It’s not easy to stop drinking when you’ve been doing it for so long. Your efforts will soon be rewarded though as your body recovers over time. One of the best ways to help it along is through nutrition. As your body detoxifies, it needs some balance and it can get that balance from the healthy foods you eat to recover your liver health. Your liver needs you now more than ever with a clean and healthy diet that will get it back to feeling good and functioning properly again. Plus, what you eat has a robust effect on brain functions.
Numerous studies have been done to determine what is best for recovering and healing your liver after drinking. They all point to nutrition and a balanced diet. While you should make a point to eliminate fatty and sugary foods, there are certain foods you should be eating that will bring balance to your brain chemistry while helping your liver and other organs thrive. Here are 5 healthy liver-healing foods to help your liver heal after you stop drinking.
Get with grapefruit
Skipping breakfast as you work to get your health back on track after drinking is not advised. If you’ve never been a big breakfast person, it helps to start with something refreshing like grapefruit. It’s bright and invigorating taste and flavors will have you looking on the sunny side of things. Plus, it’s loaded with naringenin and naringin, two antioxidants that are very kind to your liver.
Grapefruit reduces inflammation and protects cells too which can even stop hepatic fibrosis from accumulating in your liver. It also decreases fat in your liver too to prevent dangerous diseases from developing even now that you’ve stopped drinking.
Crucify potential liver problems with cruciferous veggies
Most people think of broccoli or cauliflower when they think of cruciferous vegetables but brussels sprouts and mustard greens are also part of this healthy bunch. Both broccoli and brussels sprouts increase levels of detoxification enzymes to protect your liver from damage.
Brussels sprouts might be something you’ve turned your nose up at when you were a kid, but if you make them with a little garlic or lemon, your taste buds and liver will be a fan. Try it with broccoli too and you’ll have healthy sides to go with your meals. It does take getting used to but your body will breathe a sigh of relief when it gets the nutrients it’s been missing.
Go fish
Specifically, fatty fish, which is well known for its omega-3 fatty acids, can really help lower heart disease and keep fat from building up in your liver. They also keep your liver enzyme levels normal, stop inflammation, and improve your insulin resistance.
However, when it comes to the liver, there’s something else to note. You’ll have to watch your omega-6’s too. While some of them are good for you, having too high a ratio can push your liver toward the development of liver disease. Watch your oil intake as well as reduce consumption of walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds to avoid any trouble here.
Be very berry
For good health all around, you can’t go wrong with berries. However, when it comes to healthy foods for the liver after drinking, blueberries and cranberries top the list. These have a special type of antioxidant known as anthocyanins which is why they have that pretty color.
But aside from being pretty, and deliciously sweet in a natural way, these 2 berries can protect your liver from damage especially if you make a point to eat them over a period of 3 weeks to a month. Blueberries in particular boost your immunity too which will help liver troubles from arising after you quit drinking.
When it comes to liver health, ‘beet’ it
Beets. You either love them or hate them. But there’s no denying the science behind them. Beetroot juice in particular gives you nitrates and antioxidants that can help your heart health and reduce oxidative damages and inflammation in your liver. And it naturally detoxifies too.
Beetroot juice really does it all. And that color! So pretty! About that taste though…beetroot juice is an acquired taste. If trying to do shots of this is unbearable, mix it with your favorite fruits and blend it into a smoothie or use it as a base for soup. You’re less likely to taste that earthy flavor.
Pro-tip for Liver Health: Get More Fresh Produce in General
Much of the things recommended for a healthy diet overall are recommended for your liver after drinking. Things like oatmeal and lean proteins are always in order to round out and balance, but you can’t go wrong with loading your plate full of more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Simply look at the research and evidence of plant foods that can help your liver health. Fill your shopping cart with more bananas, carrots, leafy greens, papayas, and watermelon in the produce section. Additionally, barley and brown rice are great choices too that fall into the whole foods group.
Stopping drinking is a big deal and you should be proud that you decided to do this for your health. With more healthy foods for your liver though, it will restore balance and nutrients to help you feel like your best version of yourself once again.
