How well do you know your liver? Organs like your heart and lungs get a lot of attention, but your liver is just as vital to your overall well being. This powerhouse organ is critical to digestion. It helps you absorb and store vital nutrients as well as filter out elements that are not beneficial.
A healthy liver starts with what you eat and drink. It's likely not a surprise to hear that limiting alcohol is a great way to keep your liver healthy. But your day to day eating can have an impact as well. Here are six of the most potent liver-supporting foods around. How many are you eating every day?
- Blueberries: There's a ton of really exciting blueberry research going on (there's a sentence you never thought you'd read). Some claims, like that compounds in blueberries can reduce the risk of liver damage, need more studies to back them up. Others, though, are well established. Several studies show that eating blueberries regularly helps protect the liver from damage, which is just what you want to do if liver health is a priority.
- Beetroot: Beetroot (more specifically beetroot juice) has been studied in order to determine its impact on the liver. Turns out that beetroot can help reduce inflammation and increase the creation of detoxifying enzymes. No need to chug a bottle of juice for the benefits - beet powder in your favorite smoothie is a great way to get those benefits to your liver.
- Avocado Oil: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is an extremely common issue for those eating a standard western diet. This condition can lead to insulin resistance, which causes insulin to build up in your bloodstream. This in turn can make your liver health even worse. A recent study found that avocado oil can help reduce inflammation associated with fatty liver disease, a great first step to getting your liver back in great health.
- Brussels Sprouts: There's a reason your mom told you to eat them. Cruciferous vegetables like brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage help increase levels of detoxification enzymes in the body. This helps protect your liver from damage. Brussels Sprouts are also delicious if you cook them right - here's one of our favorite ways to make them!
- Fatty Fish: Do you really need another reason why fatty fish like salmon are good for you? The omega-3s in these fish help reduce inflammation all over your body. They may also help lower triglycerides in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver.
- Coffee: Here's one you may not expect. Turns out coffee is correlated with much better outcomes for people with liver disease. Like anything else you want to be careful not to overdo it, but a cup or two a day may have more benefits than simply helping you get out of bed.