One of the important function of the liver is the detoxification of the blood to remove the harmful substances from it. The harmful substances often come from medicines or life-style products such as alcohol, tobacco, supplements and processed or fried foods. When these are consumed in large quantities, burden on the liver increases. Chemicals from pollution, prescribed drugs, viruses and natural by-products of metabolism, are also metabolized in the liver. This process requires the use of large quantities of micronutrients including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to break down the chemicals and toxins. When the liver gets damaged or diseased, it is unable to process the toxins and waste, which then accumulates in the body and harms the health. Chronic or acute liver conditions can lead to liver failure, which means the liver fails to perform its normal functions. This can be a life-threatening condition. Liver transplantation is an effective and long-term treatment for this condition. However, it is a complex operation and should be performed by a trained specialist at a certified facility. The liver transplant surgery in India is available at several top hospitals across the major cities. These hospitals are nationally and internationally accredited centres with world-class liver transplant programs.
Detoxification or detox is a popular trend these days. It involves following a special diet or products that can help eliminate toxins from the body. As the liver itself is involves in natural detoxification of the body, there are certain foods that can help this process. It helps in improving health and promoting weight loss.
Tea and coffee
Green tea is several beneficial properties for health, but studies show that it may also have benefits on the liver. Consuming a few cups of green tea every day has been associated with improvement in blood markers of liver health. This may be attributed to a compound called catechin that assist liver functions. Green tea is full of this antioxidant.
Various studies have also indicated that drinking coffee in moderate amounts can also help protect the liver. It helps in preventing the accumulation of fat and reduce the risk of liver diseases.
Green leafy vegetables
Vegetables and green leaves, such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage and kale are widely known for their health benefits. These vegetables are rich in glutathione, which activates the enzymes of the liver that are involved in toxin cleansing. Cruciferous vegetables stimulate production of glucosinolate and help flush out the carcinogens and toxins from the body.
Avoid Processed foods
Packaged food is full of preservatives, synthetic ingredients and chemicals that ultimately burden the liver, making it progressively harder for the organ to work properly. Eliminating processed items such as breakfast cereals, frozen foods and bacon can have a great impact.
Citrus
Besides being a rich source of vitamin C, citrus fruits also help stimulate the liver to aid in the metabolism of toxic materials into products that can be absorbed by water. Grapefruit, in particular, has many benefits as it contains two antioxidants: naringin and naringenin. These antitoxins help protect the liver from damage as they reduce inflammation and protect the liver cells.
Garlic
Garlic is rich in sulphur, which activates the enzymes in the liver and help the body flush out toxins. Garlic also contains good amounts of selenium, an essential micronutrient that helps in boosting the natural antioxidant enzyme levels in the livers. The selenium in the garlic provide livers even more strength in fighting against the damage caused by oxidative stress from toxins.
Beetroot
Another good source of vitamin C is beetroot. It contains a healthy amount of fibre which acts as a natural cleanser for the digestive system. But more importantly, beetroot helps in increasing the oxygen level which aids in cleansing the blood. It helps in break down of toxic wastes which causes them to be excreted quickly. They also stimulate flow of bile juice and boost its enzymatic activity for fat digestion.
Walnuts
Walnuts are also known to be the good source of glutathione, and consist omega-3 fatty acids and arginine, an amino acid which supports normal cleansing activities of the liver, especially for detoxification of ammonia.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is popularly known as a healthy fat. The cold-pressed organic olive, hemp, and flaxseed oils act as a great support for the liver. They provide a liquid base to suck up the harmful toxins in the body. Studies have indicated that these oils can decrease the levels of fat in the liver.
