Liver Cleansing Diet Menu Plan

A carefully planned diet can be extremely helpful for liver cleansing, but you will have to avoid junk food, red meat and alcohol at all costs. The liver plays a vital role in many of the body's primary functions: protein synthesis, detoxification, removing waste from the blood, storing vitamins and nutrients. Years of poor eating habits, excessive alcohol consumption or genetic factors lead to liver damage, putting you at risk for a number of adverse health complications. A liver cleansing diet is gentle on the liver, protects it from overworking and helps improve its function.

Breakfast

A balanced breakfast is important for liver cleansing. Eat an orange every morning to start the day with plenty of antioxidants. Prepare oatmeal with 1 c. of skim milk and brown sugar. Whole wheat toast with strawberry jam is an alternative to the oatmeal when you want some variety. Eggs are also a valid menu option for breakfast. They contain healthy protein, B vitamins and sulfur compounds that help with detoxification of the liver, in which enzymes neutralize toxins and free radicals.

Snack 1

Fresh fruits are rich in antioxidants and vitamins necessary for your liver to function properly. Eat an apple or a pear mid-morning. You can also snack on grapes. Drink plenty of water or tea throughout the morning as well to help facilitate the cleansing process.

Lunch

Cook 4 oz. of lean fish or poultry for lunch. Fish is a good choice because it contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids like selenium and methionine, which are essential for your liver. Eat sardines, salmon, tuna or cod. It should be noted that fish also provides a moderate amount of healthy protein. Protein is a necessary nutrient for your body, but a recovering liver cannot effectively process large amounts of protein or trans fats. So you have to choose proteins carefully and balance them with carbohydrates. Seafood is an ideal source of lean protein for your liver diet.

Add some potatoes and a boiled vegetable such as broccoli to round out your meal. Green leafy vegetables like broccoli are a good source of vitamin K, a nutrient beneficial to liver function.

Snack 2

Your mid-afternoon snack should consist of more fruit. Another apple, orange or pear will keep your body functioning properly. Antioxidants and nutrients like vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin E all play an important role in protecting your damaged liver. These nutrients also help eliminate toxic compounds from the body. Vitamin B6 and B12 as well as folic acid promote the expulsion of bile from the liver.

Dinner

Cook peas and lentils for dinner. Both items contain omega-3 fatty acids and arginine, important nutrients for liver detoxification. Healthy fats unclog channels used for elimination of bile and toxins, whereas unhealthy fats found in red meat and processed foods bog down your system. Prepare a small side salad with fresh slices of avocado, also rich in fatty acids beneficial for liver regeneration. Eat 4 oz. of poultry or fish. Complement these foods with a green leafy vegetable such as leeks, cabbage or spinach.