lovesouthernsocial.com

A balanced diet, rich in nutrients and minerals, is key to preventing liver disease, this vital organ for cleansing the body.

Image: Webvilla on Unsplash

The liver is the main organ that catalyzes fat and detoxifies the entire human body. Every ingested fat molecule necessarily passes through the liver, but if it's overloaded by any of the 500 other vital activities it's capable of, there's bound to be a delay in your body.

The liver turns fat-soluble toxins (fat) into water-soluble toxins (water) so the body can eliminate them more easily. Among its 500 functions are from metabolizing fat to regulating hormones. No wonder he is called "liver" in English, which means "one linked to life itself". Food is one of the most important factors in maintaining health and preventing liver problems.

Check out some tips to avoid liver problems:

1. The liver has a high demand for vitamins and minerals, due to several simultaneous activities; therefore, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and nutritious foods is ideal;
2. As additives and preservatives need to be filtered out, it is not good to overdo artificial elements such as white sugar (refined), sweeteners (which are chemical) and coloring;
3. If you already have liver problems or are in poor organ health, strongly avoid margarine, refined oils, animal fat and fried foods;
4. Drink eight to ten glasses (large!) of pure, filtered water a day. This helps to get toxins out of your body and prevents liver problems;
5. The ideal way to prevent liver disease is to start the day with a large glass of water (if that is your personal taste, warm) with half a lemon squeezed. Citric acid stimulates the production of bile, one of the means of excretion, in addition to urine and "number two";
6. Eat plenty of carrots, beets, green leaves and other green vegetables (preferably organic);
7. Garlic, onions and broccoli should also be on the menu for those who don't want to have liver problems, as these foods contain small amounts of sulfur, which helps in detoxification;
8. Multivitamins and mineral supplements are a good way to prevent liver disease. That's because a single element deficiency can throw the whole cleansing process off balance - but it's important to know with your doctor whether they're needed by your body;
9. Massage the liver and gallbladder area, which is below the ribs on the right side of the body. This helps to bring more blood with nutrients to the area.
10. Don't overload your liver - it already has too many functions. If you overindulge in alcohol or take too many pills (one for a headache, one for colic...) it will overwhelm you. It's from grain to grain that the chicken... gets a chronic disease.

Other tips to stay away from liver problems:

• Drink a cup or two of green tea daily - it's full of antioxidants;
• Eat fresh fruit instead of sugar-filled juices. Citrus fruits are full of antioxidants;
• Braised vegetables are a delicious detoxifying option;
• Bitter foods stimulate the production of bile: endive (a cousin of chicory), melon-de-caetano, fenugreek;
• Garlic, rich in the amino acid called methionine, protects and stimulates the liver. Sesame too.