You need your liver to do things such as constantly remove toxins from the blood, provide your muscles with energy and create clotting factors. Your liver is one of the organs that can repair and rebuild itself if it has not suffered excessive damage. Therefore it is important to eat and drink in ways that keep your liver healthy and help it to repair itself when it has become damaged.
Limit Alcohol
Alcohol, despite its common use among some cultures, is a toxin that has to be removed by your liver. When you drink too much alcohol, over time or all at once, it can damage your liver. Alcohol use can result in cirrhosis of the liver, which scars liver tissue; once too much cirrhosis has occurred, it cannot be reversed. Therefore it is important to keep your alcohol intake to moderate amounts, meaning no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. If you already have liver damage, either from alcohol or other conditions such as exposure to toxins, your doctor will probably recommend that you stop drinking altogether. The elimination of alcohol will allow your liver to regrow healthy liver cells and reverse the damage, if it's not too far advanced.
Choose Good Fats
Eating a high-fat diet can contribute to the development of a disease known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which occurs when your liver cannot break down all the fat and instead it builds up in your liver. According to findings from a study cited by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the United States ranges from 16 to 23 percent.
It is important to keep your daily fat intake at healthy levels. Eating a diet rich in plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, will help you lower your overall fat intake. Plant-based foods generally contain significantly less fat than animal-based foods. Limit your fat intake to no more than 30 percent of your daily calories.
Drink Green Tea
Green tea has been shown to have some positive effects on the liver. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a study found that men who drank more than 10 cups of green tea per day were less likely to develop liver problems. Green tea has some ability to protect your liver from damage caused by toxins.
Eat Organic
Organic foods do not contain pesticides, making them easier on your liver. Eating organic foods whenever possible can help keep unnecessary toxins out of your body and limit the amount of liver damage your food can cause. When you cannot buy organic, it is important to thoroughly wash foods to remove as many toxins as possible.
Take Milk Thistle
Adding milk thistle supplements to your diet may help keep your liver healthy. According to the National Cancer Institute, the compound silymarin, found in milk thistle, has antioxidant properties that can protect the cells of the liver by blocking toxins from entering liver cells or moving toxins out before they cause damage. Talk with your doctor about the potential risks and benefits of taking milk thistle. Milk thistle has been known to interact with some prescription medications.
