Is a Detox Drink Really Necessary For My Liver?

Among the hundreds of jobs the liver has, one of the most important is its ability to clean toxins out of the blood. From special teas to juice cleanses to homemade concoctions, there are a lot of claims about what can help the detox process, but does the liver need the help?

While there are certain beverages and foods that can support good liver function, products claiming to detox or cleanse the liver are likely not necessary for someone in otherwise good health liver-wise. In fact, some detox drinks can make you sick. In one type of detox tea, for example, six of its 18 ingredients were associated with liver injury in animal studies.

To help your liver work as smoothly as possible, try increasing these liver-healthy beverages:

• Water. You may have heard lemon water recommended to help your liver, and while there hasn’t been a study showing its benefits, if it helps you drink more water, then that’s a good thing.

• Green tea. Various studies have found it can improve liver enzymes. Be careful, though, as green tea extract has been linked to liver damage in people with certain genetic variations.

• Juices with fruits and veggies high in antioxidants. Make sure the juice isn’t high in sugar and/or calories.

On the flip side, avoiding alcohol, excess sugar and excess calories are great steps to improve your liver’s function. A healthy diet of high-fiber, antioxidant-rich foods is also key. Especially if you have an existing liver problem, first discuss with your doctor before adding any new type of supplement or “cleansing” product to your diet.