Your liver is your body’s natural filter, but it still needs a little help, especially when it’s bombarded with processed, chemical-laden foods on a regular basis. Check out this liver cleansing recipe that's loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. I like it because there aren't many ingredients, they're all easy to find in the grocery store, and it can be either juiced or blended. Enjoy!
Liver Cleansing Drink
Apples – 2 medium (3” diameter)
Beets – 1 beet (3” diameter)
Carrots – 4 medium
Celery – 3 stalks, large (11”-12” long)
Cucumber – ½ cucumber (8¼”)
Ginger Root – ½ thumb (1” diameter)
Blend all ingredients thoroughly in a high powered blender, or process all ingredients in a juicer, shake or stir and serve.
Apples
Maybe an apple a day really does keep the doctor away! Apples are high in pectin and contain the chemical components necessary for the body to cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract. As a result, the liver has an easier time handling the toxic load during the cleansing process.
Beets
Eating beets can help stimulate and improve overall liver function. Beets contain choline, which has been shown to help cleanse and strengthen the liver. Beets are extremely high in plant flavonoids and beta-carotene.
Carrots
Carrots contain deep, bright orange-colored pigments called carotenoids. This indicates carrots are loaded with phytochemicals and antioxidants, which are powerful healing agents for the liver. Carrots are very liver cleansing by helping it to release more bile, which will cause peristaltic action (movement through the intestines). Carrots may also reduce liver fat.
Ginger
Ginger stimulates liver performance. That’s because ginger is a powerful antioxidant that attacks dangerous free radicals and can boost your body’s production of detoxifying enzymes. Ginger also helps digest fatty foods and break down proteins.
Liver Cleansing Drink Nutrition Facts
More Vitamin Information
Folate: 68%
Vitamin C: 80%
Vitamin A: 840%
Vitamin K: 150%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 26%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 20%
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 20%
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): 39%
To find more foods that help the liver, check out this blog : Eat These Five Foods for a Healthy Liver.
To learn how the liver detoxifies, check out this blog: Your Liver Is A Detoxyfying Machine.
In Health and Happiness,
Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods
References:
Cook LT et al. Vegetable Consumption is Linked to Decreased Visceral and Liver Fat and Improved Insulin Resistance in Overweiht Latino Youth. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014 Ma 27.
Recipe from Juice Recipes for your health.
