According to British Liver Trust, if you have a liver condition, it's important to understand how your liver is affected by the food you eat.

Key Highlights

  • The liver is a vital organ of the human body
  • Liver is responsible for storing fat, removing toxins from the body, among other functions
  • Here are 5 foods that promote liver health and should be a part of your diet
The human body is a complex machine. Just like if one part of any machine is unable to work efficiently, or completely breaks down, even if one vital organ of the body is unable to perform its functions, it can lead to complications and problems in the body. The food we eat, directly affects our whole body, including all our internal organs, like the liver.

A healthy, balanced diet, along with regular exercise, and quitting unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking, or drinking can help in keeping the body healthy overall. However, if you are diagnosed with a specific problem, you must change your diet accordingly. While some foods can aggravate the problem, others can help strengthen the organ and aid its functions. According to British Liver Trust, if you have a liver condition, it's important to understand how your liver is affected by the food you eat; the elements of a well-balanced diet suitable for most people; disease-specific dietary considerations and special or therapeutic nutritional diets for those with more advanced liver disease.

5 liver-healthy foods to include in your diet

  1. Coffee - A British Liver Trust report ‘Coffee and the liver – the potential health benefits’ published in 2016, has confirmed that coffee is good for liver health. Drinking 1 to 2 cups of coffee is the recommended amount to maintain balance. You must refrain from using too much sugar, or even cream, if you are trying to lose weight. Black coffee is considered the best way to consume coffee.
  2. Green tea – Green tea is a detox beverage very popular for its benefits when it comes to weight loss. However, a study in Japan found that consuming 5-10 cups of green tea every day could help improve liver health as well. Catechin, a compound found in green tea, is known to assist liver function.
  3. Cruciferous vegetables – These include vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, etc. these vegetables contain glutathione, which triggers the toxin cleansing enzymes of the liver. These vegetables are also rich in fibre and water, which helps in curbing the appetite, keeping you fuller for longer, and thus can aid in weight loss.
  4. Turmeric – Turmeric is one Indian spice that is famous all around the world for the many health benefits it offers. Turmeric contains curcumin, which has powerful biological properties. It helps to flush out toxins, and repair liver cells. It also helps in boosting bile production, which is one of the main functions of the liver. 
  5. Olive oil – All refined oils are often marketed as being healthy for the heart and the liver, and oil consumption has a direct impact on the two vital organs. However, if you need to use oil to prepare your food, you must use a healthy one, such as olive oil. Olive oil has shown results in reducing liver fat and is also known for flushing out toxins from the body.