Food that help Cleanse the Liver

Garlic-Just a small amount of garlic has the ability to activate liver enzymes that helps your body flush out toxins. Garlic also holds high amounts of allicin and selenium, two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing.

*Grapefruit-High in both vitamin C and antioxidants, grapefruit increasea the natural cleansing processes of the liver. A small glass of freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice will help boost production of liver detoxification enzymes that help flush out carcinogens and other toxins.

*Leafy Green Vegetables-One of our most powerful allies in cleansing the liver, Extremely high in plant chlorophylls, greens literally suck up environmental toxins from the blood stream. With their distinct ability to nuetralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides, these cleansing foods offer a powerful protective mechanism for the liver.
Try incorporating leafy greens such as bitter gourd, arugula, dandelion greens, spinach, mustard greens and chicory into your diet. This will help increase the creation and flow of bile, the substance that removes waste from the organs and blood.

*Avocados-This nutrient-dense super-food helps the body produce glutathione, which is necessary for the liver to cleanse harmful toxins. Recent studies indicate improved liver health when avocados are eaten regular

*. Olive Oil-Cold-pressed organic oils such as olive, hemp and flax-seed are great for the liver, when used in moderation. They help the body by providing a lipid base that can suck up harmful toxins in the body. In this way, it takes some of the burden off the liver in terms of the toxic overload that many of us suffer from.

*Walnuts-Holding high amount of the amino acid arginine, walnuts aid the liver in detoxifying ammonia. Walnuts are also high in glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids which support normal liver cleansing actions.

*Turmeric helps boost liver detox, by assisting enzymes that actively flush out known dietary carcinogens.

*.Herbal Green tea is loaded with catechins, a type of plant antioxidant that has been shown in studies to eliminate liver fat accumulation and promote proper liver function. This powerful herbal beverage also protects the liver against toxins that would otherwise accumulate and cause serious damage.

Eat right for your good Health

Our diet is an essential factor for the formation of our body. It is clearly mentioned in 'Charak Samhita' that consuming improper diet in improper way is the main cause of 'Disease'.
According to 'Charak ,"An appropriate and suitable diet in a disease is equivalent to hundred drugs and any quantity of drug hardly compares to good results in disease without following proper dietetic  regimen"

  " When diet is wrong medicine is of no use.

When diet is correct medicine is of no need. " [Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb]   Ayurvedic classics have mentioned following principles for living full span of life with perfect health.
Diet should be regulated taking into account the 'Desha'(territory), 'Kala' (Season as well as time of the day) etc. On should be in a habit of taking all six 'Rasa' (tastes) in order to prevent nutritional deficiency disorders.
Time of consuming food : A person should take meal only when he feels hungry. Lunch should be taken early between 12 and 1P.M. this coincides with the peak Pitta period, Pitta is responsible for the digestion. Ayurveda recommends that the lunch should be the largest meal of the day. The supper should be lesser and lighter than lunch
Quantity of food : Generally half of the capacity of stomach should be filled with solids, ¼ ^th with liquids and rest kept empty for the free movements of body humors.
Sequence of consuming food :Madhur (sweet) rasa food like fruits are advisable to take in the bigining of meal, food with Amla and Lavana (sour and salty) rasa in the middle and Katu,Tikta,Kashay (bitter ,astringent and pungent) foods should be taken at the end of meal
Method of consuming food :
* Wash the face hands and feet before meal. Dine in an isolated neat and clean place in pleasant environment with the affectionate persons in sitting position.
* Eat only food prepared by loving hands in a loving way. This increases the vitality giving quality of the food.
* Food should be taken after complete digestion of previous one.
* Chew your food until it is an even consistency before swallowing.
* Hard items should be consumed in the beginning followed by soft and liquids subsequently.
* Few sips of water is advised now and then while taking meal.
* Heavy substances are contraindicated after meals and should be avoided
* Do not drink cold drinks just prior to or while eating, also don't drink large quantities of liquid during meals. This weakens digestion.
* Consumption of excessive hot food leads to weakness. Cold and dry food leads to delayed digestion. Intake of food prepared by giving extra
* Heat leads to 'Glani'. Hence consumption of such food should be avoided
Incompatible Food (Viruddha ahara) :

• Milk followed by fruits and vice versa.
• Soar substance along with milk.
• Milk with salt, horse gram, green gram & cow gram
• Wheat preparations in gingelly oil(Tila taila)
• Hot drinks after alcohol, curd or honey.
• Cold and hot substances together
• Banana with curd and butter milk
• Chicken with curd
• Ghee kept in bronze vessel
• Radish with jaggery
• Fish with jaggery or sugar
• Jingelly seeds with kanjika.

      Use of incompatible food leads to skin disorders, Gastro intestinal .Disorders , anaemia, leucoderma hyperacidity impotence etc. hence should be avoided.
General Rules about food consumption : How you eat your food is even more important than what you eat. Even foods, which normally cause greater imbalance, will be digested reasonable well if the proper rules are followed. Likewise, if you eat the correct foods in the wrong way, your digestion will be compromised and gas, indigestion and the formation of toxins will follow. If you follow these food habits and choose the correct foods then your digestion will be maximized and you will experience optimal digestion. Here are some Important Do's and Don't s -

• Do not eat while being distracted by television, excessive conversation or reading. Keep the mind present and pay full attention.
• Don't eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruit one to two hours after
meal or one hour before meal.
• Walk a while(100 steps) after meal to help digestion
• No travelling, exercise or sexual intercourse within one hour after meal.
• Avoid meals when thirsty and water while hungry.
• Avoid meals after exertion
• Avoid meals when you are having no appetite.
• Don't suppress the appetite as it leads to body pain, anorexia, lassitude, vertigo and general debility
• Don't suppress the thirst as it leads to general debility, giddiness and heart diseases.

      Consumption of the fresh, acceptable, easily available and compatible food with various nutrients is a key to lead a healthy life.

TOP 14 FOODS FOR HEART HEALTH

TOP 14 FOODS FOR HEART HEALTH:
1. Raisins: Antioxidants in raisins fight the growth of a type of bacteria that can cause inflammation and gum disease. Studies have proved the relation with gum disease and heart diseases.
2. Whole Grains: Whole grains contain antioxidants, phytoestrogens, phytosterols and soluble fiber that lower LDL are protective against coronary disease and help maintain a leaner frame.
3. Beans: Soluble fiber in beans helps bind cholesterol and keep it from being absorbed in the gut. When fiber is fermented, it produces changes in short-chain fatty acids that can inhibit cholesterol formation. Beans contain a variety of heart-protective chemicals, including flavonoids that inhibit the adhesion of platelets in the blood, which can help lower risk for heart attack and strokes.
4. Fatty Fish: Fish—especially “oily” kinds, such as salmon and tuna—contain omega-3 fats, which lower levels of triglycerides in the blood that may contribute to blood clotting. Omega-3s also lower blood pressure slightly and can help prevent irregular heart rhythms.
5. Yogurt: Research shows that probiotics in yogurt protect against gum disease, reducing the risk of heart disease. It also improves digestion and boost immunity too.
6. Nuts: Nuts are chock-full of vitamins, minerals, heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and low levels of saturated fat, lowering incidence of heart disease.
7. Dark Chocolate: Moderate amounts of flavanol-rich dark chocolate has a blood-thinning effect, which can benefit cardiovascular health and boost the immune system by reducing inflammation, and the compound epicatechin helps preserve the healthy function of blood vessels.
8. Tomatoes: Along with Vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, fiber, tomatoes are high in lycopene, which works with other vitamins and minerals to prevent cardiovascular disease.
9. Apples: The strong antioxidant flavonoid compounds found in apples—quercetin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, kaempferol and other polysyllabic wonders—play a key role by preventing “bad” LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and decrease the buildup of plaque in arteries, as well as inhibiting inflammation. Apples are also rich in antioxidant-Vitamin C and pectin, a form of soluble fiber known to help lower cholesterol.
10. Berries: Increases levels of “good” HDL cholesterol and lowersblood pressure, two positives when it comes to heart health. The diverse range of polyphenols—a broad class of health-promoting plant compounds that includes anthocyanins and ellagic acid—provided by the mix of berries is likely responsible for the observed benefits like relaxed blood vessels.
11. Pomegranates: Help reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries and lower blood pressure. Abundance of polyphenols—including anthocyanins and tannins gives it high antioxidant capacity.
12. Bananas: The potassium in bananas helps maintain normal heart function and the balance of sodium and water in the body. Potassium helps the kidneys excrete excess sodium, thereby contributing to healthy blood pressure.
13. Popcorn: Popcorn is a whole grain and delivers polyphenols—antioxidants linked to improving heart health, even more than kidney beans (the highest vegetable polyphenol source) and cranberries (the best fruit source).
14. Green Tea: A daily cup of green tea significantly lowered their risk of developing gum disease (responsible for heart diseases)—the more tea, the lower the risk. The researchers believe antioxidants called catechins in green tea are the key. Catechins hamper the body’s inflammatory response to the bacteria that cause gum disease.