Liver detox has recently gained a lot of popularity in the health/fitness community. Different liver detox remedies are being promoted online that promise to eliminate toxins, boost energy and aid your overall physical functionality. However, what scientific evidence is there that supports its benefits? In this article we will take a brief dive into how liver cleanse and detox drinks work, and how they may benefit your overall health.
What are Liver Detox Foods?
Liver detox foods and drinks are a combination of teas, herbs and fruits that help in fighting odd oxidative stress in the body. Some of the common ingredients you can find in a liver detox tea are;
- Dandelion root
- Beetroot
- Turmeric
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Beetroot
- Burdock
These ingredients are often found in the form of a tea blend or powder form that can be used with hot water or daily smoothies. There are countless of these beverages found on the market with different varying tastes. You might find most of the tea blends with different fruity tastes and smells. Some of them are manufactured to be consumed daily while the others are marketed to be consumed for a period of few weeks to few months.
So do these fancy wonder foods work?
According to the liver specialists in faisalabad, currently there is no solid scientific study that fully endorses the effectiveness of liver detox drinks. Although these drinks are famously claimed to remove toxins, it is rarely reported as to which exact toxins accumulate and are removed from the body.
In fact, more studies suggest that healthy people do not necessarily have a toxin buildup and the liver is very much capable of getting rid of the harmful toxins on itself without any external food or medicine intervention. However, people with certain medical conditions do have a tendency of declining liver function and that may depend on their age, gender and lifestyle.
Still our body does not fully remove certain toxin buildups and can collect in the form of fat. To help remove the buildup of this unwanted unhealthy fat, it is advised to consume regular teas that are high in antioxidants.
Guess liver detox drinks are not a hoax after all…
Foods, Herbs and Supplements that Benefit Liver
Here are some natural blends that can boost your liver health
Important Note: In order to support your overall body health you must make certain lifestyle changes that will aid in the overall health of your liver.
Best Foods for Liver Health
Coffee- coffee is known for its high antioxidant that will decrease the risk of developing liver complications.
Tea- black and green teas are very famous as detox drinks and rightly so. Green and black tea may improve liver enzymes that help in fighting off the oxidative stress built up in the body.
Berries- berries are naturally packed with lots of antioxidants that protects your liver from a lot of damage as shown in the animal studies.
Beetroot juice- this blood red exile is rich in nitrates and antioxidants that will increase a liver’s natural detoxification process using liver enzymes. Multiple researches have also pointed towards beetroot improving the natural’s detoxification enzyme.
Nuts – Nuts are rich in Vitamin E that is naturally known for its multiple roles in cellular functioning and lowering the risk of any liver disease development.
Fatty fish – Fatty Fish is a rich source of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that play a key role in many organ functions. Fatty fish has been found to drastically reduce liver fat and overall improve liver enzyme function.
Best Herbs for Liver Health
Milk Thistle – milk thistle is very rich in liver regeneration compounds like silybins, silychristin, silydianin that works actively on reducing inflammation and overall improving liver disease.
Turmeric – turmeric is one of the oldest anti-inflammatory herb remedies. It is best known for reducing inflammation in the body and likewise also positively influences liver detox.
Ginger – another powerful anti- inflammation remedy for liver fat and overall the functioning of health. People who have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can naturally benefit from ginger.
Ginseng – an ancient chinese remedy that can help with anti-inflammation against liver damage in people who have nonalcoholic fatty liver.
Licorice Root – studies have also suggested that taking liquor root in the form of supplement can reduce liver damage that occurs from nonalcoholic fatty liver.
All in All, Liver Detox Can Help!
Even though liver detox is not as promising as it is marketed worldwide, it does have some of its effects on overall health. You can either make them on your own at home or get them in prepared beverages that are marketed. It is best to get them prepared at home in the form of DIY recipes, to avoid any preservatives or other harmful toxins, but you cannot fully rely on marketed blends for healthy functioning of your liver.
