Credit: Adobe Stock/mizina

A good liver healthy diet includes a well-balanced diet that is comprised of carbohydrates, protein and good fats. I typically recommend a Mediterranean diet for my liver patients. We have several recipes available on the American Liver Foundation (ALF) website. I always tell my patients to stay away from diets that are non-sustainable, like zero carb or keto heavy, and I always counsel to avoid herbs and supplements that are freely and widely available over the counter that are not regulated and can be unsafe because of certain ingredients that may be toxic to the liver.

At ALF, we would like everyone to understand that prevention is the key as well asunderstanding and avoiding risk factors that can affect the liver negatively. You can truly take care of your liver health by eating a clean well balanced nutritious diet, exercising at least four times a week, seeing your doctor regularly and getting tested if you are concerned. These are all key strategies to prevent, as well as diagnose, liver disease. Early diagnosis and detection is the key to avoid long term complications.

ALF focuses on several important aspects like education for physicians and medical providers in the form of seminars and webinars. Patient and caregiver education programs along with awareness campaigns and advocacy are other crucial areas that ALF has been tirelessly working on.

We suggest this lentil soup with lots of vegetables since it’s a great recipe—full of vital nutrients, protein and fiber.

Sprouted Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 1 cup sprouted lentils
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp cumin

Directions

1. Sauté garlic in a pot with a small amount of water. Stir for about 3 minutes or until the garlic starts to cook.
2. Add diced carrots and celery to the pot and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
3. Add lentils, tomatoes, and cumin to the pot and simmer for 10-15 minutes until vegetables are tender. Serve with your favorite side!

Sudha Kodali, MD, is a specialist of Hepatology and Transplant Hepatology at Houston Methodist and works with ALF.

This recipe was originally published on ALF as a part of their 30-day meal plan and this article was edited for clarity.