Your liver is your body's main filtration system, helping to remove toxins and other substances that should not circulate in your blood. Because your liver is responsible for filtering the foods you eat, you should choose foods that do not tax the liver and that benefit liver function and your body's functioning as a whole. While a poor diet may not cause liver dysfunction, a good diet can help to minimize liver damage.
Healthy Protein Sources
Your liver is responsible for breaking down proteins in the body. If you consume excess protein each day, your liver may be affected. Your recommended daily protein intake in grams should be half your weight in pounds. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should consume about 80 grams of protein per day. While you can occasionally exceed these recommendations, avoid excess protein in your diet as a long-term dietary measure. Choose lean protein sources like chicken, beef and fish. Your liver may have an easier time breaking down plant and dairy proteins, making choices like milk, soybeans, legumes and beans good choices for you if you are concerned about liver health.
Complex Carbohydrates
While many fad diets advocate a high-protein, low-carbohydrate regimen, a diet for liver health involves consuming a moderate amount of protein and a high intake of carbohydrate-containing foods. This does not mean you should eat a large volume of simple carbohydrates like cookies, cakes, chip and pies. Instead, choose complex carbohydrates like whole-grain breads, vegetables and fruits. Your body breaks these foods down more slowly, giving you a consistent energy supply.
High-Fiber Foods
Your body eliminates toxins via your stool and your liver. Eating a high-fiber diet helps to move foods through your digestive tract. For your liver health, choose fiber-rich foods like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, beans, oatmeal and oat bran. These foods can help you achieve regular bowel function.
What to Avoid
Alcohol can affect your liver health when consumed in excess. Having more than two drinks per day if you are a man or one drink if you are a woman can place too much strain on your liver. Over time, if you repeat this behavior, it can damage the liver's cells, which in turn affects your body's ability to filter toxins. Of particular concern is mixing alcohol with medications. Because your liver also filters medications like acetaminophen, mixing them with alcohol can further tax the liver.
