5 Nutrients That Help Your Liver
The liver performs many essential functions in our body. Primary among these, it produces cholesterol, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals.
The liver also breaks down toxins such as alcohol and hazardous byproducts of our metabolic reactions. It is additionally responsible for breaking down medication. Maintaining your liver’s health is vital for sustaining your overall fitness and health. The most beneficial five nutrients for upholding liver health are as follows:
Coffee
Coffee is a very beneficial beverage which aids the health of liver.
Research indicates that drinking coffee defends the liver from harmful substances. It can be beneficial even for those individuals who may already have liver problems.
Studies have shown that coffee lowers the risk of permanent liver damage, medically known as cirrhosis, in individuals who have the chronic liver disease. Coffee also reduces the risk for development of liver cancer.
Additionally, coffee is connected with a decrease in the risk of death for individuals with chronic liver disease. The ideal outcome is observed in people who drink at least 3 cups of coffee per day.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit includes many antioxidants which protect the liver. The 2 major antioxidants present in the grapefruit are naringin and naringenin. Research indicates that both of these help in protecting the liver.
Antioxidants including those in grapefruit can act like a shield against many health benefits. They do this in 2 ways:
- Protecting cells
- Reducing inflammation
These effects of antioxidants directly affect the liver by reducing the chance of developing hepatic fibrosis which is a harmful condition that can lead to disproportionate connective tissue build up in liver. This condition normally develops as a result of chronic inflammation in the liver.
Prickly Pear
Prickly pear is medically known as Opuntia ficus-indica. Commonly recognized as type of cactus, this fruit is probably more famous as a result of being in the famous song The Bare Necessities in Disney’s The Jungle Book.
Prickly pears have been used widely in traditional medicine as a treatment for fatigue, ulcers, liver disease, and wounds.
A research was conducted on a pool of 55 volunteers in 2004 to determine the benefits of the Prickly Pear. The volunteers experienced less conditions of dry mouth, nausea, and lack of appetite. And if they consumed the extract before drinking alcohol then they were half as likely to experience a severe hangover.
Beetroot Juice
Research indicates that beetroot juice decreases inflammation and oxidative damage in the liver. It also increases the naturally occurring detoxification enzymes.
Many other favorable effects of the beetroot juice have been observed many studies. More research is going on and more benefits of beetroot juice for liver health are being discovered every day.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is known to be a healthy source of fat and it has many health benefits, especially for metabolic processes, including the liver, and the heart.
A research conducted on individuals with NAFLD showed that consumption of 1 teaspoon, which is 6.5 ml of olive oil per day, improves the liver’s fat and enzyme levels.
The volunteers were also reported to have reduced fat accumulation and better flow of blood in their liver.
These five foods are among the best for maintaining liver health. The is necessary for many body functions, so the health of your liver is imperative to your overall health.
While focusing on the five foods listed here will help your liver, often times your liver needs more help than simply consuming these foods. This may be due to lack of nutrient absorption or already having liver damage. Either way, the nutrients found in these foods can also be found in supplements. Supplements allow for better absorption of nutrients, so you can be sure to get what you need to improve your liver health.