5 Superfoods for Healthy Liver

We all have read about major body organs in school. What most of us remember about liver is that it aids in digestion and is adversely affected by too much of alcohol consumption. Well, it is time for you to update that information!! Apart from filtering your blood of toxins (yes, your heart doesn't do all the blood work, give your liver some credit!), the liver produces bile that helps in breaking down food and also stores glycogen. As strong as the organ is, the kind of food (and of course, alcohol) we consume on regular basis makes the liver weak and susceptible to different diseases and infections. To ensure healthy liver, here are 5 superfoods that you should definitely make a part of your diet:

#1. Onions

A natural detoxifier, onions help liver carry out its function of getting rid of toxic substances from the body. Particularly those with fatty liver deposits, onions are a boon for your system. While most know about the harmful effects of alcohol on the liver, many are unaware of the fact that smoking and taking drugs is also equally harmful to the organ. Onions also prove to be the savior here and lessen the damage drugs cause to the organ.

#2. Leafy Green Vegetables

To a lot of us, green leafy vegetables look extremely unappetizing, however, once you know the all the great things it does for your liver, you will be consumed by health-guilt and would never say no to them. You have been warned. Since leafy greens are rich in chlorophyll, they help purify blood, which helps liver carry out this function easily. Working as the liver's protective mechanism, the greens also help neutralize many chemicals and metals in the body.

#3. Broccoli

If we're talking of unappetizing vegetables, broccoli cannot be far behind in the list. But very few people know that the vegetable helps create enzyme production for digestion, which is very important for healthy liver and maintaining optimal liver function. In addition to detoxification of the body, Broccoli also posses minerals and enzymes that help fight cancer. So stop saying know that vegetable with the looks of a mini-tree so your liver can help you digest that next mug of beer!

#4. Apples

Rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and many other photo-chemicals, Apples are the undoubtedly some of the healthiest fruits you can eat. A good source of healthy fiber, with a single serving providing 12% of the body's daily fiber requirement, apple a day is indeed true. Apples also stimulate bile production, therefore, assisting the liver with one of its primary functions.

#5. Beetroot

High in Potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron, vitamins, plant-flavonoids and beta-carotene, beetroot helps purify the liver and is also considered beneficial in preventing certain types of cancer. Also known for being a great antioxidant, beetroot helps those who have fatty liver deposits due to excessive alcohol abuse. In an ideal world, we would all stay away from alcohol, unhealthy foods and pesticide-ridden junk. Sadly, the world is not as ideal as we would want it to be, so the least we can do is correct the damage by eating right for a healthy liver.