Your liver is your body’s filtration system, since it filters out the harmful substances in your bloodstream. The second largest organ in your body after your skin, it is about the size of a football and sits to the right of your stomach. Everything you eat or drink, including medicine, goes through your liver. Read on to find out the functions of your liver and the foods that cleanse your liver.

Functions of the liver

A healthy liver is a fat-burning organ that performs the following functions:

• Detoxifies the blood to get rid of harmful substances like alcohol, drugs and other toxins.
• Stores vitamins and minerals.
• Produces bile, which is necessary to digest fats.
• Converts nutrients from food into blood components.
• Breaks down haemoglobin and destroys old red blood cells.
• Regulates hormones and blood sugar levels.
• Fights infections and removes bacteria from the blood.

Unfortunately, the modern lifestyle places a lot of stress on the liver. Junk food, fried food, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, environmental pollution and medicines are just some of the problems that the liver has to deal with. A stressed and overworked liver can’t process toxins or fats efficiently, so it is important to eat foods that cleanse the liver.

Carrots

Carrots contain glutathione, which is a protein that detoxifies the liver. They are also high in plant-flavonoids and beta-carotene, which stimulate the liver and boost its function. 

Tomatoes

In addition to being rich in glutathione, tomatoes are also packed with lycopene, which helps protect against cancer.

Grapefruits

Apart from being another source of glutathione, grapefruits are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants which stimulate the production of enzymes that detoxify the liver and prompt the liver to cleanse itself.

Beetroots

Like carrots, beetroots are rich in flavonoids and beta-carotene, which boost the overall functioning of your liver.

Garlic

Garlic is loaded with sulphur, which activates enzymes that flush out the toxins from your system. It is also rich in allicin and selenium, which are compounds that help your liver cleanse itself.

Spinach

Raw spinach is loaded with glutathione, and is also rich in plant chlorophylls that suck up the harmful metals, chemicals and pesticides in your bloodstream, thereby protecting your liver.

Lemons

Citrus fruits like lemons and limes are rich in Vitamin C, which stimulate the liver and also improve digestion, helping your body synthesise the toxic materials in your system.

Cabbage

Cabbage contains glucosinolates, which your body uses to make isothiocyanates (ITCs). These in turn stimulate the production of two enzymes which detoxify the liver.

Article Courtesy: http://healthmeup.com/

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