Your liver needs a good flush every now and then. The organ works non-stop in an often hellish condition to rid your body of toxins. The least you can do is make its job easier. We bet right now that your liver is working like a car engine with a clogged filter and sludge for oil.
A liver flush is like a much-needed oil change. We’ll share a few liver cleanse recipe ideas to get your digestive system back on track.
1. Grapefruit-Lemon Juice Cleanse
- 1 grapefruit
- 2 lemons
- 150ml filtered water
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 inch root ginger
Why It Works: Lemon flushes out toxins before it’s absorbed by the body. Both lemons and grapefruit are also acidic. Citric acid mixed with water somewhat simulates your own stomach acid juices. Studies, in fact, show that citric acid may nullify the effects of oxidative stress in the liver and brain.
This liver flush recipe also contains naringenin, a compound found mainly in grapefruit. This antioxidant may accelerate fatty acid oxidization and prevent fatty liver disease.
READ MORE: How to Do a Liver Cleanse: The Step-By-Step Process for a Natural Detox
2. Beet Juice Cleanse
- 1 medium red beet
- 1 green apple
- lemon with rind removed
- 1 inch ginger root
Why It Works: Beets are known to stimulate lymphatic flow, in turn increasing oxygen flow to the blood. It also aids your liver by breaking down toxic waste, which helps the organ quickly excrete it out the body.
Beets are also high in fiber, which adds bulk to the stools for smoother bowel movements. This is why this recipe also includes a fiber-rich whole apple. Studies confirm that beets contain liver-protecting compounds. Research also showed that it may reduce hypertension, lower inflammation and preserve endothelial (blood vessel interior) function.
3. Carrot Cleanse Juice
- 6 medium-sized carrots, peeled
- 1 whole lemon
- 1 tsp pollen
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Why It Works: This liver detox recipe contains carrots, which is really high in vitamin A, also known as beta carotene. This antioxidant is beneficial for far more than just the eyes. Vitamin A also neutralizes harmful free radicals that interfere with liver cells. Furthermore, carotenoids also protect the organ against chemicals commonly found in alcoholic drinks. This includes the harmful carbon tetrachloride. These claims are all backed up by a 2008 study where carrots were shown to enhance liver antioxidant capacity.
READ MORE: Liver Cleanse Side Effects: Watch Out for These Negative After-Effects
4. Avocado Smoothie
- 1 medium ripe avocado
- 1 cup organic milk
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp raw honey
Why It Works: This liver cleanse recipe utilizes the highly touted avocado fruit. As you may know, avocados are one of the best sources of monounsaturated fats. Even more importantly as a cleanser, avocado contains glutathione, which protects the liver against toxic damage. This antioxidant is even sold as a standalone supplement. Studies show that glutathione may have some effect for treating liver disease. Another study revealed that avocado oil may positively impact liver metabolism and reduce cancer-inducing triglycerides.
5. Banana-Grape Smoothie Cleanse
- 1 cup seedless red or black grapes
- 1 whole banana
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup milk
Why It Works: Studies show that grapeseed extract promotes healthy liver function. Grapes and grape-derived products (such as red wine) are also an excellent source of the antioxidant resveratrol. In one study, rats that were given alcohol and later supplemented with resveratrol had lower instances of developing cirrhosis or fibrosis.
This liver detox recipe is also a good source of potassium thanks to the banana. Studies show a correlation between potassium deficiency and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
READ MORE: How Long Does It Take to Detox Your Liver from Alcohol and Other Toxins?
6. Turmeric-Bean Soup
- 1 tbsp ground turmeric
- 1 cup of beans or lentils
- ¼ tsp ground cayenne pepper
- 32 ounces of bone broth
- 1 medium carrot
- 2 stalks celery
This liver cleanse recipe is a soup rather than a juice. After all, turmeric and beans aren’t exactly items one would consider for a delicious, fruity smoothie.
Why turmeric and beans? See our prior post on the benefits of turmeric. This spice contains curcumin, which fights oxidative stress by increasing the amount of glutathione in the liver cells.
As for beans, they’re a high source of fiber, which binds with material in your gastrointestinal tract and helps expel waste. Beans also make a great daily carb source over conventional sources, like bread and rice.
Liver Cleanse Recipes vs. Supplements
We always advocate going the natural route over anything that comes in a pill. The only exception to this rule is when the supplement is all-natural. This is why we can confidently recommend Digestive Refresh, which contains proven and all-natural active ingredients for cleaning out the liver.
If you have the time to prepare a liver detox recipe on a daily basis, then stick to that. However, a supplement like Digestive Refresh provides that convenience factor for folks that don’t have that hour to spare in the kitchen.
