The Best Vegetables for Liver Cleanse

The Best Vegetables for Liver Cleanse
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Your liver lies beneath your diaphragm, near the right side of your abdominal region. Its functions include filtering harmful substances from the blood, storing minerals and vitamins, maintaining proper glucose levels and breaking down fats, reports the American Liver Foundation. Incorporating liver cleansing vegetables into your diet can promote healthy organ and overall body functions.

Green Leafy Vegetables

In addition to minerals and vitamins, green leafy vegetables contain high antioxidant amounts that protect your liver from potential free radical toxins. According to Dr. Sandra Cabot in "The Liver Cleasning Diet," they also contain chlorophyll, a green pigment that decreases toxin loads and cleanses your liver. Ideal green leafy vegetables include spinach, turnip greens, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, cabbage and swiss chard.

Carrots

Carrots are packed with essential nutrients including beta carotene, niacin, vitamin B-6, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin K and potassium. They also contain fiber, which produces a cleansing effect in your liver and promotes overall body functions, notes Dr. Elizabeth Lipski in "Digestive Wellness." For optimal cleansing benefits, carrots are best consumed raw, steamed or juiced.

Garlic

Garlic benefits your body by providing a mix of antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral effects. Upon consumption, garlic exhibits antioxidant actions that can help cleanse your liver by relieving it of toxic compounds, reports "Digestive Wellness." Garlic also provides sulfur compounds that binds to toxins for easy body excretion. Additional benefits include reduced cholesterol and heart disease ailments.

Glutathione-Based Vegetables

Glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, is an important liver cleansing nutrient. Consuming glutathione-based foods detoxify substances and cleanse your digestive tract before they can be released into your bloodstream notes Dr. Sandra Cabot. High glutathione levels also promote healthy immune functions by enabling your body to devour foreign substances and produce infection fighting white blood cells. Ideal vegetables with glutathione include asparagus, tomatoes, broccoli, squash, parsley, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower.

References

Article reviewed by Jenna Marie Last updated on: Jul 12, 2011

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