Liver Cleansing: Is Detoxification Really Possible?

Detoxification, cleansing or detoxification of the liver is known to remove toxins in the body, help with weight loss or improve health. Everyone wants to do positive things for their health. But you should know that liver detox really doesn’t have many benefits.

1. What is liver detox?

The liver is one of the body’s largest organs, helping to remove waste and process various nutrients and medications. Most people think that cleansing (also known as detox) will help the liver remove toxins after drinking too much alcohol or eating unhealthy foods.

Some people hope that cooling the liver and detoxifying it will help the liver function better on a daily basis, and even treat liver disease.

Like most detoxes, a liver cleanse has specific steps, including requiring you to fast and drink only juice or other liquids for several days. You need to follow a limited diet, use herbs or functional foods and a variety of complementary products.

2. Is liver detoxification safe?

There are medical treatments for liver diseases, but there is no evidence that detoxification can reverse liver damage. In fact, detoxifiers pose a risk of harming your liver. Many studies have found that liver damage caused by dietary supplements and herbs is on the rise.

For example, green tea extract may cause liver damage; Coffee enemas can lead to infections and life-threatening electrolyte problems.

Here’s what else you need to know about liver detoxifying products:

• Some companies use ingredients that may be harmful or falsely claim to treat serious diseases
• Unpasteurized juice can make you sick, especially if you are older or have a weakened immune system
• If you have kidney disease, detoxifying your liver with large amounts of juice can make your condition worse
• If you have diabetes, be sure to consult your doctor before you start a diet designed to promote liver detoxification
• Liver detox methods include fasting, you may feel weak or faint, have headaches or become dehydrated. For people with hepatitis B who have liver damage, fasting can worsen the condition.

There is no scientific evidence that a liver cleanse helps remove toxins from the body or makes you healthier. You feel lighter and more comfortable when detoxing simply because you are not eating heavy foods, solid fats and refined sugars – foods that are high in calories but low in nutrition.

Detox diets also often cut out foods that cause allergies or sensitivities — like dairy, gluten, eggs or peanuts.

3. How to help the liver after drinking too much alcohol

Doctors say liver detoxification is not important for your health, nor does it help reduce liver activity levels. There is no evidence that liver detox methods are truly effective after you drink too much alcohol or unhealthy food.

Factors that actually affect your liver include:

• Overall health
• Your genes
• Diet
• Life style
• Habitat

Liver detox methods do not treat damage or prevent disease.

The liver can process a certain amount of alcohol at the same time. If you drink too much, this organ has to work harder. Over time, this will lead to inflammation, scarring or liver cancer. Therefore, experts advise not drinking more than 1 glass of alcohol per day for women and 2 glasses for men (1 glass is equivalent to 350ml of beer or 150ml of wine).

The liver has the ability to heal minor damage from alcohol in a matter of days or weeks. More severe injuries can take months to heal. After a long time, the damage can be permanent. So give your liver a rest by not drinking alcohol 2 consecutive days of the week.

4. How to prevent liver disease

Lifestyle changes can help keep your liver healthy without detoxifying it. If you are at high risk for liver disease due to alcohol abuse or a family history of liver disease, the following prevention steps are especially important:

• Limit alcohol intake
• Eat a balanced diet daily, including 5 – 9 servings of fruits and vegetables, along with fiber from vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Be sure to add protein to your enzymes to help your body naturally detoxify
• Maintain a reasonable weight
• Try to exercise every day at a suitable intensity.
• Additionally, avoid risky behaviors that can lead to viral hepatitis, including:
• Avoid recreational drugs, especially sharing needles or straws
• Do not share razors, toothbrushes or other personal items
• Only tattoo at facilities that ensure absolute sterility
• Don’t have unprotected sex with people you don’t know.

5. Liver detoxification and weight loss

A few studies have linked liver detoxification with weight or fat loss, but the scale and data are insufficient to confirm. Additionally, other studies have found that low-calorie detox diets can lead to rapid weight loss, but people tend to regain their original weight soon after returning to the diet. normally.

Some lifestyle changes that can protect against liver disease, help you lose weight, and eliminate inflammatory fats in your liver include:

• Eat a healthy diet with lots of water, fruits and vegetables
• Exercise regularly
• Follow recommendations on alcohol use.

6. Do supplements help your liver?

Milk thistle is an herb that contains a compound silybin, which can help the liver function better and aid in the treatment of liver disease. But there’s not enough evidence that liver detoxifiers extracted from milk thistle make your liver healthier.

Some studies say compounds from milk thistle have helped ease symptoms of certain types of liver disease. But there is no research showing that they are capable of self-treating.

Turmeric can help strengthen your body and protect you from liver damage. But there isn’t enough research to recommend regular use of turmeric to prevent liver disease.

Dandelion has also been considered a natural remedy for various conditions, but more research is needed.

In general, liver detoxifying supplements and functional foods are not guaranteed by health authorities to be as effective and safe as drugs. If you think you have liver problems or liver complications from an existing medical condition, talk to a specialist for appropriate guidance.

Source: Vinmec