The liver is responsible for vital bodily functions, such as filtering toxins from the blood, storing nutrients and producing digestive substances and hormones. Supporting your liver function is a useful component of an overall plan for health maintenance. Certain foods and herbs may help support liver function. Always consult your physician if you have a serious liver condition.
Beets
Beets are a medium-sized root vegetable. They are bright red, purple, orange or yellow. Beets contain a number of important nutrients, such as folate, potassium, fiber, vitamin C and magnesium. Beets also contain phytonutrients called betalains. Betalains are the pigments that give beet roots their characteristic bright colors. Betalains have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and they support the liver's detoxification process. Detoxification occurs in two phases, and betalains seem to support the second phase, wherein toxins are made water-soluble for excretion in the urine. The antioxidant effect protects liver cells from free radical damage and assists in repairing damaged cells. Beets can be boiled, steamed or roasted, or they may be juiced in their raw form.
Dandelion Greens
Dandelions are well-known for being a pesky weed, however, they are also a nutritious food and herb. Dandelion is rich in vitamins A, B complex, C and D, as well as iron, potassium and zinc. According to Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of "Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth," dandelion is used medically to alleviate arthritis, gout, skin problems, swelling and high blood pressure and to balance blood sugar levels. Dandelion -- especially the root -- is also beneficial for the liver. Its thought to stimulate liver function, aiding in the detoxification process as well as other liver actions. Dandelion greens may be eaten in a salad, adding slightly bitter flavor. The dandelion plant's leaves, flowers and roots may be consumed as a tea, liquid extract, tincture or capsule.
Burdock
Burdock is both a food and an herb that is good for the liver. In Japan and certain parts of Europe, burdock root is consumed as a vegetable. Burdock is rich in fiber, which aids in digestion. Burdock also has a history of medical use in traditional Chinese medicine and in naturopathic medicine as a diuretic and a detoxifying agent. Herbalists classify burdock as an alterative, which is a substance that enhances bodily function and "cleanses" the blood. Alteratives support the function of the detoxing organs, such as the kidneys, skin, lungs, bowels and lymphatic system, as well as the liver. Additionally, burdock functions as an antioxidant. Burdock may be cooked as a vegetable, or consumed as a tea, tincture, fluid extract or capsule.
References
- University of Illinois Medical Center: Liver Disease
- "Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Dandelion
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Burdock
