Fruits and vegetables ensure a healthy liver (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

What we eat and drink every day can greatly impact liver disease and our health. While  busy schedules and a seemingly never-ending to-do list can easily keep us from preparing a proper healthy meal, the importance of proper nutrition and its real impact on our bodies and lives,  should be enough to encourage carving out that extra time needed to plan regular healthy and balanced meals.

Eating for a healthy liver begins with knowing what foods are healthful; we need to identify those food  you must get more of.  Foods rich in fiber including vegetables, fruits, whole grain breads and cereals need be on top of your food list. Green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts are extremely rich in vitamins and minerals that  support the function and cell regeneration of your liver, as well as your other organs.

Fruits and vegetables that are organically grown have added value for liver health. The liver works by detoxifying our body, ridding our system from the chemicals often added to foods and beverages. Indulging in organic fruits and vegetables that are free from agricultural chemicals makes the liver’s job less stressful and our bodies healthier.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are preferable over processed foods that are exhausting on the liver.

Eating for liver health means selecting food groups that reinforce the liver’s capacity to detoxify toxins.  Foods containing sulfur such as eggs, garlic and onions are good choices to support your liver’s health. Sulfur compounds enable the liver to fully process and flush out toxins from medicines and other environmental toxins that find their way to our food.

Fruits with high levels of antioxidants also help in protecting the liver from free radicals that crop up in the detoxification process. Natural antioxidants found in blackberries, strawberries, grapefruits, apples and prunes are wonderfully tasty alternatives to high-calorie processed desserts.

Finally, hold the alcohol and instead choose  a cup of green tea to give your body the cleansing and regenerating power of catechins. With these easy-to-find and delicious food choices, there’s no reason not eat a liver-smart diet.