Fruits that are Good for Your Liver
The liver plays a crucial role in maintaining your overall health and wellness. Keeping it healthy can help you live longer and prevent many different diseases from developing. If you want to keep your liver healthy, here are 10 fruits that are good for your liver, along with the vitamins and nutrients they contain that promote liver health.
1) Oranges
Orange fruit and juice contain many vitamins and nutrients that your liver needs to function correctly. These include vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene, vitamin B6, pectin, and folic acid. It can boost your liv-er’s bile production, a substance required to digest fat. And their high fiber content can improve digestive health and slow absorption of fat from food.
2) Lemons
Lemons help stimulate bile flow and contain plenty of vitamin C to help strengthen your liver’s function. Drink lemon water every morning, or squeeze some fresh lemon juice into a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of honey in it. You can also use lemons to flavor food, making them great for cooking.
3) Apples
Apples have antioxidants in them, called flavonoids. Flavonoids help your liver do its job because they protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Apples also contain pectin, which helps prevent fat build-up in your liv-er.
4) Blueberries
Blueberries contain a ton of antioxidants, which help cleanse your liver. There’s been a lot of research done around their positive effects on liver health. They’re also rich in vitamins C and K and potassium. Some studies suggest that blueberries can also improve blood pressure, lower harmful cholesterol levels, and triglycerides, and may even help with lowering blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
5) Kiwi Fruit
Kiwi fruit is not only known as a good source of vitamins and antioxidants but it is also known to protect the liver from damage caused by certain kinds of drugs. It can also help in preventing excess alcohol intake from damaging your liv-er. It contains an enzyme called actinidain which helps break down proteins, thereby reducing inflammation caused due to alcohol consumption.
6) Pears
Pears are high in fiber, and consuming pears regularly is an effective way to improve your liver health. The antioxidants in pears will also protect your liver from free radical damage. Pears have a smooth texture and mild taste, making them ideal for people who don’t like stronger-tasting fruits. This fruit also makes a great choice if you want to lose weight because it has only 90 calories per serving.
7) Grapefruit
First up is grapefruit. This citrus fruit has been shown to have a protective effect on your liver by increasing both bile production and bile flow, according to research published in Hepatology (early online Feb. 21, 2013). An increase in bile helps remove excess fats from your body. Plus, grapefruit contains naringenin chalcone, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
8) Cranberries
Researchers believe cranberries’ proanthocyanidins boost enzymes in your liver, helping to detoxify toxins and protect your cells. In addition, they contain ellagic acid, which is known to prevent cancer cells from multiplying. Blueberries: This superfood has a relatively low GI and is full of vitamins A and C, which help boost your immunity while protecting against cancer. Strawberries: Though red, strawberries pack more antioxidants than any other berry.
9) Tomatoes
They may look like fruit, but tomatoes are part of the nightshade family, including peppers and eggplants. Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant associated with better liver health and a lower risk of liv-er cancer. Lycopene is fat-soluble, meaning it is easily absorbed by eating fat or oil with lycopene-rich foods. Try your tomato sauce over some olive oil-packed tuna fish to add healthy fats to your diet, also improving your liv-er’s health.
10) Cucumber
As well as containing vitamins B and C, cucumber also contains potassium and silica, which have beneficial effects on your skin. It’s also said to help reduce uric acid levels – something you don’t want if you suffer from gout. These properties mean that cucumber is particularly useful in promoting a healthy liver.
