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What are Some Effective Liver Cleansing Foods?

If you are aware of the important part your liver plays in your health and wellness, you might be motivated to learn about some foods that are believed to help cleanse this vital organ, as well as a few natural, herbal remedies said to promote liver health and function.

You have probably heard the old saying: “You are what you eat” and this is, to a large extent, all too true.

The human body is at the mercy of whatever is put into it. If you eat a diet of healthy good things, your body will repay you with abundant good health and boundless energy.

But if you don’t ….. if you fill your body with too many fats, refined and over processed foods and sugars, too much alcohol, prescription or recreational drugs and so on…..your body will respond by becoming sick and not operating at its peak performance.

The Part Your Liver Plays in Good Health

Your liver plays a crucial role in your overall wellness and good health. Perhaps its biggest and most important job is to filter and neutralize the toxins you take in through various forms.

Although we can’t debate all of the improvements of modern life, the grim truth is that we are paying a price in terms of a barrage of harmful toxins in virtually every aspect of our existence from the food we eat, to the water we drink and the air we breathe.

This constant overload of toxins puts a huge strain on the liver, which must labor to try and handle more than it was designed to deal with.

It just makes sense to try and eat foods that will help cleanse your liver and give it some help in its job.

Foods Beneficial to the Liver

liver foodsCertain foods are healthier for your liver than others and will actually help cleanse it.

Here is a list of some foods that can help cleanse your liver:

  • Garlic
  • Grapefruit
  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Green Tea
  • Green Leafy Vegetables
  • Avocados
  • Apples
  • Olive Oil
  • Whole Grains
  • Cruciferous Vegetables
  • Lemons and Limes
  • Walnuts
  • Cabbage
  • Turmeric
  • Artichokes
  • Asparagus

As you can see, there are a lot of foods that can help your liver to help itself, by cleansing it and aiding in its health.

Herbal Remedies to Cleanse the Liver

Herbs have been used for centuries to aid in good health and to treat various health problems and diseases. Apparently, the role of the liver in good health was recognized many hundreds of years ago, as there have been herbal remedies to cleanse it for a long time back in recorded history.

Here are some of the herbal remedies believed to help cleanse and detoxify the liver:

  • Milk Thistle
  • Alfalfa
  • Licorice Root
  • Lecithin

Although not technically an herb, lecithin is found in many plant and animal cells, especially egg yolks. It is noted as being excellent for liver health.

If you want to keep yourself in good health and achieve a state of all around wellness, it is imperative that you help keep your liver up to par and able to work as it should. So, do your liver a favor – try these healthy foods and herbs!

  • Ashley says:

    Hi Greg,
    I am 26 years old and recently diagnosed with fatty liver disease. I am 5’8″ and weigh 189. Any advice to get this under control? I drink moderately and I’m fairly active with my two year old son. I am worried because I am so young and would like to have another child soon.

  • Jack Rickman says:

    This is a very interesting source ! As with a others reading & writing I have fatty liver, and pre diabetic conditions. Can you tell me is there medication which can reduce fats in the liver ? I tend to separate the problems , but also have cholesterol & blood pressure medication,. And had noticed several years ago my digestion seemed slower than anyone I’ve heard of . I’d feel full for hours. Which I threw in here in case someone else has the latter?! Had I taken a new direction with diet perhaps a fatty liver could have been avoided.

  • Gina says:

    Hi I have been diagnosed with Alcoholic Fatty Liver. I have stopped drinking for 10 weeks and have no plan to start again. There is a lot of advice saying not to eat carbs. I hardly eat meat, but eat a lot of brown rice and lentils with either salad or vege chilli. I am worried that this is harmful. I juice in the morning and try and limit sugar to a few teaspoons in coffee per day (really trying to cut that down.) So basically my question is “Is brown rice and lentils not good for me”. I do lots of exercise and am of normal weight. Kind regards Gina x

    • Greg says:

      Did you mean non-alcoholic fatty liver? If not, have you quit drinking at this point? That is your first priority in this case.

      Besides that: unless you have a pre-diabetic or diabetic condition and your blood glucose spikes after meals (do you have a monitor?), you probably do not need to reduce the carbs you’re eating.

  • Veo says:

    I suffering from hepatitis c ..and I don’t know which diet is good for me ..I know what to eat to protect the liver but could u suggest me what can I take to give protein to my body ..thanks

    • Greg says:

      I would love to help you but this is a serious diagnosis that will be very individual, so you really need to ask your doctor. Please ask him/her right away and let us know what happens.

  • Diana says:

    Hello,
    You mention milk thistle. But I am wondering how much you recommend taking. Thanks.

  • Sally says:

    I have also a fatty liver, what about eating raw veggies like Kohlrabi with a bit salt on it?
    And how much Green Tea is good for me , maybe three glasses a day?
    Also I heared about these Berries called WU WEI ZI, but I do not know if it is really good or not .

    • Greg says:

      Start slowly on the green tea. It does contain caffeine which some may be sensitive too. I never drink more than two cups a day max. Kohlrabi is an amazing food and a little salt if you don’t have restrictions should be perfectly okay.

  • faith says:

    My mom was diagnose Fatty liver grade 1. She was given medication for 3 weeks( hepacil by usana and Yakult after lunch and dinner). Now, all her upper and lower extremities are in pain. When she is lying on bed and needs to stand up, she is having a hard time. It’s like she has arthritis on both upper and lower extremities. What does she need to do?

    • Greg says:

      Hello there, Faith. Your mom needs to report this change to her doctor right away. People respond differently to different medications, or it may be something unrelated. Good for her for being proactive and taking care of this issue now.

  • Janet says:

    What to do exactly when you have fatty tissue on the liver as far as how to plan meals. Very new at this very concern need business.

    • Greg says:

      My first rule of thumb is always to see your doctor. After that, if your doctor has not given you any diet restrictions, you want to eat lean meats/poultry/fish, vegetables and fruits (lighter on the fruits, heavier on the veggies), nuts/seeds if tolerated, and dairy if tolerated. There are certain foods as well that can support the liver (eggs, for example; they contain choline, which is very liver-supportive). These are the very basics – do you have a specific question about diet?

  • Darlene says:

    Thank goodness I found your site. Went to others that really put me into a panic. My Abdomen Ultrasound indicated. “Attenuating appearance to the liver and to correlate with LFt’s (what is this?)
    lipid profile to exclude underlying fatty infiltration or nonspecific
    hepatocellular disease” Not only that but a kidney stone 4MM in size. Wow! didn’t expect any of this, Non drinker, put on weight last year due to extensive replacement of knee (not a knee replacement) made new knee. I know, by referencing different books, etc. that the stone will have to be removed somehow….but now am very worried about the liver. My question is do I follow the same diet you have for the liver as for the stone?

    • Greg says:

      Hello there. LFT means “liver function test” or “tests” and includes whatever liver function tests your doctor performed. I am not sure but the way this is stated (in your post) it sounds like your doctor performed the tests to rule out hepatocellular disease, not stating that s/he was confirming it – please ask him/her just to make sure. Kidney stones are not uncommon and many people have them but don’t know it. What did your doctor say about the results of your tests? As far as diet, the basic non-NAFLD diet outlined in out free ebook is very low-inflammatory and quite healthy in *most* circumstances but you will want to speak to your doctor first for his/her recommendations.

  • ijaz says:

    I am 42-Years old, just few days i was very sick, after the test report its come out from the reports that i am fatty liver patient. i am very much worry now days. Please help me
    Thanks

    • Greg says:

      You’re not alone. This is a VERY common condition (though one that really needs to be addressed). Did your doctor advise you on a diet? I will never recommend my suggestions over your doctor’s (as I am not a physician and I don’t know you; your doctor has actually seen you and assessed your condition) but you might start with altering your diet and exercise program, what are you doing currently in that regard?

  • Reggie Vokes says:

    Lost my wife 3 years ago to ALS. We spent our life saving, lost our beautiful home, business, and vehicle trying to save her. We tried everything, including stem cell transplant surgery in Monterray, Mexico School of Medicine. Now I am faced with a fight of my own. I have a fatty liver and atrophy of my pancreas. I can not afford your diet guide. Can you please give me some direction as far as where to get at least some of the guidelines related to diet? PLEASE.
    Thank you,
    Reggie

    • Greg says:

      Reggie, first of all, please accept my condolences for your loss. That is so very hard. So very sorry.

      As far as the guide goes, you can start with the free ebook, which includes dietary and supplement recommendations. (See the sidebar at right to obtain your free copy.) You can also check out a source such as the Mayo Clinic’s NAFLD page for recommendations.

      Wishing you good health.

  • Caroline Risi says:

    Has anyone ever had a unusually bloated abdomen from fatty liver? Also if you liver is enlarged can you get it down with diet, exercise and natural cleansers?

    • Greg says:

      Yes, a swollen abdomen is one symptom. And yes, diet, exercise and herbs will help your liver – unless you have hepatitis, which is caused by a virus. Make sure you see a doctor.

      • tina says:

        I TO WAS DIGNOSED WITH SERVER FATTY LIVE ,AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITS, I AM 90 IBS OVER WEIGHT AND JUST LOST 12 IBS ,THE PAIN IS OVERWHELMING, I DON’T TAKE ANYTHING FOR THE PAIN,BECAUSE ,IT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE LIVER,I WILL BE GOING IN FOR A BIOPSY, I AM SCARED, I WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT, BEFORE HAVING THE BIOPSY, AT LEAST 50 IBS ,THEY SAID I CAN’T HAVE A LIVER TRANSPLANT, BECAUSE I HAVE AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITS AND IT WILL ATTACK THE NEW LIVE,I CAN ONLY SAY TO EVERYONE WITHOUT A FATTY LIVE PLEASE EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR LIVER,ARTICLES SHOULD TALK MORE ABOUT FATTY LIVER, TO HELP PEOPLE PERVENT THIS PROBLEM, WE CAN ONLY TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME,I DON’T DRINK OR SMOKE, MY PROBLEM WAS AFTER MY BRAIN INJURY ,I WAS HUNGER ALL THE TIME AND I ATE ,AND MY SEVER DEPRESSION ,WITH ALL MY OTHER DISABILITIES THAT CAME WITH MY BRAIN INJURY,BEFORE MY BRAIN INJURY I WAS 125 IBS NOW I AM 245 IBS ,LET’S WORK TOGETHER AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE WITH ARE STORIES,MY PRAYERS ARE WITH EVERYONE ?

        • Greg says:

          Tina, I am so very sorry for your health issues. I very much appreciate your sharing your story here and your willingness to try to help others. Please hang in there and good health to you.

  • Tracy says:

    Also, I don’t drink, I don’t know how this has happened! It seems to get worse if I eat alot of bread? Do you have any ideas of why it has occured? I had stage 3 colon cancer last year and had changed my diet to no fried foods, hydrogenated oils, processed foods, white rice, bread, etc.

    • Greg says:

      I’m not a doctor, so I can’t help as much as I like, but I did look in some medical journals, and there is a link between colon cancer and fatty liver – but usually the other way around (existing fatty liver raises the risk of colon cancer.) I also checked for any links between cancer and gluten intolerance (such as Celiac disease) but didn’t find anything. With your low weight and problems with bread, I would check with a nutritionist for any problems or food intolerances.

  • Tracy says:

    Hi:), thank you for the information! I just found out I have mild fatty liver and am really serious about trying to revearse it. I weigh 100lbs and dont want to lose anymore weight! I’m 39 and just found out I’m expecting my 4th child. How can I eat to gain healthy weight?

    • Greg says:

      Hello Tracy, congrats on your baby! I’m assuming your doctor checked for hepatitis, which also causes fatty liver. Otherwise, eat healthy meals of lean meats (chicken, fish), brown rice, whole grains, eggs (including the yolks, which has a vitamin vital for healthy liver function), fruits and vegetables.

  • Debbie says:

    Hello I haven’t been told 100% but was told most likely fatty liver as my numbers are in the 100 and shouldn’t be higher then 40. So I’m concerned I’m not a drinker never been and love water but drink bottles store bought. Is bottles water okay ?

  • latoya says:

    Hello Greg…. I recently went to the doctor and he stated after two sets of labs that my liver enzymes are too high and I have fatty liver… yes I’m a obese female with a 216 CPK result, anemia, high blood pressure, border line diabetic oh I almost forgot hypothyroidism what advice do you have for me…… I am very scared am I’m only 37 pleas help I don’t want to take any more medicine….. Thanks

    • Greg says:

      Yikes, sorry to hear, Latoya. I do know that hypothyroidism is linked to many disorders, including anemia, high blood pressure and liver problems, so I would make sure to concentrate on that condition. More medication won’t help if you have problems with your thyroid.

  • Hilda L. Gonzalez says:

    In 20012 my dotor said i had fatty liver been eating all right good no meats..All my doctor said get a balance diet you will be just fine! We’re in 20014 and yet doctor gave me No.. medications to help burn this fat in my liver .. in May doc gonna give weight level test by your height lol thats do funny..Yes I’m scared cause i just lost my brother cirros in liver yes i’m scared…Hope this doctor do is job right i have shopped smoking n drinking. Stopped my fatty foods all veg. N fruits need all luck as possible. .

    • Greg says:

      One problem is that in past years scientists said that eggs are bad … but now they say eggs are not only good, but there’s a substance called choline in egg yolks which is vital to the health of your liver. If you haven’t been eating eggs, that might be the first step. You can also find choline in broccoli, shrimp and cod.

  • Brenda says:

    Greg,
    I have just been diagnosed with fatty liver, stage 2 after a biopsy. I am 49 and did not have any problems until several months ago with other physical health issues. On a routine blood tests they found my liver enzymes elevated. Any way, I have trouble with my metabolism, doctor has diagnosed insulin resistant diabetes(not full diabetes yet). My question to you is how to begin changing eating habits, increasing activity, and promoting weight loss? I have attempted to lose weight for the last year and am lucky if I can shed 10 pounds. I always seem to plateau and never really get any where. Do you have any thoughts. I know that since getting these tests completed, making healthier food choice, overall I am feeling better, now just need to get the weight off.
    Thanks for all of the helpful advise thus far.

    • Greg says:

      Eating healthy and exercising is definitely a mindset you have to grow into. When I was younger I didn’t exercise and ate poorly. When I was diagnosed, I did everything I was supposed to do, but slowly slid back into bad habits. My wife forced me into a routine, so I thank her for that!

      One step is to find an active hobby you like. Mine is gardening. For others it could be swimming, tennis, or even just walking. Set a time to do that every day. It doesn’t really help you lose weight, but it reinforces your goals to get healthy. With diet, I have an article on this – little tips and tricks to stay motivated. The thing with weight is that it all boils down to how many calories you consume versus what you burn. I heard somewhere (don’t quote me) that eating a small bag of potato chips is equivalent in calories as running for an hour … so exercising doesn’t mean you can have an extra snack.

      Instead, make your portion sizes smaller, and don’t go back for seconds. It takes about 15 minutes for your stomach to signal your brain that you’re full. Remove all snacks from the house, and replace with healthy snacks already prepared and kept in the refrigerator – apple slices, bananas on crackers, smoothies (I have a Nutribullet), fruit mixed with yogurt and a dash of nutmeg, frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. You don’t need to starve yourself, you need to swap bad foods with good foods.

      Also, that 10 pounds you lost actually wasn’t body fat … it was water retention, sorry to say. That’s why you seem to plateau after losing weight. I should write a more in depth article on what I did to stay on track to get healthy!

  • julianne beaton says:

    hi greg ,
    i have been told i have a fatty liver (heptic infiltration ) i have had breast cancer 2010 have cronic blood pressure had ct scan last week it showed fatty liver . cancer level is up by small margin but only fatty liver showed up in ct scan . could my medication be not good for the liver . many thanks julie need to know what not to eat ,your information to the above will help .

  • Judith Mac says:

    Thank God I found this site. I was diagnosed with fatty liver disease in 2003. Geez…have been going slowly downhill since then. I have a mild, nagging right abdominal upper quadrant pain…sometimes worse than others. I think I might have had this since the mid 90’s. My liver profile/enzymes are usually normal. They were out of whack when I was first diagnosed. I can’t say that I have really changed my diet. I am up and down and back and forth with that. The symptoms though make everything make sense from the information you have provided. I think I am going back to my primary doc this week for testing. And I DO appreciate the nutritional information. Thanks so much…

  • Judith walpole says:

    Hello, I have just been diagnosed with fatty liver. I have been suffering very bad pain,I thought in my back but it seems the pain being so bad is radiating into my stomach. Yes I am very overweight and probably obese!! Now I have found your site, it will be my best friend..look forward to any help and advice you can give me. Thanks so much….Judith W

  • albert braumberger says:

    pls supply more info on fatty liver treatment and cure

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