Eating processed foods, drinking alcohol and caffeine, and taking certain medications can damage the liver, leading to serious health problems. Eating liver-healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and high-fiber foods can help prevent liver damage.
A variety of foods and drinks can interfere with proper liver function, and none of them are generally considered part of a healthy diet. Foods that damage the liver include fast food and highly processed foods that tend to be extremely high in sodium, sugar, and chemicals that are not friendly to the liver. Eating foods that damage the liver can lead to serious health problems.
The liver acts as the body’s filter and metabolizes all the food we eat and the beverages we drink. Good health and longevity require proper liver function. A regular diet that includes liver-damaging foods and drinks can lead to deadly diseases like cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver disease.
Most canned goods, such as fruits, soups, and vegetables, represent the type of processed foods that should be avoided. Processed meat or deli meats, seasonings, and some dairy products can also damage the liver. Reading food labels is an easy and efficient way to keep track of what’s in the food we buy. Words that seem impossible to pronounce and seem unfamiliar often indicate a food that is not a liver-healthy food.
In addition to food, other substances should be avoided when trying to maintain a healthy liver. Caffeine, soft drinks, and alcohol all contribute to poor liver function, but alcohol is the main culprit when it comes to liver damage. Alcohol can cause cirrhosis, one of the most serious liver diseases, by permanently destroying liver cells. This is also not an easy thing to do, because the liver can regenerate naturally. Up to 75 percent of the liver can be removed, and within a few weeks, the missing cells will return and the liver will be able to function normally again.
Acetaminophen, especially when mixed with alcohol, can cause liver damage. So can chemicals that are inhaled or absorbed through the skin. This football-sized organ is the largest in the human body and performs a number of important functions.
At the top of the list is metabolizing food, nutrients, and toxins before they are moved to the rest of the body. Everything we consume passes through the liver, including food, drink, and drugs. The liver treats airborne poisons, additives in food and water, and any number of toxins that are ingested, drunk, or absorbed through the skin.
Eating liver-healthy foods is one of the best ways to prevent liver damage. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants that help the liver do its job and keep it clean. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower contribute to good liver health, as do high-fiber foods like apples, brown rice, and strawberries. Garlic and onion provide a number of health benefits, and can also be a tasty salt substitute.
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