Improving Liver Function Through Nutrition
Goals: To improve liver function by supporting regeneration of the liver cells, by means of dietary choices. To allow the client to enjoy good health.
Method: Learn why certain foods are suggested in the effort to help your liver regain its normal functions of digestion and elimination.
Carbohydrates: These supply your body with easily available energy. The liver and thus your body can extract their energy easily and then concentrate on using dietary protein to build your organs and muscles.
Fiber: This is the indigestible part of foods; especially found in plants. It aids in the elimination of bile which is made by the liver when you eat fatty foods/oils. The gall bladder stores and concentrates bile.
Essential fatty acids: They are unsaturated fatty acids derived from seeds and nuts. They increase the ability of bile to breakdown cholesterol. Therefore, they help to maintain normal growth, your blood’s health, as well as that of your arteries, nerves, skin, and of your liver.
Fats: These are the most concentrated source of energy in your diet. They are sources of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. They are found in oils (the vegetable type that is cold pressed), nuts and seeds. Avocado is one of the few vegetables/fruits that is high in fats. While fats are abundant in dairy products and meats, these sources are not as desirable because of their polyunsaturated nature. Therefore it is recommended to minimize their use to only three times per week.
Items to avoid: These put unwanted stress on the liver and slow the healing process. They include: alcohol, coffee, chocolate, cigarettes, cigars, and drugs.
Protein: This is one of the most important foods for maintaining growth and development of all your body tissues. It is the major source of building materials for your muscles, blood, skin, hair and internal organs. Your liver will need to use extra protein whenever there is an increased metabolites, i.e., after surgery, hemorrhage, for wound healing, prolonged illness or fevers, liver disease or dysfunction.
How to select foods to help your liver regain its natural healthy functioning state:
Snacks and meals are very important in order to ingest enough calories to attain this goal. The following selections are to be made from the attached food list.
Select three to five fruits per day --good for snacks.
Select a protein for each of your three meals per day. Grains should be mixed with another protein, such as tofu, to improve their protein availability to your body. Limit meats to three per week, and use vegetable proteins, such as grains and beans (in combination).
Select at least two different vegetables for each meal. Concentrate on the orange/yellow vegetables which are rich in beta-carotene, which will be very liver-friendly. Consider eating beets daily.
Select a fat or oil or seed or nut with at least two of your meals. One teaspoon of oil or more. Nuts and seeds make excellent snacks and are easy to package and carry in plastic bags.
To prime the digestive organs every morning, take one tablespoonful of lemon juice, a pinch of ginger powder and put it in one cup of hot water. Drink this one hour before breakfast. You may add honey, molasses or maple syrup to ta
The foods that support the liver especially well are starred (*).
Fruits:
apples, apricots, bananas, berries, cherries, dates, cantaloupe, figs*, grapefruit, grapes (organic), raisins (organic), kiwi, lemons, mangos*, peaches*, pears, plums, papaya*, rhubarb, watermelon
Vegetable Proteins:
tofu*, beans*, lentils, kidney beans, soy beans, barley, brown rice*, buckwheat, corn, flax seeds, oats, quinoa*, rye, millet*, sesame
Animal Proteins:
beef, chicken, eggs, pork, seafood, fish, turkey
Dairy Proteins:
acidophilus milk, buttermilk, raw milk cheese, yogurt
Vegetables (Starchy):
artichoke leaves, beans (dried), corn, lentils*, peas*, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin*, sweet potato*, squash*, yams*
Vegetables (non-starchy)
avocado, beans (green/yellow), beets*, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots*, cauliflower*, celery, chives, cucumber, eggplant, garlic*, kale*, kohlrabi, mustard greens*, okra, onion, parsley, artichokes.*
2007-03-04 14:22:48
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answer #1
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answered by Rickydotcom 6
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Broccoli contains B vitamins and vitamin C both of which help Phase One detoxification; it also is a source of folic acid.
Brown Rice provides B vitamins and the antioxidant selenium.
Carrots contain beta-carotene and other carotenoids that help to protect the liver.
Eggs supply B vitamins.
Garlic has selenium and glutathione, both of which act as antioxidants.
Spinach provides folic acid and other B vitamins.
Tomatoes have vitamins C and E which are both needed for Phase One detoxification. They are also a good source of the antioxidant lycopene.
Wheatgerm contains selenium and vitamin E and is an excellent source of phytochemicals.
Melons and peppers are good sources of vitamin C.
Tomatillos, papaya, plantains, carambola and guava are good sources of the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C.
Foods to Help Phase Two Detoxification
Broccoli contains natural sulfur compounds which are needed to enhance Phase Two detoxification.
Cabbage like broccoli, contains natural sulfur compounds.
Eggs contain methionine, a sulfur-containing compound needed for detoxification.
Brazil Nuts contain selenium, an antioxidant needed for detoxification.
Garlic has methionine which is needed for detoxification; also contains glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.
Onions have sulfur compounds which are important in both detoxification pathways; also a source of glutathione.
Asparagus and Watermelon are rich, natural sources of glutathione which is important for liver detoxification.
Papaya and Avocado help the body to produce glutathione.
Mushrooms have a lot of glutamic acid which is needed to produce glutathione and help with liver detoxification.
Foods for the General Health of the Liver
Soy Beans contain lecithin which helps the liver break down fats and helps reduce high cholesterol levels; lecithin also helps maintain healthy membranes around liver cells.
Cayenne Pepper contains many phytochemicals including beta-carotene and lutein and is rich in certain B vitamins as well as vitamins C and E. It also aids in digestion.
Lemon is a bitter, acidic food which is helpful for general cleansing of the body.
Walnuts are a source of arginine which helps the liver detoxify ammonia, a waste product in the body; they are also a rich source of glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids.
Wheatgerm has arginine and essential fatty acids.
Caraway Seeds contain many flavanoids and carotenoids which act as antioxidants. Caraway is helpful in liver and gallbladder disease and helps produce glutathione in the body.
2007-03-04 14:31:12
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answer #4
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answered by redunicorn 7
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