You might not express gratitude for your liver (or even think about it) much, but it’s working around the clock for you.
It’s a very impressive organ, says Meena B. Bansal, M.D., professor of medicine, and director of translational research in liver diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. It’s the first line of defence against any toxin that may try to make its way into our system.
The liver is incredibly resistant to injury and seriously resilient. Did you know your liver can grow back to standard size even after up to 90 percent of it has been removed?
Still, it’s important that you avoid things that hurt your liver such as excess alcohol, recreational drugs, and some dietary supplements, said Bansal. “Moderation is the key to everything.”
Ahead, is a primer on all the liver’s incredible functions and the top foods to eat to support the star organ.
What Does the Liver Do?
You can consider the liver as the gatekeeper to everything we intake, Bansal says. When you eat food or take medications. All the blood flow from the stomach and intestines is first filtered through the liver which then detoxifies medications, metabolizes carbohydrates, lipids and clears bacterial products that may have escaped the gut.
“In addition, it makes proteins like clotting factors and maintains healthy blood sugar levels,” she adds. “It produces bile that is needed to help us digest and absorb fats in the small intestine.”
The liver is your body’s “metabolic powerhouse,” says Kim Yawitz, R.D., a gym owner in St. Louis, Mo. Everything you ingest passes through this gate. The good stuff, like food, is broken down into energy and nutrients, then distributed throughout the body or stored away for later use. The bad stuff, like toxins, is filtered out of the blood to be excreted via urine or stool.
“The liver is responsible for hundreds of life-sustaining functions, so it’s really important to take good care of it,” Yawitz says.
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What Makes a Food Good for the Liver?
There are several things that make foods liver-friendly.
Bansal says foods that are anti-inflammatory or have antioxidant properties are beneficial to the liver. Foods that are high in fibre and promote a healthy weight are also helpful to the liver.
“Highly processed foods that contain fructose corn syrup are bad for the liver as they cause the liver cells to make unhealthy lipids (fat). As this fat accumulates, it can cause liver injury and inflammation,” she says. Basically, the less processed and unadulterated the food you eat, the better. “Think farm to table.”
As a rule of thumb, Bansal says that foods you think of as good for your heart are also good for your liver. Just as the Mediterranean Diet is known to support cardiovascular health, so does it for your liver. No one food in this diet plan is driving the beneficial effects, but rather it’s the combination of its multiple components, says Bansal.
“Conceptually an overall diet that is 50 percent fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lentils, legumes; 30 percent healthy fat (think avocados, extra-virgin olive oil); 20 percent lean protein from chicken and fish containing omega-3 fatty acids is considered the best combination,” she says.
While no single food will magically improve liver health, foods high in fiber, healthy fats, and certain antioxidants support optimal liver function. Not surprisingly— alcohol and drugs can damage the liver, as can eating too much sugar, salt, and saturated fat.
Overall, healthy lifestyle choices are healthy liver choices. “The best ways to protect your liver are to eat a well-balanced diet, exercise, and maintain a healthy body weight,” says Yawitz.
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1. Coffee
Okay, we know it’s technically a beverage, but we’re putting this one first.
“The only food where there is clear evidence for a beneficial impact on your liver is coffee,” says Bansal. “Coffee consumption is associated with improvement in liver enzymes, especially in individuals with risk for liver disease.”
She says those with pre-existing liver disease have shown improvements in incidence rates of fibrosis and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and overall mortality when given three or more cups of coffee daily. Interestingly, scientists do not completely understand what exact components of coffee are conferring the benefit since there are numerous compounds in coffee. But it is thought to be a combination.
Ideally, you should drink black caffeinated coffee to avoid the excess calories that come from cream and sugar, Bansal says. It’s worth noting that decaffeinated coffee does not confer the same benefit as regular coffee, but there is no clear evidence that caffeine is the driver of the benefits. Don’t get any ideas, though—caffeine supplements are not going to provide the same effect.
Not a coffee drinker? Black tea may prove helpful for liver health too, though it might not be to the same effect, Bansal says. “So if you have a choice, drink coffee. If you cannot drink coffee then black tea may have some benefit albeit much smaller.”
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2. Nuts
Here’s another one that you may associate with heart health, but nuts don’t just benefit your ticker. Nuts contain healthy fats and antioxidants, and they have been associated with a lower prevalence of fatty liver disease in men.
READ MORE: Refined Carbohydrates Are Putting Your Life at Risk—Here’s Why
3. Olive Oil
One of the Mediterranean Diet’s staple foods, olive oil, is worth highlighting for how it may support your liver health.
“Olive oil is a good source of monounsaturated fat—a healthy fat that improves cholesterol and triglyceride levels,” says Yawitz. Olive oil also contains antioxidants that have been found to protect against liver inflammation and scarring. Plus, its versatility makes it quick and easy to add to any diet.
Yawitz recommends using olive oil as a base for homemade salad dressings, drizzling it over vegetables before or after roasting, or swapping it in for the vegetable oil in your baked goods.
4. Mushrooms
“Mushrooms are a good food for showing your liver some love, thanks to their high antioxidant content,” says Yawitz. In a 2020 study, adults who ate mushrooms at least four times weekly had 24 percent lower odds of developing the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than those who rarely ate them.
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5. Turmeric
The final verdict on turmeric is still out, but it may still be worth incorporating this food into your diet to protect your liver.
“In animal models, curcumin, which is a polyphenol found in turmeric, has been shown to be beneficial for the liver, though data is scarce demonstrating any positive effect in humans,” says Bansal.
No need to go buy turmeric supplements, but adding natural turmeric to your food may be a tasty way to benefit the liver.
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6. Yoghurt
Not all yoghurts are created equal—some are total sugar bombs. But if you take some time to check your labels, your liver may thank you. Your best bet is to pick a brand with live, active cultures and zero added sugar, Yawitz says.
“High cholesterol has been shown to increase inflammation and scarring in the liver. But yoghurt could help protect against liver damage, thanks to probiotics that help break down LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol,” says Yawitz. In a 2019 study, probiotic yoghurt was found to significantly reduce total and LDL cholesterol in adults with mild to moderately high cholesterol.
7. Water
Did you think you could make it to the end of this list without us showing H2O some respect? Of course not. Yes, we know it’s another beverage. Trust us, it warrants merit.
“Water isn’t the most exciting drink for liver health, but it helps keep your body’s filtration system running smoothly,” says Yawitz. “In a large 2021 study, men who drank at least eight glasses of water daily were less likely to develop NAFLD than men who didn’t drink as much water.”
Since drinking less alcohol and more water are both good for the liver, she recommends replacing one adult drink daily with a glass of water. Need help getting your ounces in? We got you.
READ MORE: Here’s How Drinking Water Can Help You Burn 490 More Calories
Written by Perri O. Blumberg
This article originally appeared on Men’s Health US.
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