The internet is abuzz with health trends, and liver detox concoctions are shared far and wide. Many people search for quick fixes, believing they will help flush out those stubborn toxins. Taking care of your liver is good; however, the experts warn that sometimes, certain detoxes can do more harm than good.
As a regular coffee drinker, Phiwokazi Bam from Theunissen in the Free State often experiences discomfort, and she resorts to a homemade detox to clear it up.
“I boil lemon slices, add finely chopped garlic and turmeric, then let it cool and drink this once a month,” she says.
“I learned about this remedy on social media, and it works for me.”
Phiwokazi Bam
Despite knowing the negative effects it has on her body, Bam admits that coffee with sugar has become a habit she struggles to quit.
Herbal remedies and safety
Dr Linah Moeketsi, an Ayurvedic and African traditional medicine practitioner based in Midrand, Johannesburg, says before recommending herbs, she considers several factors, including the person’s health status, their age, and whether they’ve seen a doctor to identify any underlying issues affecting the liver.
She notes that detoxing can be prompted by various factors, such as medication, alcohol consumption, jaundice, sudden eye issues, or other uncertain health conditions.
However, Moeketsi emphasises, “I don’t just prescribe without understanding the person’s health first.”
She commonly recommends dandelion, as it is a safe herb, though she cautions that the dosage is important because dandelion is a diuretic.
“I don’t recommend it after 2pm because it can cause frequent urination,” she says. “It’s important to drink plenty of water to replace what’s lost.”
Moeketsi advises taking dandelion on an empty stomach, just before lunch. She tailors her instructions and dosages according to the client’s medical history.
For those using fresh dandelion, she suggests boiling it. If using the tincture form, she recommends 10 drops with water, along with clear directions for use.
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Is detoxification necessary?
Dr Dineo Sefoloko of the #Keready mobile clinics, based in KwaZulu-Natal, says the liver, together with the kidneys, lungs, skin, and digestive system, is one of the organs through which the body gets rid of toxins and waste material.
Therefore, she says, the body does not need additional detoxification methods to aid in this process.
She notes that it is always best to optimise the way in which the body detoxes itself by ensuring we drink enough water, maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat nutritious food, and keep alcohol and other substances to a minimum.
“Most claimed liver detoxes have no clinical data or research to support them.”
She explains that cleanses are slightly different from detoxes. Cleanses tend to focus on clearing the digestive system, while detoxes involve the liver and may also involve other organs.
Benefits of a nutrient-rich diet
Sefoloko explains that some supplements and liver cleanses or detoxes may do more harm than good, causing liver injury. Some liver cleanses or detoxes can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or allergic reactions in some people.
She says, on the other hand, chronic alcohol abuse causes destruction of liver cells, which results in scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), alcoholic hepatitis, and cellular mutation that may lead to liver cancer.
“Alcohol, when consumed excessively can cause damage to the liver, potentially leading to three types of liver impairment namely fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, and in the case of chronic liver impairment, cirrhosis.”
Dr Dineo Sefoloko
She notes that it’s vital to include certain foods, like leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and brussels sprouts, for liver health. “These foods form part of a healthy diet and benefit the liver in remarkable ways.
“Cruciferous vegetables contain sulphur-containing compounds which assist in the natural detoxification role of the liver.”
Sefoloko says these foods also contain many antioxidants, which assist in detoxing the body and protecting against harmful compounds.
She further says leafy greens contain much of a substance called chlorophyll, which aids in cleansing and detoxifying the blood.
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