The liver is an important organ in your body that functions in digesting fats in the foods you eat as well as filtering wastes and toxins from your blood, according to the American Liver Foundation. Therefore, caring for your liver as much as possible ensures optimal health and decreases development of liver diseases such as cirrhosis or fatty liver disease. Eating certain foods, along with exercising and avoiding smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages, can help improve the health of your liver.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, naturally low in cholesterol and high in complex carbohydrates, are important for liver health, according to the American Liver Foundation. Consuming fruits and vegetables of a variety of colors each day will ensure that you receive nutrients such as folate, fiber, potassium and vitamins A and C. In addition, certain fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that reduce oxidative damage to body cells and reduce risk of developing chronic diseases. Such antioxidants include lycopene in tomatoes, beta carotene in carrots and peppers, as well as vitamin C in citrus fruits.
Whole Grains
Whole grains found in whole-wheat bread and pasta, as well as brown and wild rice, contain rich amounts of fiber and nutrients that aid in liver health. Since your liver stores excess glucose that is not used by your body, it can be overwhelmed if you consume excessive amounts of simple carbohydrates that are digested rapidly into glucose soon after consumption. Simple carbohydrates include refined starches and sugars such as white breads, pastas, rice, sweetened beverages and candy that are low in fiber and nutrients as compared to complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates -- which include whole-grain products and fruits and vegetables -- are digested more slowly into glucose, because they are rich in fiber. They make you feel full and prevent over-consumption of carbohydrates that can place stress on your liver in digesting and storing excess glucose.
Other Foods and Beverages
According to the American Liver Foundation, you should consume sufficient water each day to keep your liver healthy. In addition, you should limit or avoid consumption of alcoholic beverages, since alcohol can damage or destroy liver cells, leading to fatty liver, inflammation of the liver, alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. Consuming fatty foods must also be avoided to reduce your risk of being overweight or obese, which contributes further to liver disease.
