There isn’t a pharmaceutical cure yet, so it’s up to us to find ways to keep our liver healthy
Liver disease is increasing, and while what we used to call “fatty liver” is now given more scientific and less off-putting names, what we’re really talking about is excess fat buildup in the liver and the worsening dysfunction that results from it. There isn’t a pharmaceutical cure yet, so it’s up to us to find ways to keep our liver healthy – or make changes that will improve its condition. Luckily, dietary adjustments can help. Here’s some advice from WebMD:
Eat more fiber. Oatmeal is excellent (make sure it’s organic and non-GMO), and so is “eating the rainbow” of fruits and vegetables, especially broccoli and blueberries, as well as the antioxidant powerhouse spinach. Snack on almonds, as their vitamin E may reduce liver dysfunction.
Avoid fatty foods. Even a single high-fat meal can cause liver pain if you’re already storing too much fat in the organ. Excess fat leads to inflammation, followed by increasing levels of liver dysfunction and disease.
Moderate alcohol intake. When alcohol is consumed, the liver drops everything and works on eliminating it, which is good – except that it keeps the organ from handling other functions, such as removing excess fat.
Limit or eliminate packaged snack foods. Try to control your intake of fat, salt, and sugar by choosing less processed snacks.
Drink coffee or green tea. Studies suggest that coffee counteracts alcohol consumption or unhealthy dietary choices, perhaps lowering the risk of liver cancer. Green tea helps by providing antioxidants called catechins, which are beneficial for liver protection.
Cut back on sugar. Sugar becomes fat in the liver and leads to dysfunction. (And by the way, carbohydrates are sugar in essence.) Skip the soda and choose water.
Spice it up. Oregano, sage, and rosemary provide liver-healthy polyphenols, as do cinnamon, curry powder, and cumin.
