Liver cleanses promise to rid the body of toxins and impurities, but they are controversial because there is little scientific data to support their use.
Some products that claim to detoxify the liver can even be dangerous. In this article, we look at how liver cleanses claim to work and what evidence exists to support them.
What is a liver flush?
A liver flush may involve choosing or avoiding specific foods, or going on a juice fast. The liver is the body’s natural detoxifier, as it cleanses the body of toxins and produces bile to support healthy digestion. A healthy liver can detoxify almost anything a person encounters. The liver is located on the right side of the body, just below the rib cage,
When the liver is diseased, the body cannot filter out toxic substances as efficiently. This can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including:
– itches
– yellow and yellowish skin
– swelling
– blood vessel problems
– gallstones
– fatigue
– nausea
– diarrhea
Various natural health practitioners, dietary supplement companies, and medical websites claim that the liver accumulates toxins during the filtering process. They insist that over time these toxins can cause a range of non-specific symptoms and can even cause serious illness or increase the risk of cancer. There is little evidence to support this claim. However, over time, exposure to chemicals can damage the liver. For example, drinking alcohol is a well-known way to ruin liver function over time.
In most cases, a liver detox involves one or more of the following:
– taking supplements designed to flush out toxins from the liver
– adopt a liver-friendly diet
– avoid certain foods
– follow a juice diet
– cleanse the colon and intestine using enemas.
Although liver failure is a serious health condition, there is no evidence that dangerous toxins build up in otherwise healthy livers without specific exposure to large amounts of these chemicals. General practitioners claim that the liver does not need to be detoxified and that it might even be dangerous.
Liver Cleanse: Fact or Fiction?
A liver flush will not cure liver disease, and should not be used as a substitute for normal treatment. A healthy liver cleans itself naturally. An unhealthy liver will not improve with a liver flush. A person with liver disease needs proper medical treatment and may require lifestyle or diet changes. There is some evidence to suggest that supplements, like milk thistle, may improve liver health. However, there is no evidence that these supplements detoxify the liver or that they can cure any liver disease.
Liver flushes also pose some health risks:
– Liver Cleanse Diets May Not Provide Balanced Nutrition: A liver cleanse diet may not contain all the nutrients a person needs. Over time, this can lead to deficiencies or malnutrition, especially in children, pregnant women, and people with diabetes or other health conditions.
– Enemas can be dangerous: Enemas can cause life-threatening damage to the intestines when not administered correctly.
– Liver flushes cannot replace medical treatment: When a person uses a liver flush instead of medical treatment, serious underlying medical conditions may not be treated.
Can liver cleansing help you lose weight?
Some liver cleanses promise to help with weight loss by improving a person’s metabolism. Proponents of this practice believe that ridding the liver of toxins can improve metabolism, but there is no evidence to support this claim. In fact, very low calorie diets can slow down the body’s metabolism. This is because the body adapts to the low intake of nutrients by absorbing them more slowly. Some diets that claim to improve liver health require people to eat low calories for several days. This can cause temporary weight loss. Much of this weight loss, however, is water weight, which will return as soon as the person resumes eating normally.
Liver-friendly foods
Avoiding foods high in fat, such as meat, fish, or dairy, can help people with liver disease. Although it is not possible to cleanse the liver with a specific food or combination of foods, doctors may recommend dietary changes for people with liver disease. For most people, avoiding high fat foods and alcohol can reduce the risk of liver disease.
Doctors can offer dietary recommendations for people with specific liver conditions:
– Bile duct disease: Use fat substitutes and pit oil for cooking, as the body needs less bile to break it down.
– Cirrhosis: Limit salt intake. It may also be necessary to reduce protein intake, but only under the supervision of a doctor.
– Fatty liver disease: Eat fiber-rich foods and avoid high-calorie foods.
– Hemochromatosis: Avoid iron-rich foods and iron supplements. Do not eat raw shellfish.
– Hepatitis C: Avoid iron-rich foods and iron supplements. Reduce salt intake.
– Wilson’s disease: Limit copper-rich foods, such as mushrooms, chocolate and nuts.
People with healthy livers do not need to follow a specific diet. It is enough to follow a balanced, complete and varied diet and to limit the consumption of alcohol to preserve the health of the liver.
Other ways to improve liver health
Here are some simple strategies that can reduce the risk of liver disease and help the liver rid the body of toxins:
– Limit alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for liver disease. People with an alcohol addiction should consider treatment.
– Avoid unnecessary over-the-counter medications: Never exceed the recommended dose. Do not mix alcohol and over-the-counter medications.
– Choose reputable tattoo and piercing parlors: Choose a parlor that sterilizes its equipment. Unsafe body modifications can transmit hepatitis C.
– Get vaccinated: A person should be vaccinated once morest hepatitis A and B, and ensure that they receive the appropriate vaccines before traveling abroad.
– Practicing safe sex: This can reduce the risk of transmitting diseases that affect the liver. You should also get tested regularly for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
– Avoid potentially dangerous chemicals: When painting or using pesticides, wear a mask and make sure the area is well ventilated.
– To drink a lot of water.
– Rinse fruits and vegetables: This ensures that they do not contain pesticides.
Should you try a liver flush?
A healthy liver is essential to maintaining a person’s overall health, but expensive cleanses or diets are not necessary. In some cases, they can even be dangerous.
A healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, and regular doctor visits are far more beneficial to liver health than any fad diet or cleanse. Liver cleanses offer no proven benefit. To protect liver health, people can adopt a more comprehensive and long-term health strategy.
