A liver detox diet is one of the best ways to detox your body as it helps empower your liver for dealing with all the toxins that your body will be releasing during your body detox. I’ve put together a list of some of the best foods to have on your liver detox diet to help get you started.

Liver Detox Diet Foods

Artichokes, especially the hearts, are perfect liver detox foods as they contain powerful antioxidants known as flavonoids that protect the liver’s cells and tissues. Artichokes are also good for the secretion of bile, which helps the body better digest and assimilate fats. The artichoke is a close relative of milk thistle, queen of the liver protectors and known as the milk thistle liver detox, which offers major defense against free radicals and is especially good for people with compromised immunity or alcohol-related liver problems.

Asparagus contains high amounts of vitamin A and potassium, another mineral on which the liver depends during detox.

Beetroot is full of betaine, which helps protect the liver against the damaging effects of alcohol. Betaine also thins the bile and helps it move freely within the bile ducts.

Dandelion root is another of the powerful liver detox foods as it stimulates liver function. It also contains inulin, a fiber-like substance that functions as a probiotic – an element that helps nourish the friendly bacteria in the gut. As if that weren’t enough, the humble dandelion root is also good for lowering blood sugar.

Whey is a rich source of the amino acid L-cysteine, which, like vitamin C, is a precursor to glutathione. Remember, the liver’s own two-phase detox process uses up huge amounts of glutathione, so it’s up to us to replenish it daily. Whey also contains methionine, glycine, glutamine and taurine – amino acids that are crucial to phase 2 of the liver detox process. Personally, I recommend Fat Flush Whey, made from milk that is hormone free.

Nutritional yeast is a complete protein that contains eighteen amino acids and fifteen minerals and is a stellar source of the B vitamins that are so necessary in both phases of liver detox. Vitamin B1 helps decrease the effects of alcohol, smoking and heavy metal toxicity. Vitamin B2 is used in the production of glutathione. Vitamin B3 is used in phase 1 detoxification. Vitamin B5 also known as pantothenic acid, helps detoxify acetaldehyde produced from alcohol and by Candida overgrowrh. This wonder yeast also includes vitamin B12. Because vegetarians aren’t getting this crucial element in meat, they need to make sure they get it another way – and yeast is a terrific alternative.

Nutritional yeast is not to be confused with the old-time brewer’s yeast, a by-product of the process of making beer. Brewers yeast is very bitter and contains wild yeast strains from the brewing process. It also tends to encourage Candida and yeast overgrowth.

Nutritional yeast, by contrast, is a primary product grown on strains of mineral-rich molasses or cereal by-products. The best kind is grown on molasses or maple syrup, because the yeast absorbs the minerals from its host, making it perhaps the best natural food form of minerals available for humans. It’s pasteurized to avoid the use of living yeast, so, unlike brewer’s yeast, it won’t give you gas or lead to bloating. It also won’t encourage Candida or other yeast-related problems, which would counteract the benefit of following a liver detox diet in the first place.

Tips: Liver detox drinks – you can use a tablespoon or two of the nutritional yeast flakes in tomato sauces and soups, dust it on popcorn, or stir a spoonful into sauces or gravies. When I’m feeling depleted, I like to take some nutritional yeast between meals for a quick get-up-and-go – a pick-me-up that’s especially useful for people trying to stop drinking coffee or to avoid a sugar crash. The nutty flavor of the yeast flakes actually tastes pretty good when you mix a tablespoon or two into a glass of water. It’s very good on a liver detox diet and I guarantee you’ll get a boost of energy within 10 minutes. Or take some nutritional yeast right before a meal to take the edge off your appetite.