The Best Foods for Liver Health

The liver is the most complex organ in the body and performs over 500 essential tasks and functions. The liver processes everything we eat, drink, inhale or absorb through our skin. One of its most important functions is removing any toxins that you have eaten, ingested or absorbed so eating the right foods for your liver can really help take the strain off. There are a variety of different foods that can aid in supporting your liver health. Learn about the best foods for improving your liver health.

What’s In this article

Coffee
Garlic
Crucifers
Berries
Turmeric
Green Tea

Coffee
Although not a food, we decided to include coffee on our liver of best foods for liver health. Studies have repeatedly shown that drinking coffee lowers the risk of cirrhosis, or permanent liver damage, in people with chronic liver disease. Drinking coffee in moderation can also reduce the risk of developing liver cancer, and it has positive effects on liver disease and inflammation. So knock back that morning coffee knowing you are helping your liver health, just make sure you don’t ass sugar.

Garlic
Just a small amount of garlic has the ability to activate liver enzymes that help your body flush out toxins. It is also great for your immune system and adding flavor to your meals. Garlic is really low in calories and low in saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium. One clove of garlic contains 3% of your recommended daily amount of manganese, 2% of vitamin C and vitamin B6 and 1% of both calcium and selenium. No wonder it is listed as one of the best foods for the liver.

Crucifers
Crucifer foods such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy, and daikon, can help to prevent the formation of carcinogen in your stomach in response to foods made with hydrogenated oils and sodium nitrite. These vegetables help your liver neutralize chemicals, pesticides, drugs, and carcinogens so your liver does not have as much work to do.

Berries
Numerous animal studies have shown that whole cranberries and blueberries, as well as their extracts or juices, can help keep the liver healthy. They are also full of antioxidants which aid in balancing the liver.

Turmeric
Curcumin, one of the principal components of the Indian spice turmeric, seems to delay the liver damage that eventually causes cirrhosis according to the British Medical Journal.

Green Tea for liver health

Green Tea
A review of 10 studies from “Liver International” ISI Journal Citation Reports 2016 reported that eight out of the 10 subjects found green tea had a defensive effect against liver disease. Drinking green tea shows strong evidence in promoting liver health as well as being low in calories, however, taking it in supplement form should be avoided altogether as this may have a damaging effect.