Which dried fruits are useful for human liver — Top 3

The main function of the liver is the elimination of toxins from the body, as well as the synthesis of bile.

For the normal course of these processes, the body uses a large amount of vitamins, micronutrients, minerals, water, and glucose.

A person can get most of these substances from dried fruits. That is why they are considered to be one of the most useful for the liver.

In addition, one study indicates that the consumption of dried apricots promotes the regeneration of liver cells.

What is the reason for this? And which dried fruits can be called the most useful?

Benefits for the liver and gastrointestinal tract

The main benefit of dried fruits is that they are rich in fructose and fiber. The first element is easily broken down in the body, slightly increasing blood sugar levels, and is synthesized fairly quickly to pure energy. Fiber is important for the work of the entire gastrointestinal tract and literally cleanses the intestines of dense feces, toxins.

1. Raisin

Regular consumption of raisins leads to a decrease in the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood. Namely, it "loads" the liver the most, since only with its help can lipid compounds be broken down.

In addition, a decoction based on raisins is a powerful choleretic effect. Doctors recommend taking it to prevent blockage of the bile ducts, as well as the formation of gallstones.

4 more facts about the effect of raisins on the liver, see here →

2. Dried apricots

American scientists claim that dried apricots contain so-called "phenolic resins", which reduce the risk of activation of inflammatory processes in the liver.

Indirectly, dried apricots also prevent liver tissue dysfunction, prevent its cells from being replaced by fatty or fibrous tissue.

In addition, dried apricots are one of the richest sources of fructose.

3. Prunes

Prunes are one of the best remedies for cleansing the gastrointestinal tract.

This dried fruit gives a strong laxative effect, in which poorly digested pieces of food are also removed from the intestine. Namely, the most dangerous toxins for the body are most often formed from them.

Gastroenterologists recommend regular consumption of prune-based jelly to keep your intestines clean.

Possible harm and contraindications

Doctors name only the following diseases as contraindications for the use of dried fruits:

1. Obesity;
2. Individual intolerance (allergic reaction);
3. Diabetes mellitus in the acute stage.

With type 2 diabetes mellitus, dried fruits can be consumed in small quantities, but only with the permission of the attending endocrinologist. As a rule, this is allowed only if the patient does not take insulin injections (that is, the body produces enough of it on its own).

Doctors say that a person should consume glucose exactly as much as the body needs it. And this is only about 50 – 70 grams per day. But a modern person, on average, consumes up to 300 grams or even more carbohydrates daily.

That is, you should eat dried fruits in moderation, given that 70-90% of them consist of carbohydrates, otherwise you can get more harm than good.

Is it possible to eat for certain diseases?

For liver diseases, dried fruits can be consumed, but in small quantities. The main thing is to control the amount of carbohydrates consumed .

If there are more than 70-100 grams of them, then the excess will be synthesized to fatty compounds. And it is the liver that does this in the body. That is, the organ will succumb to additional stress.

With cirrhosis of the liver, there are no contraindications to the use of dried fruits, but only if we are talking about the initial stage of the disease, when the organ retains its full functionality.

But with fatty hepatosis, dried fruits are not always acceptable in the diet. It should take into account which metabolic processes have been disrupted, whether blood sugar is elevated, and so on. Whether they can be included in the diet – the doctor will tell you for sure after a full examination and blood tests.

How to choose the right one — 6 nuances

As practice shows, not everyone knows how to choose high-quality dried fruits correctly.

Experts recommend that you refuse to purchase in the following cases:

1. Cobwebs, dust, and dirt are visible in the folds of dried fruits.
2. A pleasant smell (indicates an excess of moisture, which can spread fungus and mold).
3. Dried fruits look almost like fresh slices of fruit (also indicates excess moisture and violation of drying technology).
4. As for raisins, they should be dark, hard, dry. By no means yellow and soft.
5. The situation is similar with dried apricots, and the less moisture in it, the better.
6. But high-quality prunes have a distinct smoke aroma and have a dark saturated shade.

Another feature is that you should not buy "glossy" dried fruits with an inconspicuous shiny film. Yes, they look attractive, but the presence of such a coating indicates the use of paraffin – it is used to "update" the presentation. That is, such a product will obviously not be the freshest.

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Conclusion

In total, dried fruits are really useful for the liver. Firstly, they rid the body of toxins, and secondly, they provide a large amount of easily digestible carbohydrates. But it's still not worth abusing them. Literally 50-80 grams of raisins, dried apricots or prunes per day will be more than enough.