Healthy Foods for Liver Problems

The liver helps fight infection and cleans the blood. It also helps digest food and store energy. An unhealthy liver can cause fatigue, headaches, weight gain, and allergies. A diseased liver can be life threatening. Exercise and a proper diet help the liver maintain its function. Doing so can also slow down liver disease.

Antioxidants

• Antioxidants help neutralize toxins. That helps the liver can carry out the detoxification process. Antioxidant foods include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and brussel sprouts.

Garlic

• Garlic helps the liver dispose of mercury and food additives. It contains allicin, a compound the liver uses for detoxification.

Artichoke

• Artichokes act as a blood purifier. They also increase bile production.

Fruits

• Fruits are high in antioxidants. Good choices are prunes, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, plums, melon, apples, and pears.

General Tips

• Avoid red meat. Eat lean fish and poultry. Bitter foods--such as mustard greens--cleanse the liver. Complex carbohydrates, such as brown rice and wheat bread, provide B vitamins.