The liver is the organ that is responsible for most of the chemical processes associated with metabolism. And our health largely depends on metabolism. Therefore, in order to formulate the right diet, it is important to know which foods are good for liver health and which ones pose a threat to it.
Table of Contents
Best And Worst Foods For Liver
Here is the list of the best and the worst foods for liver you should know.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal has many health benefits. It is good for the gastrointestinal tract and facilitates digestion due to its high fiber content. Moreover, it helps to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It also helps to lose belly fat and reduces the risk of liver disease.
It contains a whole mix of health-promoting nutrients, making oatmeal for breakfast one of the best ways to start your day. However, not all oatmeal is equally healthy. The healthiest cereal is whole, that is, grain that needs to be boiled for 30 minutes.
It contains the maximum amount of fiber, minerals, and vitamins. If you do not have the opportunity to prepare breakfast for so long, then you can choose whole cereal. The flakes are less hard, but they do not undergo heat treatment, and therefore do not lose their beneficial properties.
Alcohol
Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages leads to the destruction of liver cells. In a short time, it leads to scarring of the liver, which is a major cause of liver cancer. In the US, 4 out of 5 people having liver disease die of alcohol abuse, and even States like Arizona are not safe from this.
Besides, in the past year, the number of alcohol-related death in Arizona has increased. Thus, the only solution is cutting down on alcohol by getting assistance from experts. So you must find the best rehab Arizona State has and go there to reduce the risk of getting liver disease by giving up addiction.
Apples
Fresh or baked apples are equally good for the liver. If you prefer fresh fruit, it is best to eat it with the skin on it. Apples contain pectins, plant fibers that remove excess cholesterol from the liver, which works exceptionally well for the health of the liver. Yes, so it was rightly said that an apple a day would surely help you stay away from the doctor.
Diet Meats
You should exclude fatty meats from the diet for the liver’s health, but lean meats, like poultry, on the contrary, must be included. First, lean poultry is rich in proteins. Secondly, such meat, for example, chicken fillet or turkey, gets digested well.
Thirdly, it contains B vitamins, which help to obtain energy from carbohydrates, preventing them from being stored in fat. As for fatty meats, as well as rich broths, it is better to exclude them from the diet. Also, do not overuse lard. Smoked meat products processed with liquid smoke, which is a carcinogen, are extremely harmful to liver health.
Broccoli
Broccoli contains a large amount of potassium, fiber, vitamins C, A, and B6, antioxidants. This vegetable has a beneficial effect on the digestion, immune, and cardiovascular system. Cabbage, which is rich in fiber, helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and maintain normal intestinal microflora.
But this does not limit the benefits of this vegetable as several researchers have concluded that eating broccoli reduces the risk of liver cancer and fatty liver disease.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin helps to normalize metabolism and speed up the absorption of food. It has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, promotes the elimination of cholesterol from the body, and prevents the accumulation of fat cells. And pumpkin, including pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil, promotes bile secretion.
Kelp
Kelp, or seaweed, contains alginic acid salts. Alginates promote the elimination of heavy metal salts, that is. By doing this, it helps the liver to function properly. Also, seaweed lowers cholesterol levels in the body, reducing the risk of getting liver cancer.
Sweets And Fast Carbohydrates
Avoid overeating sweet and starchy foods like sweets, cakes, buns, and various baked goods. These are all simple carbohydrates with a high sugar content that overload the liver. If there are a lot of fast carbohydrates in the diet, then the body simply converts them into fat.
It is also important to know that an excess of carbohydrates contributes to metabolic disorders. People who overeat sweets and flour products are more likely to suffer from fatty liver disease. Fast food of any type is also dangerous.
As a rule, such food contains an abundance of trans fats, flavor enhancers, and salt. For example, hamburgers and cheeseburgers contain white flour buns, animal fat, fatty sauce, peppercorns, and salty additives. It is difficult for the liver to process such heavy food.
Semi-Finished Products
Monosodium glutamate, which is a concentrated salt, is often added to semi-finished products. Due to such supplements, people often overeat, and the appetite becomes uncontrollable. This leads not only to an increase in body weight but also to a significant increase in the load on the liver.
Eat more foods with natural sugars and fiber, such as apples and strawberries. Dried fruits and honey can also be used as sweeteners. So, honey not only contains vitamins and essential amino acids but also has choleretic properties. For example, instead of confectionery and sweets, you can make a dessert from dried fruits, nuts, and a spoonful of honey – this is good for both the liver and the heart.
Coffee
If you are used to drinking a cup of coffee in the morning, then you will be glad to know that coffee can even be good for the liver. Research has shown that drinking two cups of coffee a day can protect the liver from damage caused by a poor diet. Several studies have also shown that drinking coffee reduces the risk of liver cancer.
Summing Up
Those suffering from any sort of liver disease must know how to fight it and eat right. Thus, we mentioned a list of the best and the worst foods for liver health that can help you make the right eating decisions.