Liver Cleansing Diet

A liver cleansing diet can benefit both those looking to lead a healthier lifestyle and those suffering from chronic illness. Improved liver function can help return a lost appetite and return the dieter to a healthy weight. The liver removes natural toxins from the bloodstream, and many unnatural toxins find their way into the bloodstream, which the liver finds it difficult to deal with. If allowed to remain these toxins create a sluggish, congested liver.

Where to Start

A good starting point for a liver cleansing diet is to ensure the liver is working well. Begin with a light fast. For the first few days of the diet, ingest only water, fresh fruit and uncooked vegetable juices. This gives your digestive system time to rest and allows the body to remove toxins being stored in the liver. During this process a number of foods should be avoided. These include:
Red meats
Processed foods
Sugar
Alcohol
Lunchmeats
Soft drinks
Fried foods
Caffeine

What to Eat

Stick to whole grains and legumes combined with plenty of water and high-fiber drinks. Raw foods like fresh fruity and vegetables help add living enzymes to healthy cells.

Proteins and Fats

Healthy proteins must be added to any liver cleansing diet, and these can be found in beans, nuts and fish. If not enough protein is being ingested, a supplement should be added. Occasionally add small portions of beef and chicken to add protein, but they should be broiled or eaten in soup or stew for a healthier option. Fish such as tuna also contains good fatty acids such as omega-3, which is present in fish oil. Omega-3 and omega-6 are in olive or grape seed oil and are easily processed by the liver.