When it comes to liver health, a massive ‘detoxification industry’ has mushroomed in the recent decades with pharma and nutraceutical firms flooding the global market with supplements and pills for liver detoxification. However, experts point out that the liver’s prime physiological objective is to remove toxins from our body and It has the ability to do it on its own and as of now there is no medical evidence to conclusively support the sales pitch of most of these supplements.
“Liver detoxification is not even a medical term, and there is no scientific evidence to support these claims” explains Dr Dheeraj Karanth C, consultant, medical gastroenterology, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru.
Experts point out that the tried and tested effective way to keep your liver healthy is to adopt a healthy, active and well-balanced lifestyle and dietary regimen.
Common myths around liver detoxification
Myth 1: Liver detoxification requires special detox diets or products
Fact: Your liver doesn’t require special diets or products to perform its function effectively. The liver acts as the body’s principal filter. It metabolizes dietary nutrients like copper and zinc and neutralizes harmful metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury to prepare for their elimination from the body. “No drink, concoction, or solution can benefit the liver unless it is damaged,” says Dr Karanth. He adds that in cases of liver damage, prescribed appropriate medications could help the liver cells recover, repair, regenerate, and halt any further liver damage or reverse the damage.
Dr Mallikarjun Sakpal, consultant, HPB & transplant physician, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, explains that the liver can be affected by many diseases. One needs to be cautious about their diet and the food they consume. “To keep the liver healthy, water, vegetables and fresh juices should be consumed. Avoid dehydration and a high caloric diet,” he adds.
Consuming a balanced diet, rich in good quality protein has proven to be a consistent liver-health benefiting practice. “Protein restriction in the diet or following fad diets may prove harmful to the liver,” adds Dr Karanth.
Myth 2: Liver detoxification can cure all health issues.
Fact: While a healthy liver is crucial for overall well-being, liver detoxification alone cannot cure all health issues. It is just one aspect of maintaining good health. “The liver must be maintained by a healthy lifestyle and food habits,” says Dr Karanth. He adds that consuming fiber, protein, and exercising is important for overall health.
Dr Sakpal explains that there are certain diseases that affect the whole body, and only then it might help, but liver detoxification does not necessarily cure anything else.
Myth 3: Drinking excessive amounts of water can detoxify the liver
Fact: While staying hydrated is important for overall health, the liver’s detoxification process is not solely dependent on water intake.
Dr Sakpal explains that while keeping yourself hydrated will keep the liver healthy, drinking more than 4-5 liters could lead to electrolyte imbalance and cause other issues. He adds that at least 2.5- 3 liters of water should be consumed per day.
Myth 4: Teetotalers are safe from liver damage by default
Fact: Excess alcohol consumption is extremely harmful for your liver as it could affect the liver’s ability to remove toxins from your blood. However, it is not just alcohol but even excess consumption of refined carbohydrates through junk food and carbonated sugary beverages could lead to excess fat deposition on your liver and damage it. Fatty liver disease itself is classified into two variants : Alcoholic and Non Alcoholic Fatty liver disease.
Myth 5: Liver detoxification can reverse liver damage
Fact: Liver detoxification cannot reverse severe liver damage or conditions like cirrhosis.
“It cannot completely normalize the liver damage, but it will help in stabilizing the liver and not let the damage progress further,” says Dr Sakpal.
Myth 6: Liver detoxification can only be done through fasting
Fact: Dr Karanth explains that fasting does not directly help with liver detoxification. Fasting only helps lower body weight, which can help improve liver health. Having an optimum body weight ensures minimum visceral fat deposition in your abdominal cavity to keep your liver healthy. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption are also important for maintaining a healthy liver. “Fasting helps mobilize fat from the liver, and weight reduction will have an impact on the liver,” says Dr Sakpal.
Myth 7: Liver detoxification requires supplements
Fact: Expensive supplements are not necessary for liver detoxification. There is no research to support the efficacy of these and some of them could even cause harm to the liver (drug induced injury). “We avoid recommending artificial or commercially available supplements or medicines,” says Dr Sakpal. He adds that it could also cause weight gain. Dr Karanth adds that the liver does not require any supplements, but it requires a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
Myth 8: Liver detoxification should be done frequently
Fact: The liver naturally detoxifies the body on an ongoing basis. There is no need for frequent or extreme detoxification measures. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key. “You need to get liver checked regularly, and based on that doctors can go ahead with the treatment if there are any issues,” adds Dr Sakpal.
