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Detox Drinks for a Healthy Liver

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Drinking detox or cleansing drinks may help keep the liver healthy and aid in weight loss. Read the article below to know more.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Ghulam Fareed

Published At September 6, 2023
Reviewed AtSeptember 6, 2023

Introduction

Recently, liver detox and cleanse drinks have gained much attention in the fitness freaks community. These drinks are mostly promoted as natural remedies that can help the liver heal, eliminate toxins, and boost energy, among other health-related benefits. However, this article may provide deep information about liver cleansing and detox drinks.

What Are Liver Cleanse and Detox?

A liver detox or cleanse, sometimes also known as a flush, claims to clean all the toxins that form the body; it may also help to excrete weight loss and provide health benefits.

Detox is gaining a lot of attention these days, and everyone wants to know facts about detox and include it in their lifestyle. The liver is considered as the largest organ in the body. It helps remove waste and metabolism of the nutrients and medicines in the body. Most people think that a cleanse may help their liver take out toxins after drinking too much alcohol or consuming unhealthy food or fast food. Some people hope it will help their liver work better on a daily basis. Many believe it helps treat liver disease.

Liver detox and cleanse drinks are beverages that contain different types of herbs, fruits, and vegetables.

Their common ingredients include the following:

  • Milk thistle.

  • Dandelion root.

  • Burdock.

  • Beetroot.

  • Cinnamon.

  • Turmeric.

  • Ginger.

These drinks claim to provide many health benefits. For example, they are introduced to remove useless and harmful waste and toxins, flush out all impurities, improve energy, and support liver health. However, little scientific evidence supports these claims, and all cleansing and detoxing drinks are not at all the same.

Countless types are on the market, and they are made with varying ingredients. Some are recommended for daily consumption indefinitely, while others are only for a period of a few weeks to a few months.

How Does Detox Work?

Currently, no scientific study proves that liver cleanses and detox drinks are effective. Manufacturing companies claim such things gain popularity, which is considered a marketing gimmick.

Most of the drinks claim that they help remove toxins from the body, but it is hardly clear which specific toxins they remove or how. Furthermore, no studies have reported that healthy people have deposited toxins in their bodies, nor is there a report confirming that herbal detoxes can improve the body's natural detox systems.

In a healthy individual, the liver, the body's main detoxification organ, alters toxic substances to avoid their harmful effect on the body. However, an individual with certain medical conditions has a reduced ability to detoxify toxic substances in the body due to some factors like age, sex, health, genetics, medication regimen, and diet.

Almost all of the detoxification processes of the body take place in liver cells. People suffering from liver disease may be unable to perform normal detoxification processes, which can result in the buildup of harmful substances like ammonia. The body is not able to remove certain chemicals easily, as they can be deposited in fat tissue or blood. These toxins include bisphenol A (BPA), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals, and phthalates. These chemicals are present in concentrated form in ultra-processed foods like fast food. Still, it is not recommended that a person consume detox or cleansing drinks to remove these potentially harmful chemicals from the body.

Instead, avoiding exposure to these chemicals is highly recommended by reducing the intake of highly processed foods like fast-food such as burgers, chips, and fries, as well as foods which come in plastic packagings, such as chips or candy. It is reported that some people feel better after trying detox or cleansing drinks, mostly because they gradually stop eating many low-nutrient processed foods.

What Are the Natural Ways to Boost Liver Health?

Having a nutritious, well-balanced diet and avoiding certain lifestyle factors like excessive consumption of alcohol and drug use is important. Additionally, studies show that adding certain foods and beverages to the diet may be especially beneficial for the liver. The following options may also be more affordable than other popular beverages.

The following are some food options that benefit the liver:

  • Coffee - This delicious beverage may boost antioxidant levels in the liver and lower the risk of liver disease.

  • Tea - Teas like black and green may improve liver enzyme levels among people suffering from liver disease and fight oxidative stress.

  • Berries - Most berries are packed with antioxidants, which have been shown to protect the liver from damage in various animal studies.

  • Beetroot Juice - This juice is a colorful drink that contains healthy compounds like nitrates and antioxidants, which may help protect the liver from oxidative damage. Also, research suggests beetroot juice may increase the liver's natural detoxification enzymes.

  • Nuts - Nuts are high sources of healthy fats and nutrients like vitamin E. Studies reported that supplementing with vitamin E may help lower the risk of liver disease.

  • Fatty Fish - Studies show that fish supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids may help in reducing liver fat and improve liver enzyme function.

The following are some herbs and supplements that may benefit liver health:

  • Milk Thistle - The plant contains compounds like silybins, silychristin, and silydianin, all of which may help in liver regeneration, reducing inflammation, and improving liver health for people suffering from liver disease.

  • Ginseng - Ginseng has anti-inflammatory properties and may help in preventing liver damage in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

  • Turmeric - It is a herb with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It can help in reducing inflammation in the liver and signs and symptoms of liver damage in people suffering from liver disease.

  • Ginger - Studies reported that ginger might effectively reduce signs and symptoms of inflammation of the liver in people suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, compared with medicinal treatment.

  • Licorice Root - Studies have proven that supplementing with licorice root may help in reducing signs and symptoms of liver damage in people suffering from liver disease.

Conclusion

In conclusion, lifestyle changes can help maintain a healthy liver while detoxing. The life plan should include some important steps to reduce the risk of liver diseases, like heavy alcohol consumption or a family history of liver disease. It is advised that a person should limit their alcohol consumption. Have a well-balanced diet that involves fruits and vegetables, fiber, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Be sure to include a sufficient amount of protein for the enzymes that help the body detox naturally, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly. Consult the doctor if a person has any questions regarding it.

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Dr. Ghulam Fareed
Dr. Ghulam Fareed

Medical Gastroenterology

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