8 foods and drinks that are good for the liver

A properly selected diet will not cure liver disease and will not relieve pain in the right side - with this it is better to consult a doctor. However, certain foods can help protect the liver from damage and thus reduce the risk of certain diseases. Lifehacker just collected eight suitable options.

1. Coffee

This drink not only protects the liver, but also slows down the development of existing diseases. Thus, several studies have shown 1. F. Morisco, V. Lembo, G. Mazzone, S. Camera, N. Caporaso. Coffee and Liver Health / Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
2. S. Saab, D. Mallam, G. A.Cox 2nd, M. J. Tong. Impact of Coffee on Liver Diseases: a Systematic Review / Liver International
3. S. Chen, N. C. Teoh, S. Chitturi, G. C. Farrell. Coffee and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease: Brewing Evidence for Hepatoprotection? / Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatologythat in people who drink coffee daily, chronic liver disease is less likely to develop into

cirrhosis or cancer. And even drugs - the same antiviral therapy used to treat hepatitis - work better with coffee.

This effect is so marked that the researchers recommendS. Saab, D. Mallam, G. A.Cox 2nd, M. J. Tong. Impact of Coffee on Liver Diseases: a Systematic Review / Liver International encourage daily coffee consumption in patients with chronic liver disease.

2. Tea

The hepatoprotective properties of this drink are a little less explored, but it seems that green tea can be a good alternative to coffee.

So, according to a study in which more than 1300 men participated, people who drink 10 cups of green tea a day improveK Imai, K Nakachi. Cross Sectional Study of Effects of Drinking Green Tea on Cardiovascular and Liver Diseases / BMJ blood counts associated with liver health. In another small analysis, it turned outR. Sakata, T. Nakamura, T. Torimura, T. Ueno, M. sata. Green Tea with High-Density Catechins Improves Liver Function and Fat Infiltration in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Patients: a Double‑Blind Placebo‑Controlled Study / International Journal of Molecular Medicinethat in patients with non-alcoholic fatty disease liverdrinking 700 ml of green tea daily for 12 weeks, the amount of body fat in the body decreases.

In a review of various works, Chinese scientists claimC. Ni, H. Gong, Y. Liu Y. Qi, C. Jiang, J. Zhang. Green Tea Consumption and the Risk of Liver Cancer: A Meta‑Analysis / Nutrition and Cancerthat people who drink green tea are less likely to get sick liver cancer. And those who drink four or more cups every day have the lowest risk.

As for black tea, it was studied on mice and in general cameS. Karmakar, D. Das, A. Maity, S. Majumdar, P. Mukherjee, A. S. Das, C. mitra. Black Tea Prevents High Fat Diet‑Induced Non‑Alcoholic Steatohepatitis / Phytotherapy Research to the same conclusions: black tea extract also improves blood counts associated with liver health.

Keep in mind that natural tea is still worth drinking. herbal or dietary bioadditivescontaining tea extract, according to some reports, are more likely to damageG. Mazzanti, A. DiSotto A. Vitalone. Hepatotoxicity of Green Tea: an Update / Archives of toxicology liver, but do not protect it.

3. Grapefruit

Scientists have not yet figured out how useful it is to eat the actual fruit or drink the juice. But they confidently assumeE. Madrigal-Santillan, E. Madrigal-Bujaidar, I. Alvarez-Gonzalez, M. Teresa Sumaya-Martinez, J. Gutierrez Salinas, M. Bautista, A. Morales-Gonzalez, M. Garcia‑Luna y Gonzalez‑Rubio, J. L. Aguilar‑Faisal, and J. A Morales-Gonzalez. Review of Natural Products with Hepatoprotective Effects / World Journal of Gastroenterologythat the antioxidant substances contained in it are able to protect the liver.

We are talking about two antioxidants that grapefruit is rich in - naringenin and naringin. In animals, these substances slow down the fibrosis (scarring) of the liver and the accumulation of fat by it. They also help the body process alcohol better, somewhat mitigating the destructive effect of alcohol.

4. Cranberries, blueberries, blueberries

Like grapefruit, these berries are richE. Madrigal-Santillan, E. Madrigal-Bujaidar, I. Alvarez-Gonzalez, M. Teresa Sumaya-Martinez, J. Gutierrez Salinas, M. Bautista, A. Morales-Gonzalez, M. Garcia‑Luna y Gonzalez‑Rubio, J. L. Aguilar‑Faisal, and J. A Morales-Gonzalez. Review of Natural Products with Hepatoprotective Effects / World Journal of Gastroenterology antioxidants that are good for the liver.

Scientists have not yet experimented with humans, but studies on mice are unambiguous: in animals that received berries or juice for more than three weeks, the organ begins to feel better. It increases the activity of immune cells and antioxidant enzymes. This means that the liver suffers less from adverse external influences.

A small test tube study showedH. Wang X. Guo X. Hu, T. Li, X. Fu, R. Liu. Comparison of Phytochemical Profiles, Antioxidant and Cellular Antioxidant Activities of Different Varieties of Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) / Food Chemistrythat the antioxidants found in berries suppress the development of cancerous changes in human liver cells.

5. Brussels sprouts and broccoli

With them, the same story as with berries: a lot of animal studies confirm 1. Y. Chen, M. A. Wallig, E. H. Jeffery. Dietary Broccoli Lessens Development of Fatty Liver and Liver Cancer in Mice Given Diethylnitrosamine and Fed a Western or Control Diet / The Journal of Nutrition
2. M. G. Robbins, G. Anderson, V. Somoza, B. D. Eshelman, D. M. Barnes, P. R. Hanlon. Heat Treatment of Brussels Sprouts Retains Their Ability to Induce Detoxification Enzyme Expression in Vitro and in Vivo / Journal of Food Science hepatoprotective properties of these vegetables. Their use reduces the risk of obesity and liver cancer in mice and increases the level of detoxification enzymes - that is, the body is better protected from the effects of unhealthy food or harmful environmental conditions.

Experiments were also conducted with human liver cells: the protective effect was maintained even if Brussels sprouts were baked in the oven or steamed.

6. nuts

Several studies have shown 1. b. Chen, Y. Han, X. Pan, J. Yan, W. Liu Y. Li, X. Lin, S. Xu, and E. xian. Association between Nut Intake and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Risk: a Retrospective Case-Control Study in a Sample of Chinese Han Adults / BMJ
2. Jung Mi Han, An Na Jo, Seung Min Lee, Hyun Suk Bae, Dae Won Jun, Yong Kyun Cho, Ki Tae Suk, Jai Hoon Yoon, Sang Bong Ahn, Yong Jin Cho, Seong Woo Kim, Eun Chul Jang. Associations between Intakes of Individual Nutrients or Whole Food Groups and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among Korean Adults / Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatologythat daily use nuts reduces the risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This effect is especially noticeable in men. Given that this disease can develop into cirrhosis and cancer, nuts should be included in the diet, at least for prevention.

7. oily fish

Tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines contain a lot of fatty acids omega 3. A meta-analysis conducted in 2016 confirmedW. Lu, S. Li, J. Li, J. Wang, R. Zhang Y. Zhou, Q. Ying, Y. Zheng, F. Wang, Y. Xia, K. Chen, T. Liu, J. Lu, Y. Zhou, and C. Guo. Effects of Omega‑3 Fatty Acid in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta‑Analysis / Gastroenterology Research and Practicethat these acids help to reduce the amount of fat in the liver in people suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (a dangerous condition that can lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis).

8. Olive oil

Properly 1. x. Pinto, M. Fanlo‑Maresma, E. Corbella X. Corbella, M. T. Mitjavila, J. J. Moreno, R. Casas, R. Estruch, D. Corella, M. Bullo, M. Ruiz‑Canela, O. Castaner, J. A. Martinez, E. Ros, PREDIMED Study Investigators. A Mediterranean Diet Rich in Extra‑Virgin Olive Oil Is Associated with a Reduced Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Older Individuals at High Cardiovascular Risk / The Journal of Nutrition
2. F. Sofi, I. Giangrandi, F. Cesar, I. Corsani, R. Abbate, G. F. Gensini, A. Casini. Effects of a 1‑year Dietary Intervention with N‑3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid‑Enriched Olive Oil on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients: a Preliminary Study / International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition From research, a Mediterranean diet rich in extra virgin olive oil reduces the risk of non-alcoholic fatty disease and improves blood flow and metabolism in the liver. As in other cases, there is still not enough data to unambiguously consider olive oil prophylactic. However, scientists continue to study the properties of this product.