The liver is one of the most vital organs of the body. It plays a key role in our digestion; regulates cholesterol and hormone levels; metabolises fats, proteins, and carbohydrates; stores vitamins and minerals; and detoxifies our blood. Because of our heavily polluted environment, over-medication, and excessively processed diets, it is no surprise that our livers are often worn down. 

Ayurveda for a healthy liver

Considering how instrumental our liver's health is for our body's well-being, we must take care of it. We must regularly detox our liver to keep it healthy and fighting fit. If toxins build up in the liver, it can lead to sensitivity to allergens, cholesterol issues, digestive problems, or fatigue. A good diet and an active lifestyle with enough physical movements help keep the liver healthy. Ayurveda recommendations and practices help take care of our liver health, avoid ailments or damage and recover from ailments.

The liver is the engine of our body, but how many times do we pay attention to keeping it healthy? Our liver plays an important role in digesting, metabolising, and manufacturing essential compounds.

The liver also has to do the following jobs:

Keeping the blood pure – Our liver has the duty to convert clear plasma to blood and keeping the blood pure by scanning and identifying toxins in plasma. Then, it prevents toxins from entering the blood. If our liver fails to do this, our blood and skin get adversely affected. This leads to skin breakouts, acne, dryness, and irritation.

Digesting fatty acids – Liver secretes bile, which breaks down and helps in digesting fatty acids.

Produces blood-clotting factors – Liver produces blood-clotting factors and at the same time creates protective elements that keep blood clots from blocking the circulatory system.

Converts sugar into glycogen – The liver is responsible for converting sugar into glycogen and storing it for use by the muscles in the form of glucose energy.

Stores Iron, Copper, and Vitamins – The liver stores valuable nutrients like iron, copper, vitamins A, D, and B12, which are all very valuable for human health.

The liver is the engine of our body, but how many times do we pay attention to keeping it healthy? Our liver plays an important role in digesting, metabolising, and manufacturing essential compounds.

 

Following the golden rule of ‘prevention is better than cure,’ Ayurveda recommends adopting a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet including fruits, vegetables, dairy products, grains, proteins, and fats for a healthier liver.

Detox your liver naturally

Ayurveda lists a few easily available food items that can help detox your liver naturally.

1. Garlic

Garlic helps the liver to activate enzymes that flush out toxins from our body. Also, it has high levels of allicin, which has antioxidants, antibiotic and antifungal properties, and Selenium, which increases antioxidants' action. Both aid in the liver in cleansing.

2. Carrot

Carrots are very high in plant- flavonoids, and beta-carotene, which stipulate and support the overall liver functions. Vitamin A in carrots prevents liver disease. There are various ways you can add carrots to your diet –  salads, juice, soups, or curries.

3. Apple

Apples contain pectin that helps cleanse the body and release toxins from the digestive system. With fewer toxins, our liver can better manage its toxin load. Make sure you eat at least one apple a day.

4. Walnuts

An excellent source for amino acids, eating walnuts regularly helps detox our liver. A study found that eating walnuts improved liver function tests in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. But make sure you eat only a handful of walnuts in a day and not more than that.

5. Green Tea

Green tea is one of the trendiest drinks in the world. The plant-based antioxidants in green tea improve liver function.  According to the World Journal of Gastroenterology, green tea has high antioxidants that help reduce body fat percentage and fat in the blood.

6. Leafy vegetables

High in chlorophyll, green leafy vegetables flush out the toxins from our bloodstream. They can neutralise heavy metals to protect the liver. Add more greens like palak (spinach), green peas, okra, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, etc., to your diet.

7. Citrus fruits

Oranges, lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits boost the liver’s cleansing ability the detoxifying enzymes present in citrus fruits improve the liver’s health and functionality. You can either juice them, add them to fruit salad, or eat them as is – make sure you add all kinds of citrus foods to your meals.

8. Turmeric

Turmeric is an excellent spice, which reduces the amount of radical damage in our liver. Turmeric helps in metabolising fats and bile juice production, which acts as a natural detoxifier for our liver.

9. Beetroot

A good source for vitamin C, beetroot stimulates bile and boosts enzymatic activity, just like citrus fruits. The best way to consume beetroot is to chop them and toss them in your salad or juice them and mix it in your vegetable soup or juice. Eat these foods regularly to keep your liver healthy, especially when they are in season.

Have a happy and healthy liver.

Also read: Self-care: Before anything else, can you take care of yourself first?

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