Food Is Medicine (Part 2)
Part 2: 5 More Ingredients I’m Using to Support Liver Detox, Lymph Flow & Hormone Balance
If Part 1 was about calming inflammation and stabilizing the foundation, this next group of foods is about movement.
Movement of bile.
Movement of lymph.
Movement of hormones out of the body (instead of letting them recirculate and wreak havoc).
This is where things started to click for me in a deeper way. Because so many of the symptoms I’ve lived with… bloating, pressure under my ribs, acne that doesn’t behave, mood swings that come out of nowhere, that “puffy and exhausted” feeling aren’t just about what’s in the body.
They’re about what isn’t leaving.
These foods aren’t aggressive. They don’t force detox. They gently nudge systems that are already trying to work but need a little support to do so.
Again: no perfection, no cleanse, no overnight promises. Just ingredients I keep coming back to because my body responds.
A gentle note:
Nothing here is medical advice. I’m not a doctor or practitioner. I’m a chef and a woman navigating PCOS, endometriosis, insulin resistance, and liver dysfunction — and I’m sharing the foods I’m learning about and using to support my own healing. Always check in with your healthcare provider before making major changes.
6. Beets
Beets are deeply misunderstood. People either love them or avoid them entirely; but when it comes to liver and hormone support, they’re one of the most reliable foods I’ve added.
Beets support phase 2 liver detoxification, meaning they help the liver actually process and excrete hormones and toxins instead of recycling them back into circulation. They also support bile flow, which matters more than I ever realized, especially without a gallbladder.
In TCM and traditional nutrition, beets are associated with blood movement and liver support. Modern research backs that up with their role in methylation and nitric oxide production.
What beets can support:
estrogen clearance
sluggish bile flow
fatigue tied to detox congestion
skin issues related to hormone backup
circulation and “stuck” feeling in the body
How I actually use them:
Roasted with olive oil and salt, shredded raw into salads, or simmered into soups. I also have them in a powdered form so I can add to drinks (great with lemon and a little allulose) or homemade lentil tortillas!
7. Artichokes
Artichokes might be one of the most underrated liver-supportive foods there is.
They stimulate bile production and help the liver move what it’s already filtered. That matters if you experience nausea after fats, heaviness after meals, or that “brick in the gut” feeling that comes from slow digestion.
Artichokes also support cholesterol metabolism and gut-liver communication, which plays a huge role in hormone balance.
What artichokes can support:
bile production
fat digestion
post-meal heaviness
liver congestion
constipation related to slow bile
How I actually use them:
Jarred or frozen artichoke hearts sautéed with garlic and lemon, tossed into soups, or blended into dips. They don’t need to be fancy to be effective.
8. Lemon
Lemon gets talked about endlessly, but it earns its place here for a reason.
Lemon gently stimulates the liver and gallbladder, supports bile flow, and helps “wake up” digestion without being harsh. It’s one of the easiest ways I support my liver daily without thinking too hard about it.
In TCM, sour flavors help move liver qi. In modern nutrition, lemon supports digestive enzymes and mild detox pathways.
What lemon can support:
sluggish digestion
bile movement
morning nausea or heaviness
bloating after meals
gentle daily detox support
How I actually use it:
In warm water, squeezed over greens, stirred into broths, or added at the end of cooking. I use it consistently, not aggressively.
9. Parsley & Cilantro
These two herbs deserve their own moment.
They support detox pathways, lymphatic movement, and kidney-liver communication. They’re especially helpful if you experience puffiness, water retention, or that swollen feeling that isn’t quite inflammation, just stagnation.
They also support mineral balance, which matters more than most of us realize when hormones are involved.
What parsley and cilantro can support:
lymphatic flow
water retention
gentle detox support
bloating
mineral balance
How I actually use them:
Chopped into soups, using the stems, minced in salads or pestos, blended into sauces, or added generously to meals at the end. I don’t force them, I sprinkle them everywhere like confetti.
10. Bitter Greens (Arugula, Radicchio, Endive)
If dandelion greens were the gateway, these are the supporting cast.
Bitter greens stimulate digestion, bile flow, and liver signaling. They help the body recognize that it’s time to digest, process, and move things along.
Bitterness is uncomfortable at first, but it’s one of the flavors most missing from modern diets, and one the liver desperately responds to.
What bitter greens can support:
liver signaling
digestion initiation
bloating
hormone clearance
blood sugar balance
How I actually use them:
Raw in salads with lemon and olive oil, or lightly wilted into warm dishes. I don’t hide the bitterness — I let my palate learn it.
Closing Thoughts
What I’m learning, over and over, is that healing doesn’t come from doing more; it comes from supporting what’s already trying to happen.
These foods don’t fix everything. But they help my body feel less stuck. Less backed up. Less overwhelmed.
They make meals feel purposeful without becoming stressful. And they remind me that food doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful.
If Part 1 was about calming the system, Part 2 is about helping things move.
And for me, that’s been everything.
What’s Coming in Part 3
Next up, I’ll be sharing foods and habits that support:
nervous system regulation
cortisol balance
blood sugar stability
digestion without restriction
Because healing hormones isn’t just about the liver — it’s about the whole system feeling safe enough to function.
If you want to come back to this later:
Pin it. Save it. Revisit it when your body asks for support.
One meal at a time still counts.
