IT’S SO EASY!

“I call the liver a metabolism superhero,” says celebrity nutritionist and bestselling author Haylie Pomroy, author of Cooking for a Fast Metabolism. Indeed, nourishing the often-overworked organ with liversupporting foods can jump-start fat burning in just 10 days. Pomroy explains, “Each nutrient you put into your body triggers the release of a different compound that allows the liver to function optimally.”

The first step: Eat breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning. “When you wake up, your body shifts from a rest and restoration phase to a fat-burn phase,” says Pomroy. But in order for the liver to start making this switch, it needs fuel in the form of micronutrients. “The quicker you can add these to the mix, the more effective the liver can be.”

Following breakfast, Pomroy suggests eating every three or four hours to ensure that the liver is constantly fueled. For example, at around 11 am, you’ll have a midmorning snack of tea or a smoothie (liquid snacks ensure speedy nutrient absorption, she says), followed by lunch at 2 pm, a smoothie or soup at 5 pm and dinner at 7 pm. In building your meals, you’ll fill up on vegetables, lean animal proteins, healthy fats and low-sugar fruit to fuel the liver, while avoiding processed foods, grains, beans, corn, sugar and dairy, which inhibit the liver’s production of fat-burning hormones.

You’ll also aim to drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day. Pomroy says this helps the liver eliminate toxins. “Water also fills you up,” adds NIH nutritionist and physician Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D. “So it helps regulate calorie intake in addition to keeping the liver healthy.”

But your secret weapons are the foods that support the liver and help it eliminate fat and toxins, says Pomroy. She advises rotating these seven superstars into your diet:

Grapefruit delivers a compound (d-limonene) that activates key detox enzymes, improving the liver’s ability to flush harmful toxins and burn fat by 30%. Says Pomroy, “Grapefruit also contains unique phytonutrients that burn fat and help intensify liver metabolism.” Snack on one whole grapefruit to get the benefits.

Mushrooms are high in fiber, which Pomroy calls “kindling for the metabolism,” plus they contain compounds that help restore and strengthen the liver. According to scientists at Georgetown University, eating mushrooms can kick-start fat burn within 48 hours and help you shed up to 5 extra pounds of belly fat per month. Pomroy recommends enjoying at least 1⁄2 cup.

Sunflower seeds help the liver banish stubborn fat. “The seeds have very high levels of natural lecithin, which is one of the compounds the gallbladder uses to dissolve and break down fat,” Pomroy explains. The result: speedy liver cleansing and optimized fat burning. To get the perks, you can snack on sunflower seeds by the handful or blend

1⁄4 cup into a smoothie.

Coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids—the liver’s favorite kind of fat. The proof: Medium-chain fatty acids have been shown to increase metabolism by 56%. To get the perks, cook with 1 tsp. of coconut oil or add it to smoothies.

Eggs deliver lecithin to help the body break down and utilize cholesterol. These gems are also rich in choline, a nutrient that prevents fat

accumulation within the gland itself. British scientists say adding two eggs to your daily diet can help you shed up to 17 additional pounds and trim an extra 3" off your waist.

Fennel stimulates the production of bile to help speed the breakdown of fat. All told, regularly eating bitter foods like fennel can increase metabolism by up to 53%. Pomroy suggests adding 1⁄2 to 1 Tbs. of fennel to meals, saying,

“Fennel is especially good at eliminating lumpy, bumpy fat and cellulite.”

Turmeric is best known as a potent anti-inflammatory, but it can also help the liver break up fatty deposits in the body. That’s why Pomroy recommends getting at least 1 tsp. of turmeric a day. “Warming spices like turmeric increase blood flow, helping break up fat deposits.” The payoff: Turmeric has been shown to whittle waistline fat by 30%.

For more tips and recipes, pick up Haylie Pomroy’s newest book, Cooking for a Fast Metabolism (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020; Hardcover $28, Kindle $16, Nook $16)