it's doing its detoxifying. Here are 10 suggestions that can help you pamper that oh so precious organ that answers to the name liver:
1. Garlic. Thank goodness food tastes better with garlic, because this natural addition to food can help your liver function more efficiently. Garlic activates liver enzymes that aid in purifying your body of toxins. Garlic also contains protein, potassium, vitamins A, B, B2, and C, calcium, and zinc. These help your heart, immune system, and decreases blood pressure. Researchers suggest that raw is better when dealing with garlic. Once you heat it to a certain temperature it loses all of its nutrients and medicinal benefits. So add a couple of raw cloves in your next meal. Your organs will thank you.
2. Hot water with lemon. In his book Biological Ionization in Human Nutrition, Dr. Beddoe states, "Lemon water is used in every person that can tolerate it. The purpose of the lemon is to: provide a natural strengthening agent to the liver enzymes when they are too dilute. The liver can make more enzymes out of fresh lemon juice than any other food element. The lemon helps fix oxygen and calcium in the liver because it regulates blood carbohydrate levels which affect the blood oxygen levels." It is also best if you start your day with this so that you promote healthy liver functioning first thing in the morning.
3. Apples. An apple a day keeps liver disease at bay. Apples are a great source of fiber, which aids in moving foods naturally through your system. They also contain pectin, a "setting agent" that binds to heavy metals in the colon and helps remove them. This gives the liver the break it needs so it can properly finish the detoxification process without being overworked. Researchers found that rats fed on an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer due to these cleansing effects.
4. Grapefruit. This yummy fruit was developed in Jamaica in 1814 by crossbreeding the sweet orange and the pomelo. Grapefruits help the liver clean up your body. They contain vitamin C and antioxidants that increase production of enzymes that serve as detoxifiers of many toxins including carcinogens. Grapefruits are the perfect breakfast solution to the busiest of mornings. Cut it in two, slice each of the little triangles with a knife, and devour it with a fork or simply juice it and take it on the road.
5. Walnuts. These nuts contain the amino acid arginine that helps the liver cleanse itself of ammonia, a toxic waste produced when protein is metabolized. Walnuts are also rich in glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids which help support healthy liver cleansing. Walnuts are a great snack food that can travel with you anywhere. You can eat them raw all by themselves or crush them up and add them to your salad or yogurt.
6. Avocados. This green, creamy fruit helps increase the level of glutathione, an antioxidant that helps the liver perform its job of cleansing the body of dangerous toxins. Studies have shown that eating 1 or 2 avocados a week can increase your liver function and help repair damage to your liver as quickly as 1 month.
7. Artichokes. This lovely lotus-looking veggie increases the production of bile in the liver. Bile is responsible for breaking down dietary fat into digestible forms. Some researchers suggest that there is a 100 percent increase in bile flow only 30 minutes after eating an artichoke. Indulge in one of these delectable artichokes at your next meal.
8. Beets. These scarlet-stained blood-purifying vegetables are high in flavonoids and beta-carotene. This gives them a great reputation for absorbing heavy metals that weigh the liver down and slow its cleansing properties. Many detox cleanses contain beets. The entire beet is beneficial to your health. You can juice it or cook it.
9. Onions. These strongly scented Liliaceas will flush your eyes of tears and flush your liver of toxins. Onions contain vitamin B, niacin, and potassium. Their acidic properties have anti-parasite agents. Researchers suggest that strongly flavored onions can fight the growth of liver cancer cells. Onions are considered one of the healthiest foods for your liver. Bring out the tissue and chop your way toward a healthier liver.
10. Leafy Green Vegetables. Props to Popeye, famous for his words, "I'm strong to the finish, cause I eats my spinach." That muscle man knew what he was talking about if you want to get your liver in tip top shape. Leafy green vegetables including kale, collards, spinach, chard, leaf mustard, dandelion greens, bok choy, chicory, and seaweed all qualify. These green veggies contain fiber, protein, calcium, iron, chlorophyll, and vitamins A, B, C, and K. These leafy greens have amazing antioxidant effects; they neutralize heavy metals that the liver would normally get overworked processing, and help cleanse the blood of toxins. Head to the store and green up your cart so you can punch out liver disease Popeye-style.
Eating a delicious, balanced diet can keep your liver happy and healthy or even heal a damaged liver in a very short period of time. Take the power back when it comes to your health and watch carefully what you put in your body. Make sure you are helping your organs and not causing them to work harder than they need to. You will reap a lifetime of benefits.
.