Proper liver function is so important to your body's health. You can help your liver by eating the right kinds of detox foods. A proper detox diet will not only improve liver function, but will also help you feel great.

After all, there the liver performs several important jobs. For example, the liver is responsible for storing iron and vitamins in the body, it converts stored sugar to usable sugar when the body needs it, and it detoxes the blood to help rid the body of harmful substances.

Each and every day we are affected by harmful substances. Some are environmental, such as toxic air, while others come from the substances we put in our bodies, such as alcohol or pesticides from food.

That's why the liver's detoxification process is so important. Eating some liver-boosting foods can help lighten the load for your filtering friend and clear your body of the harmful substances that are weighing you down.

Here are 10 foods that boost liver function and help detox your body:

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are rich in a protein known as glutathione, which helps detoxify the liver. The lycopene in tomatoes also helps protect the body against breast, skin and lung cancer. Find ways to include tomatoes into your diet. A great classic, for example, is to slice up tomatoes and add them to your salad. Tomatoes are also great on sandwiches. You may also try using tomatoes in juicing recipes. Homemade juices are fantastic for a detox cleanse!

2. Grapefruit

Grapefruit also contains the liver-cleansing protein glutathione. It's also rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants that boost the production of liver detoxification enzymes, to increase the liver's natural cleansing process. If you're planning to do a juice detox (do it!), you should definitely include some grapefruit in your recipes. Not only is it great-tasting, it's also full of nutrients and will help cleanse your liver. To be sure, when it comes to detox diets, grapefruit is a superb choice!

3. Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits like lemon and lime contain high amounts of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for stimulating the liver and synthesizing toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water. Try squeezing some lemon or lime juice onto your dinner or salad. Additionally, you can add lemon or lime--or both--to your water. Drinking plenty of purified water is also crucial for a proper detox diet. Not everyone enjoys plain water, however, so adding fresh lime or lemon juice to it is a great way to spruce it up. It tastes great and is super refreshing!

4. Turmeric

Turmeric is the best spice you can consume when it comes to your liver health. It helps boost the liver's detoxification process by aiding enzymes that actively flush out carcinogens in the body. In fact, turmeric has been used for thousands of years to cure liver ailments. Indeed, it's fantastic for proper liver function! Not sure how to use turmeric? You can use it to liven up several savory dishes. Furthermore, you may be surprised to learn that you can use turmeric in juicing.

5. Apples

Apples contain high amounts of pectin, which helps cleanse the liver and release toxins in the digestive tract. Consuming apples helps the liver handle toxins during the detox process. Apples, of course, are great for juicing. They're sweet and offer a decent amount of juice. Eating whole apples is also great for liver function. Try cutting them up into small chunks and adding them to your green salad.

6. Garlic

Garlic is rich in two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing - allicin and selenium. It's also laded with sulfer, which helps activate the liver enzymes that flush out toxins. While garlic is typically not used in juicing recipes, it should still be a part of a detox diet. It's excellent for liver function, and will also help your body fight off harmful bacteria and viruses. Fresh, chopped garlic is great in several dishes. If you can handle it, you can also swallow a few small chunks of chopped up garlic as is---just be sure to take with plenty of water.

7. Leafy Green Vegetables

Naturally, leafy green vegetables should be a part of any detox diet. They're not only good for liver function, they're good for you in general. Leafy green vegetables contain plant chlorophyll, which has many health benefits when it comes to liver health. It increases bile production and helps to neutralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides in the body. But you don't have to eat plain old spinach leaves on a plate. Dress it up with several vegetables of every color. See how creative you can get by adding several healthy items to your leafy green vegetables. Your salad does not have to be boring!

8. Olive Oil

Olive oil, along with other cold-pressed organic oils such as help and flax seed, naturally support the liver. They serve as a liquid base to help the body suck up harmful toxins. Try using olive oil as a salad dressing ingredient. Mix it with vinegar and drizzle over your healthy green salad. You can also add it to a healthy-grain pasta, along with some basic, healthy seasonings.

9. Alternative Grains

Grains that are rich in gluten, such as wheat, flour and other whole grains, put added pressure on the liver. Switching to alternative grains such as quinoa, millet and buckwheat can help lighten the liver's load when it comes to the detox process. Using these grains doesn't have to be a complicated process. There are plenty buckwheat bread recipes, for example, that are quick and easy.

10. Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts contain an antioxidant known as glucosinolate, which forces the liver to release enzymes that help protect the body from both environmental and dietary toxins. They're also high in sulfur. Brussels sprouts make an excellent side dish, and they're bursting with nutrients. Be sure to include them in your detox diet to improve liver function.

Sources:
Fit Life TV
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
NCBI
NCBI