10 Foods That Detox Your Body and Cleanse Your Liver

Here are 10 foods that detox your body and cleanse your liver. Think of your liver as an air filter. All the toxins we eat, drink and breathe in get clogged up in this hard-working organ. Even though our body has it's own natural detoxification system, there is a lot we can do to give it a helping hand, largely by eating the right kinds of foods.

Most of the foods in the gallery contain a special protein called glutathione. Glutathione handcuffs toxins and drags them out of our body…quite effectively. Here's the catch: this handcuffing process works best when foods are eaten raw. In fact, all of the foods listed here go from being a great source of glutathione to not containing any at all when they're cooked. Food for thought.

If your body needs to get the yuck out, add Brussels sprouts to your diet today. Brussels sprouts are high in sulfur, which helps to remove toxins from the blood. Eating a serving or two of Brussels sprouts daily will help sponge out toxins – whether they’re environmental or dietary.These little sprouts also boost glucosinolate, an antioxidant that forces the liver to release enzymes that block damage.

A fresh bulb of garlic. Don’t have any in your kitchen right now? You should. Here’s why…garlic is loaded with sulfur, a mineral that helps rid the body of toxins. Garlic has also been shown to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Garlic has been used in the treatment of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and bacteria-related illnesses. Keep in mind, heating destroys many of the beneficial properties of garlic. If you can't stomach raw garlic, you can find it in capsule form in most grocery of health food stores.

Yes, that's a dandelion. While I don't recommend pesticide, fertilizer-covered weeds to anyone, store-bought varieties are perfectly safe. If you can't find dandelion leaves in your grocery store, opt for dandelion root tea instead. Dandelion root tea has been shown to rid the liver of toxins. Since our liver is responsible for breaking down fats, producing amino acids and generally filtering the gunk out – we need to take care of it. Dandelion root tea has a fairly bitter taste. I often brew a few cups of it, let it steep for a while, add lemon juice and sip on it all day.

 

Carrots are another food rich in glutathione, a protein that helps detoxify the liver. In addition to the detox properties, carrots contain good amounts of vitamin C, B6 and potassium. They also loaded with vitamin A and K, too! It's best to eat these raw. Try with a side of guacamole, hummus or even mustard!

Raw tomatoes do a great job detoxifying the liver, containing 169 milligrams of glutathione per serving. The benefits don't stop there. Tomatoes are famous for their lycopene content, which has been shown to protect against breast, skin and lung cancer. Eat tomatoes when they're fresh. Try with a little balsamic vinegar and sea salt.

Grapefruit contains just over 70 milligrams of liver cleansing glutathione. Grapefruits also contain a special kind of pectin that has been shown to lower cholesterol like no other pectin-containing food. One whole grapefruit is about 80 calories, so enjoy with a cup of cottage cheese or plain yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon and you've got a great breakfast.

Popeye's favorite, spinach, contains a whopping 166 milligrams of glutathione per serving when eaten raw. Cook it, and it all goes away. Spinach also contains twice as much energy-boosting iron as other leafy greens. Spinach has also gained a lot of attention as a cancer-fighter, too. Try a spinach salad today with a little olive oil and sea salt drizzled on top.

 Walnuts detox the liver and feed the brain! A good source of glutathione and a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, a little bit of walnuts goes a long way. Why not sprinkle a few on your next spinach salad?

Avocados are another fruit rich in glutathione. This green goddess is also a good source of monounsaturated fats and has been shown to lower cholesterol levels when eaten regularly.

In addition to being great for the liver, asparagus is a great vegetable to eat raw when you're feeling bloated. Asparagus is a natural diuretic.

There are plenty of ways to detox your body without dieting. My advice is to incorporate moderate, but regular amounts of these foods in your diet on a regular basis. Along with plenty of fresh water, your liver will be loving you in no time. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to ease off the sugar, alcohol and processed foods - as they're all known "liver-cloggers.

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Treating and Preventing Liver Disorders

There is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis. Bed rest isn't always essential, although you may feel better if you limit your amount of physical activity. It is important to maintain an adequate intake of calories. Your doctor may recommend small, frequent high-calorie meals, with plenty of fluids. Alcohol should be avoided or limited in order to help the liver recover. If you are unable to eat or drink, you may be hospitalized.

Some people with chronic hepatitis B or C may benefit from medications that can slow the replication (reproduction) of the virus to decrease the amount of virus in the body. The risks and benefits of these medications should be discussed with your doctor.

With hepatitis B or C, your doctor may check blood periodically for a few months to watch for any continuing signs of inflammation in the liver. It isn't usually necessary to isolate people with hepatitis, but those who are close to someone with hepatitis should be aware of how the virus spreads. Hand-washing after going to the bathroom is very important.


 If you are travelling to countries where hepatitis is common, check with your doctor or travel medicine clinic to see if you are a candidate for hepatitis A or B immunization. There is no immunization against hepatitis C.
To prevent the spread of viral hepatitis, thorough hand-washing by medical personnel who come into contact with contaminated utensils, bedding, or clothing is critical. Health care workers should be vaccinated, as they are at higher risk for infection due to exposure to people who are infected.
While there are no effective treatments for liver cirrhosis, its progression can be greatly reduced by complete abstinence from alcohol. Caution should also be taken when considering the use of medications that can worsen liver disease. For example, people with cirrhosis should discuss with their doctor how much acetaminophen* they can take safely because acetaminophen is metabolized by the liver. Sometimes anti-inflammatory medications need to be avoided.
Treatment is mainly focused on complications and may include salt restriction to combat fluid retention, diuretic medications ("water pills" that help get rid of excess water in the body), at times a low-protein diet, and vitamin supplements such as vitamins K, A, and D. Itching may be controlled with special medications. Laxatives may be prescribed to speed up removal of toxins from the system. In some cases, a liver transplant may be necessary.

Symptoms and Complications of Liver Disorders

Both hepatitis and cirrhosis show few warning signs. In the acute phase of most forms of hepatitis, there are flu-like symptoms such as tiredness, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, and pain (usually under the ribs on the right side of the abdomen). There may also be some jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.)

Following the acute stage, hepatitis A will be cleared from the body and lifelong immunity develops. In hepatitis B and C, viral particles may linger in the body producing a chronic infection that lasts for years. This can eventually lead to liver cirrhosis and, in some cases, liver cancer.

Signs and symptoms of cirrhosis include:

• abdominal pain
• general fatigue
• intestinal bleeding
• itching
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• loss of interest in sex
• nausea and vomiting
• small red, spider-like blood vessels under the skin or easy bruising
• swelling in the abdomen and legs caused by fluid accumulation
• weakness
• weight loss

If you have cirrhosis, you should seek emergency help if you experience any of the following:

• mental confusion
• rectal bleeding
• vomiting blood

Causes of Liver Disorders

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a virus, by inherited disorders, and sometimes by certain medications or toxins such as alcohol and drugs. 

Scientists have identified four main types of viral hepatitis: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and hepatitis D. A fifth type, hepatitis E, is generally not found in North America.

Hepatitis A is waterborne and spread mainly via sewage and contaminated food and water.

Hepatitis B is transmitted by contact with infected semen, blood, or vaginal secretions, and from mother to newborn. Hepatitis B is most commonly spread by unprotected sex and by sharing of infected needles (including those used for tattooing, acupuncture, and ear piercing).

Hepatitis C spreads via direct blood-to-blood contact.

Hepatitis D is spread by infected needles and blood transfusions.

Improved screening of donated blood has greatly reduced the risk of catching hepatitis B or C from blood transfusions. Both hepatitis B and C can be spread through sharing of razors, toothbrushes, and nail clippers.

The main cause of cirrhosis is chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus. Other causes include:

• long-term, excessive alcohol consumption
• chronic infection with hepatitis B virus
• inherited disorders of iron and copper metabolism
• severe reactions to certain medications
• fatty liver caused by obesity
• infections from bacteria and parasites usually found in the tropics
• repeated episodes of heart failure with liver congestion and bile-duct obstruction

With cirrhosis, the liver tissue is irreversibly and progressively destroyed as a result of infection, poison, or some other disease. Normal liver tissue is replaced by scars and areas of regenerating liver cells.