Some foods have specific benefits for specific parts of your body, providing just the right nutrients each part needs. Here is a list of healthy foods for your organs and what they do to keep your body and its component parts healthy. Often when selecting foods for your organs you’ll find that whole foods are the best.
Foods For Your Heart
Your heart is the engine of your body. It is made up primarily of muscle, muscle that has to work steadily, second by second. Your diaphragm which powers your lungs may work continuously also, but it gets to take breaks! As with most foods for your organs, these help more than just the heart -but they are especially valuable in maintaining that vital muscle.
Apples contain a substance called quercetin, which acts as an anti-inflammatory and has been linked to blood-clot prevention. So make apples a regular part of your diet, either whole or sliced and added to salad.
Leafy vegetables contain a host of vitamins and minerals your heart depends on. Also, they are very low in calories. Keeping your weight down reduces strain on your heart, so managing your calories is just as important as the types of foods you put in your body.
Oats contain soluble fiber that helps reduce cholesterol, which lowers your risk of heart disease.
Avocados contain loads of monounsaturated fatty acids, along with a host of minerals and vitamins.
Foods For Your Liver
Your liver performs a range of vital functions including burning fat. It extracts nutrients from food into components needed in blood, and helps maintain hormone levels. It has also been shown to help our immune system.
Beets contain flavinoids, which improve liver function, so add beets to your diet. These are excellent chopped up and added to salads, or included in stews and soups. Pickled beets add the benefits of a fermented food.
Green tea contains antioxidants that help to improve liver function.
Turmeric has been shown to have a detox effect on the liver. You can add it to pretty much anything, or search the internet for a recipe for Golden Milk and give that relaxing, inflammation-reducing beverage a try.
Feeding Your Lungs
Your lungs, of course, feed oxygen into your bloodstream, which carries it to the rest of your body. Here are foods that help maintain and improve lung function.
Ginger has long been known to help with respiratory issues. Eating ginger helps clear your lungs and also boosts your immune system. It has also been shown to have a beneficial impact on asthma.
Foods high in magnesium help ensure proper lung function. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to trouble with pulmonary muscles. So add almonds, bananas, sunflower seeds, or cashews to your diet; your lungs will thank you.
Foods Your Pancreas Will Love
Your pancreas is vital to digestion, regulating stomach acid that could otherwise damage your intestines, and supplying enzymes that break down what you’ve eaten. Here are some foods that help heal and maintain your pancreas.
Berries. Cherries contain plenty of anti-oxidants, as do blueberries.
Onions and garlic contain nutrients that keep your pancreas healthy.
Spinach. This dark leafy vegetable contains vitamin B and iron, both of which keep your pancreas happy.
Feeding Your Brain
Your brain, of course, is you, as this is where consciousness and memory reside. So it’s vital for overall function to maintain a healthy brain. These foods will help.
Fish. That old wives’ tale about fish being brain food is actually true. Fish such as salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to a healthy brain.
Beans help stabilize blood sugar. The brain depends on glucose for fuel, but it can’t store glucose, so it needs a steady supply. Beans, along with lentils, can supply a steady stream of fuel for the brain.