Natural cleansers help rid the body of accumulated irritants, waste products and toxins. Barley water, lemon juice, coconut water and bel sherbet are very effective liver tonics, says Shashibala, senior consultant, Ayurveda, Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi. “Juice of wheatgrass is a very good source of vitamins A, B, C, E and K, as well as calcium, potassium, iron and amino acids, making it one of the most effective natural detoxifiers,” adds Hakim Mohammad Tariq, Unani physician, Hamdard (Wakf) Laboratories.
Illustration: Jayachandran / Mint
Eat plenty of raw vegetables
“Eat generous amounts of raw fruits and vegetables, especially dark green leafy vegetables and orange, yellow, purple and red coloured fruits and vegetables,” says Hakim Tariq. “These contain living enzymes, vitamin C, natural antioxidants and anti-cancer phytonutrients. Carrots, beetroot and broccoli are great for the liver,” he adds.
Fresh juices help too. “Pomegranate and sugarcane juices help strengthen the liver as they are natural toners and energizers,” says Hakim Tariq. Dr Shashibala adds that it is important to have small quantities of food at short intervals for easy digestion; this keeps the liver happy and healthy.
Good to know: Eat more bitter leafy salad greens such as dandelion, chicory or rocket. Their bitterness helps stimulate bile flow in the liver.
Cut down on alcohol
Alcohol tops the list of liver toxins. “Excessive consumption could lead to alcoholic fatty liver, cirrhosis and may eventually even cause cancer,” points out Ashwini Setya,
senior consultant, gastroenterology, Max Hospital, Noida.
So how much is safe?
“Generally one drink (30-60ml) a day on an average. But take into account individual differences and also remember that men are able to metabolize alcohol better than women. A drinking binge could overwhelm the capacity of the liver to metabolize, leading to liver damage,” says Dr Setya. “But the good news is that it is never too late to give up alcohol, especially till the reversible stage (the fatty liver stage), when it can revert to near normal. Beyond that too, one can arrest the damage by quitting the bottle.”
Don’t self-medicate
“Like alcohol, most medications are metabolized or eliminated by the liver, and some of them may cause liver injury in susceptible individuals. Avoid taking unnecessary aspirin, ibuprofen and especially acetaminophen (commonly known as paracetamol) and never have them with alcohol,” warns Dr Setya. “Drugs like herbal medication and some Ayurvedic medicines, especially those which contain heavy metals and some antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs, anti-tuberculosis medications, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and certain antibiotics such as an Amoxicillin-Clavulanate combination, too can adversely affect the liver,” adds Ashutosh Shukla, head of department, internal medicine, Artemis Health Institute, Gurgaon.
Cut down on fat