Foods Good for the Liver

Foods Good for the Liver

Say, are you afflicted with such health ailments as:

· Frequent problems with indigestion

· Roller-coaster weight gains and losses

· Often being constipated or having problems with your bowels

· Recurring allergy or sinus difficulties

· Skin rashes, psoriasis or eczemas

A malfunctioning or ailing liver just might be an underlying cause of these problems. So why not try nurturing the liver to help soothe it back to proper functioning. How? By regularly consuming a cadre of foods good for the liver.

What Foods are Good for the Liver?

There is a long list of everyday foods good for the liver which promote proper functioning of this essential organ through various means. These foods can provide valuable nutrients, vitamins, mineral content and needed fluids. Essential components for production of vital hormones and other chemicals for detoxifying bodily fluids can also come from many natural fruits, vegetables, nuts and organic products such as soy, honey and vegetable oils. The liver is one of the body’s largest organs. It is located mid-abdomen, slightly above the stomach and connected to the gall bladder. The liver’s key functions, of the more than 500 required operations it performs, are to produce hormones needed by the body, detoxify body fluids of pollutants like pesticides, tobacco and nicotine residues, drugs and narcotics, and produce chemicals to build bone and hemoglobin in the blood.

Here are some foods which are good for the liver when consumed regularly in moderate quantities.

Foods for the Liver

Celery (Apium graveolens) – Not only is celery a rich source of fiber which aids in the elimination of solid toxins in the digestive tract, but also contains numerous water-soluble nutrients making it one of the healthiest foods for the liver. Celery is especially active as a diuretic in the elimination of uric acid and its components – a key function of the liver. The chlorophyll content converts to proteins the liver almost immediately puts into use. Chlorophyll also is instrumental in construction of hemoglobin and in the detoxifying processes of the liver.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) – the sweet and acid contents of pineapple promote chemical balance in the liver. Fiber contained in this fruit also aid in proper digestion and bowel elimination through peristaltic action and roughage supplied by eating pineapple. Add in generous amounts of Iron, Copper, manganese along with vitamins A (Beta-carotene), B1 (Thiamin) and B2 (Riboflavin) and you have an essential package of mineral resources of a food good for the liver.

Bananas (Musa paradisiaca) – These are such a prime source of potassium, sodium, phosphorous, calcium, both simple and complex carbohydrates and base proteins that it’s often referred to as “the perfect food”. Bananas are a rich source of vitamins B6 (Pyridoxine) which directly benefits the liver’s function and E which acts on fibrous tissues and membranes. The liver can almost immediately use the compounds and protein found in bananas which require very little digestive processing to be used effectively.

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis) – What? Are you nuts? What do you mean, “You don’t like broccoli”? This widely-despised green vegetable is so good for you that if on a deserted island it’s one food you should wish for. The high chlorophyll content converts to essential compounds the liver needs for aiding in the production of chemicals and components for a balanced blood chemistry. As mentioned earlier, the deep green color of broccoli signifies the presence of detoxifying components of chlorophyll. Broccoli is truly a great food for the liver.

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepa) – The deep orange colors in pumpkin come from carotene compounds which translate to a rich abundance of beta-carotenes (vitamin A) and other proteins the liver absolutely requires for optimum functioning, making this another good food for the liver. The conversion processes are helped along by cooking methods such as steaming, blanching, par-boiling or roasting which do not completely destroy all nutrients in the vegetable.

<strong>Onions</strong> (Allium cepa) – the strong smells and flavors that are unique to onions come from “glucosoids”, volatile, stinging acidic juices contained in most varieties of “Liliaceas”, the family of onions. Vitamin B, Niacin and potassium are also highly active ingredients found in most onion varieties. Their volatile juices are effective anti-parasite agents and aid the liver in flushing out toxins as well. Onions are known to have been used for centuries and even as far back as the days of Moses. No matter how onions are used, they are one of the healthiest foods for the liver.

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) – a richer source of organic, fatty oils (34%) than coconut would be hard to come by. Coconut water is so quickly and easily processed by the liver than it could actually be effectively transfused intravenously directly into your blood stream (in an emergency). Also a rich source of organic oils, calcium, phosphorous and Iron which are easily broken down and used by the liver in a number of key functions. Coconut also contains amounts of vitamin C.

Fruits Good for the Liver

Apples (Pyrus malus) – Johnny Appleseed knew that apples were a great source of nutrition in addition to being a delicious fruit. Maybe he didn’t know that apples supply vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C in addition to being up to 85% water and about 14% carbohydrates and that it’s a good food for the liver as well. The fruit aids the liver in its function of detoxifying body fluids.

Oranges (Citrus aurantium) – During the height of the ancient Greek empire, oranges were known as “golden apples”. Oranges are loaded with potassium, calcium and phosphorous along with vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. The citric acid in oranges has value as an antiseptic and is instrumental in the liver’s detoxifying functions. The pulp and membranes in oranges are an aid to moving toxins from the body as a good food for the liver. The leaves and flowers also have other medicinal properties and uses.

Peaches (Prunus persica) – Quick now, what’s the peach state? If you said “Georgia”, you’re wrong – it’s actually South Carolina that produces the majority of this wonderfully clingy fruit. The diuretic properties of peach juice or an infusion made from its leaves, are an aid in helping to cleanse the liver of toxins.

Asparagus – (Asparagus officinalis) Okay, so it takes two years for a crop of asparagus to mature enough for harvest, but it’s well worth the wait. The heavy celluloid structure of asparagus converts to cell-building proteins when the liver processes the many elements of asparagus into bands of chemicals which build and flush toxins from the circulatory system through chemical-bonding processes.

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Spinach (Spinacea oleracea) – Another great green leafy vegetable the liver needs for proper functioning. It’s the chlorophylls and protein compounds that the liver quickly absorbs and converts to essential nutrients for chemical production. Spinach and most other leafy green vegetables are good foods for the liver. Just look what it did for “Popeye the Sailor”.

<strong>Watermelon</strong> (Cucurbita citrullus) – The human body is more than 60% water and so is the tasty, refreshing watermelon. It’s not hard to come up with this summer fruit’s major contribution to the liver’s functioning – water and fluid soluble nutrients. The red color of the fruit signals the presence of beta-carotene (vitamin A) compounds. This good for the liver fruit not only acts as a mild diuretic aiding the liver, but its seeds are used in anti-parasite medicines and the pulp effectively treats sunburn.

More of the healthiest Foods for the Liver

Want to know more even more foods which are good for the liver? There are a number of others which are commonly found in kitchens and pantries worldwide, including: tomatoes, soy, grapes, carrots, cherries, lettuce and lemons to mention just a few more of the healthiest foods for the liver. You can also add the following to the list of foods for the liver as well: lentils, corn, tangerines, honey and almonds, in addition to cucumber, pears, brown rice and cauliflower.

Finally, in many cultures, an inflammation of the liver is herbally treated by drinking a cup of an infusion of 50 grams of Lilac leaves (Syringa vulgaris) boiled in a liter of water before every meal. These foods good for the liver can provide valuable nutrients, vitamins, mineral content and needed fluids, when eaten regularly as part of a balanced, sensible, healthy diet. Remember that, listen to your Mother (she was right), and eat your broccoli. It’s one of the healthiest foods for the liver.