01/11/2023
The liver is an important organ in the body, with the function of metabolizing nutrients, breaking down carbohydrates, creating glucose and detoxifying the body. Liver dysfunction can cause liver diseases and metabolic disorders. Therefore, to protect the liver, the body needs to consume foods that are good for the liver.
The liver has a range of essential functions from producing proteins and cholesterol to storing vitamins, minerals and even carbohydrates. At the same time, the liver also has the function of detoxifying the body from alcohol and drugs. Keeping your liver healthy is an important way to maintain your health. Some of the best foods and drinks that are good for the liver include:
1. Coffee
To enhance liver health, coffee is considered the best choice. Drinking coffee reduces the risk of cirrhosis, which causes permanent liver damage, in people with chronic liver disease. It also reduces the risk of developing liver disease, liver cancer and fatty liver. Compounds in coffee also help liver enzymes remove cancer-causing substances from the body.
Coffee has the ability to prevent the accumulation of fat and collagen, which are the two main causes of liver diseases.
Coffee also reduces inflammation and increases levels of the antioxidant glutathione. Antioxidants neutralize harmful free radicals, which are naturally produced in the body and can damage cells.
Although coffee has many health benefits, especially the liver, we should only drink 1 cup of coffee in the morning.
2. Oatmeal
Adding oats to your diet is an easy way to add fiber. The fiber in oats is especially beneficial for the liver. Fiber is an important substance for digestion. Oats and oatmeal are high in compounds called beta-glucans. They help regulate the immune system and fight inflammation and fight diabetes and obesity. The compound beta-glucans from oats helps reduce the amount of fat stored in the liver and may also help protect the liver.
When choosing oats, you should choose pure oats, because packaged oatmeal may contain flour or sugar that is not beneficial for the body.
3. Green tea
Green tea is really beneficial for health in general and liver health in particular. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, improves liver enzyme levels, reduces oxidative stress and fat accumulation in the liver.
4. Garlic
Garlic is especially good for the liver, especially for fatty liver patients. Eating garlic reduces body weight and fat content in people with fatty liver.
5. Berries
Berries such as blueberries and raspberries contain antioxidants called polyphenols that help protect the liver from damage. Eating berries or their juice helps keep the liver healthy.
In addition, blueberries help increase cellular immune response and antioxidant enzymes. Antioxidants found in berries slow the development of damage and fibrosis, the growth of scar tissue in the liver.
6. Grapes
Grapes, especially red and purple grapes, contain many health-promoting plant compounds such as resveratrol. Grapes provide many different health benefits such as: reducing inflammation, preventing increased antioxidant levels, improving liver function.
7. Grapefruit
Grapefruit contains antioxidants that naturally protect the liver. The two main antioxidants found in grapefruit are naringenin and naringin.
Studies also show that these antioxidants may reduce the development of cirrhosis. Another experiment performed on rats fed a high-fat diet, naringenin reduced the amount of fat in the liver and increased the amount of enzymes needed to burn fat, which may help prevent excess fat from accumulating. capacitor. At the same time, naringin has been shown to improve the ability to metabolize alcohol and counteract some of the negative effects of alcohol.
8. Prickly pear
The fruit of the prickly pear cactus (also known as the dragon tongue plant) has the scientific name Opuntia ficus-indica, which is an edible cactus. They have long been used in Traditional Medicine as a treatment for ulcers, wounds, fatigue and liver disease.
Prickly pear helps normalize enzyme and cholesterol levels. This study found that the juice reduced the amount of oxidative damage and liver damage after drinking alcohol and helped keep antioxidant and inflammation levels stable.
9. Plant foods in general
Avocados and other plant foods contain compounds that help protect liver health. The following foods all provide different health benefits and everyone should add them to their diet:
Butter
Banana
Barley
Beetroot and beetroot juice
Broccoli
Brown rice
Carrot
Lemon
Papaya
Watermelon
In particular, beet juice is a source of nitrates and betalain antioxidants that are beneficial for heart health and reduce oxidative damage and inflammation. At the same time, it increases natural detoxifying enzymes.
Cruciferous vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli and mustard greens are known for their high fiber content and distinctive flavor. They contain many beneficial plant compounds. Brussels sprouts and broccoli sprout extracts increase detoxifying enzyme levels and protect the liver from damage.
10. Fatty fish
