Every day, we are exposed to a myriad of pollutants including heavy metals, pesticides, drug residues and hormones. Even though the liver is an effective filtration system, the amount of pollutants we encounter on a day to day basis may put an extra burden on the liver. A liver cleanse diet is especially beneficial for naturally cleansing excessive toxins, helping the liver to work in its optimal state. Furthermore, cleansing the liver can help improve immune function, alleviate allergies, and helps the body maintain a healthy weight. Anyone who wants to enhance the health of their liver can benefit from a liver cleansing diet, but it is important to know exactly what foods to eat and what foods to avoid for maximum results.
Liver cleansing diets are usually preceded by a few days of light fasting to help flush the existing toxins in the body. During this fast, you would drink plenty of water and vegetable juices and eat fresh fruit. After flushing the body for a few days, your food intake should increase. Below are the lists of acceptable foods to eat during the diet as well as the foods to stay away from.
What you should eat
The liver cleanse diet focuses on eating fresh and healthy whole foods and drinking plenty of water. Good foods to eat include:
Whole grains and legumes. Whole grains such as brown rice and oatmeal help boost digestion while beans are high in liver-sweeping fiber.
Raw fruits and vegetables. Raw fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The fruits and vegetables should always be fresh (no frozen or canned fruits and veggies!) and organic as much as possible. In fact, organic locally grown food would be best. You can also opt to juice your fruits and vegetables to easily increase the intake of the healthy foods.
Foods with healthy oils. Omega-3 oils are ideal for liver cleansing and can be found in foods such as flaxseed, walnuts, and oily fish. Raw avocado is one of the healthiest sources of oils (and is absolutely yummy!)
The majority of the liver diet consists of raw fruits and vegetables, which should make up at least a third of the food consumed daily.
What you shouldn’t eat
Since the focus of the diet should be on healthy whole foods, eating processed foods is out the window. Foods that you must absolutely avoid include:
Any food that you can find in any packaging, including boxes, bags, cans, and plastics.
Refined sugars. Avoid white, processed sugars. I t is best to avoid any sugar (excluding sugars from fruit), but if you need extra sweetening, use natural alternatives such as agave nectar, honey, or maple syrup. You can have these in moderation.
High fatty foods. This includes high fatty meats such as pork and fried foods. Butter and margarine are also big no-no’s.
Foods with preservatives, pesticides, and antibiotics. Eat organic whenever possible.
Alcohol. Alcohol is taxing on the liver and should be avoided at all costs.
Extra tips for a successful liver cleanse
Avoid overeating. Eat small to moderate size meals throughout the day.
Eat your largest meal at breakfast, and eat the lightest meal at dinner
Get at least eight hours of sleep a night.
Maintaining a healthy liver is vital for good overall health. Cleansing by eating raw, healthy whole foods and avoiding fatty, processed foods can definitely do a liver good!
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