Learn more: Cirrhosis and hepatitis C ». Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

VIEW ALL HISTORY. Liver cleanse drinks are touted to improve liver health, remove waste and toxins, and boost your energy. This article explores whether they work. Type 2 diabetes raises the risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and other liver conditions. Take a moment to learn more about the link….

Milk thistle is an herbal remedy with many potential uses. Here are 7 benefits of milk thistle that are backed by science. Hepatic encephalopathy is a decline in brain function that occurs as a result of liver disease. In this condition, your liver cannot adequately remove….

Prednisone can increase your risk of NAFLD. If you already have or are at high risk of NAFLD, you might need to take alternative medications. The gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase test measures the amount of an important liver enzyme in your blood.

Read on to learn more about the test and what…. Learn how jaundice appears in people with darker skin tones and what symptoms to look out for. Bile duct cysts are areas of dilation within the biliary system that connects the liver, gallbladder, and small intestine. VBDS is a rare but serious medical condition that affects bile ducts in your liver.

It's usually caused by certain medical conditions, medications…. Rock musician David Crosby died this month at age In Crosby underwent a liver transplant, and experts say the long-term success of his….

A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Liver Cleanse: Separating Fact from Fiction. Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — By Jedha Dening — Updated on June 6, Are liver cleanses necessary?

Do they aid in weight loss? Do they protect against liver disease? Can they correct liver damage? Myth 1: Liver cleanses are necessary. Myth 2: Liver cleanses aid in weight loss. Myth 3: Liver cleanses protect against liver disease.

Myth 4: Liver cleanses can correct any existing liver damage. The bottom line. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

We avoid using tertiary references. If you eat more than you use, your weight will increase. If you eat fewer calories than your body uses you will lose weight. There are two ways to shift the balance of calories and lose weight.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet. And be more physically active. Losing weight can seem hard. Take it one step at a time and keep going. People often find it is easier to make small changes one at a time. Give yourself time to get used to your change and then make another one.

If you have cirrhosis you may be advised to consume more energy calories and protein than a healthy person of the same weight and age.

Some people find eating a well-balanced diet difficult, especially if they have been seriously ill. Two common reasons for this are:. There is a great deal of information available on diet on the internet with many people offering dietary advice.

If you have liver disease, it is important to seek advice from your doctor and ask to be referred to a dietitian before taking any complementary medicines or dietary supplements.

It is the first time that the entire body of current research and evidence has been reviewed and compiled into a single report. If your liver disease is not alcohol-related, and you are concerned about whether you can drink alcohol, discuss it with your doctor.

If your doctor says you can drink alcohol, stick to government guidelines and drink no more than 14 units a week, with consecutive alcohol-free days each week. However, the lower your alcohol intake the better. Remember that alcohol is a significant source of calories. Alcohol can worsen the liver damage caused by chronic viral hepatitis, obesity-related liver disease and haemochromatosis.

It can also increase the risk of bone disease and may interfere with a number of commonly prescribed medications. Fad diets are usually weight loss diets that promise you can lose weight quickly.

These diets usually involve crash dieting; calorie intakes may be drastically reduced or certain food groups such as carbohydrates removed almost entirely.

These diets tend to provide a short-term fix but are difficult and potentially dangerous to maintain in the longer term. They are generally not recommended for people with liver disease. However, you cannot physically detox your liver. There is no evidence that toxins build up in the liver and some of these diets can be dangerous for people with liver disease.

Dietary supplements are not an alternative to eating a well-balanced diet. Your body needs a wide range of vitamins and minerals to be able to function correctly, and the best way to ensure an adequate supply of these is to eat a variety of foods.

You should always consult your doctor or dietitian before considering taking supplements. If you are prescribed supplements, you should always take them. A great deal of information is available online and in the media about complementary and alternative treatments for liver disease.

It is important to seek advice from your doctor before considering use of these products. Many are based on herbal preparations which may themselves cause liver damage in susceptible people, so at present healthcare professionals do not believe that they have a place in the management of people with liver disease.

More research is needed on the use of such therapies. As the majority of these products are not classified as medicines they are not licensed.

This means that their production is not controlled and there is no requirement for them to undergo rigorous testing for quality or effectiveness. But more studies are needed to determine whether this effect can be replicated in humans.

Making these berries a regular part of your diet is a good way to help make sure your liver is supplied with the antioxidants it needs to stay healthy.

Grapes , especially red and purple grapes, contain various beneficial plant compounds that may benefit liver health. More studies are needed before taking grapeseed extract to promote liver health can be recommended.

Prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica is a popular type of edible cactus. People commonly consume the fruit and its juice. It has long been used in traditional medicine as a treatment for the following conditions:.

A study found that the extract of this plant might help manage symptoms of a hangover. Prickly pear might also protect the liver from alcohol toxicity, with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

More human studies are needed, especially using prickly pear fruit and juice rather than extract. But studies so far have demonstrated that prickly pear positively affects the liver.

Beetroot juice is a source of nitrates and antioxidants called betalains. Animal studies have shown that beet juice may help reduce oxidative damage and inflammation of the liver. However, while animal studies look promising, more studies are needed to confirm the benefits of beetroot juice on human liver health.

Cruciferous vegetables are known for their high fiber content and distinctive taste. Studies suggest that cruciferous vegetables contain certain compounds that alter the detoxification process and protect against harmful compounds. In a study , mice that were fed broccoli developed fewer tumors or fatty liver disease than the mice in the control group.

Though human studies are limited, cruciferous vegetables look promising as a beneficial food for liver health. Nuts are rich in several key nutrients , including:.

These nutrients are responsible for several health benefits. A study found a diet higher in nuts to be associated with a reduced risk of NAFLD. While more high quality studies are needed, preliminary data points to nuts being an important food group for liver health.

Fatty fish contain omega-3 fatty acids , which are healthy fats that help reduce inflammation and have been associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

A analysis found that omega-3 fatty acids helped lower liver fat and triglycerides in those with NAFLD or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. While consuming omegarich fatty fish appears to be beneficial for your liver, adding more omega-3 fats to your diet is not the only thing to consider.

The ratio of omega-3 fats to omega-6 fats is also important. Most people exceed the intake recommendations for omega-6 fats , which are found in many plant oils and butter. So, in addition to adding more heart-healthy omega-3 fats to your diet, it may also be a good idea to reduce your intake of omega-6 fats that promote inflammation.

Olive oil is considered a healthy fat because of its many health benefits, including positive effects on the heart and metabolic health. It also positively affects the liver. According to a study from , following a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil could be associated with a reduced risk of fatty liver in older adults.

Several other studies have found similar effects of olive oil consumption in humans, including less fat accumulation in the liver and improved blood levels of liver enzymes. Fat accumulation in the liver is part of the first stage of liver disease.

Including more nutrient-dense foods in your diet is a simple but effective way to improve the health of your liver.

This is because many foods contain compounds like antioxidants , which can support liver health by reducing inflammation, easing oxidative stress, and preventing cell damage.

Some foods are also high in fiber , which can help promote weight management and ensure that your liver is functioning properly. Additionally, other foods may contain nutrients like protein or healthier fats, which could be beneficial for the treatment or prevention of other conditions associated with liver disease , such as diabetes.

In addition to making changes to your diet, you can take several other to keep your liver healthy. A few examples include :. Many foods contain specific compounds or antioxidants that have been shown to support liver function.

A few examples include grapefruit, blueberries, cranberries, fatty fish, olive oil, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts. Consuming certain foods in excess is associated with an increased risk for NAFLD.

You should try to limit your intake of the following foods to help keep your liver healthy:. In particular, some studies in humans and animals suggest that green tea , coffee , and beetroot juice may help promote liver function. The 11 foods listed above have demonstrated beneficial effects on the liver.

These benefits include the following:. Incorporating these foods into your diet is a natural and healthy way to help keep your liver functioning at its best. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.