Did you know that the liver is the largest internal organ in the human body? It is a multifunctional powerhouse that plays an active and vital role in metabolism, digestion, homeostasis, detoxification, and enzyme activation. Liver also stores essential minerals, vitamins, and carbohydrates, in addition to regulating blood sugar levels. Needless to say, an unhealthy diet is damaging not only to the liver but also to other body organs. Fortunately, the skilled and innovative nutritionists at PureHealth Research are continuously working to provide natural supplements that help you maintain a healthy liver.
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How to Care for Your Liver the Right Way
Of the multiple options in the market, the Liver Health Formula is arguably the most trusted product where improving and maintaining liver health is concerned. The supplement contains several natural ingredients that enhance liver function, as well as maintain hepatocytes (the cells in the liver) in optimal health. Who doesn’t want a perfectly healthy liver? Let’s have a look at some foods that are great for your liver’s health.
Turmeric
Across the globe, there’s a general consensus among nutrition and dietetics experts that turmeric works wonders for liver health. Research suggests that turmeric plays an essential role in cellular repair in both acute and chronic liver conditions. Moreover, within the spice is a fat-soluble compound called curcumin that features both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The antioxidant feature of curcumin protects liver cells from damage by neutralizing free radicals released during alcohol breakdown and detoxification, while the anti-inflammatory property, according to multiple studies, reduces inflammation in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Additionally, turmeric ensures the efficient flow of bile within and outside the liver. Also referred to as a liver cleanser, the digestive juice transports toxins away from the organ for excretion, thus promoting optimal liver health.
Beetroot
Beetroot, also known as beet, is a versatile vegetable with multiple health benefits. It contains vitamin B6 and naturally-occurring antioxidants called betalains. Betalains protect hepatocytes from oxidative damage in a similar fashion to turmeric’s curcumin, while vitamin B6 prevents the accumulation of fat in the liver.
Beetroot also activates essential liver enzymes and increases the production of bile, an undertaking that promotes the organ’s detoxification function. The vegetable is also an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber, both of which cleanse the digestive system in its entirety and the liver by extension. Beets also stimulate lymphatic flow and help maintain the hepatic lymphatic vascular system.
Ginger
In comparison to other foods making up this list, ginger is perhaps the most well-known entry for its medicinal value, notably its antibacterial and antiviral properties. As is no secret, hepatitis B and C viruses are among the leading causes of liver disease. As such, a plant serving an antiviral function comes in very handy.
The ginger root also provides effective anti-inflammatory compounds in shogaols and gingerols, both of which also prevent hepatocellular damage and support liver health. Studies also show that the root reduces the concentration of problematic liver enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT).
Dandelion
In addition to relieving the symptoms of liver disease, multiple research has shown that dandelion prevents inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in the body’s largest organ. In a study conducted in 2017, the findings were that polysaccharides (a type of carbohydrate) found in the dandelion root are vital antioxidants that serve a therapeutic function in liver disease.
Additionally, the research team acknowledged that the entire plant could be used as a medicinal herb to boost the function of other body organs, such as the kidneys. In truth, dandelion has been used as a natural remedy for centuries, as is evidenced in Ancient China, Russia, and Native American communities, which all used it to treat chronic liver illnesses. And besides its therapeutic properties, dandelion also increases bile flow within the liver and aids in toxin removal.
Milk Thistle
As mentioned earlier, turmeric reduces inflammation in people suffering from NAFLD. But what if your condition is alcoholic cirrhosis or alcoholic hepatitis? Fortunately for you, that’s where milk thistle comes in. Most studies demonstrate that the flowering herb serves an anti-inflammatory function in the said conditions resulting in increased liver function and a favorable prognosis in chronic hepatitis.
Also referred to as silymarin, milk thistle is one of the most common herbal remedies for liver disease in the United States. And although research on this is still inconclusive, the working theory is that the herb prevents toxins from attaching themselves to hepatocytes, reducing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Silymarin is also a potent antioxidant and also eases jaundice, cirrhosis, and prevents accumulation of liver fat.
Black Pepper (BioPerine/Piperine)
For centuries, black pepper has served multiple households across the globe as the seasoning of choice. What most people possibly don’t know is that the spice derives its flavor from the compound piperine, which also accrues black pepper its host of health benefits. Patented as BioPerine, piperine is both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory compound. Nonetheless, these two properties are not its most profound contribution to promoting liver health.
This honor falls to the fact that the compound increases nutrient absorption and enhances the absorption of turmeric’s curcumin by up to 2,000%! Piperine also prevents the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, and research on whether it can prevent malignancy of the liver is underway.
Alfalfa
As a highly nutrient-dense herb, alfalfa ticks all the boxes for promoting liver health. It does this by aiding in the organ’s cleansing as well as promoting detoxification. Additionally, its nutrients replenish minerals and vitamins necessary for the liver’s multiple functions. This is especially true for vitamin K present in alfalfa in high concentration and a fat-soluble form, making it ready for immediate storage in the liver and fatty tissue.
Conclusion
Evidently, there are multiple options for optimal liver health. As luck would have it, the plants listed herein serve as the main ingredients for the Liver Health Formula by PureHealth Research, with the addition of artichoke extract. With this one supplement, you can ensure your liver is working optimally!
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