What About Liver Cleanses? Are These a Legitimate Way to Lose Weight?
Some detox programs, like this one, focus on incorporating ingredients like the ones mentioned above to boost liver and gallbladder function and improve the removal of toxic substances. While there is no hard scientific data to back up those claims, there’s plenty of research on certain foods that may promote liver health, and you can add those to a healthy diet without risk.
“A quality, plant-based diet will always help promote your body’s natural detox system,” says Ashley Koff, RD, who is based in West Linn, Oregon, and is the founder of the Better Nutrition Program. Some of Koff’s detoxifying favorites include the following:
Your body also needs certain nutrients from foods to eliminate toxic chemicals, Koff says, including those found in broccoli, sesame seeds, seaweed, shallots, leeks, garlic, and radishes.
“There are some foods that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties that might help to enhance your body’s detoxification organs,” aka your liver and kidneys, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, who is based in New York City and is the author of Read It Before You Eat It: Taking You from Label to Table.
Some of these foods include turmeric, parsley, fish, and garlic, Taub-Dix says. But while the jury’s still out on exactly how much of them we need to eat to reap those benefits, she stresses that the key is consuming a variety of these foods on a daily basis, not just seeking out detox foods after an indulgent holiday party. “If eating these foods makes you feel ’cleansed,’ then they may be providing a benefit in helping you to make other good choices, too,” she says.
But one thing to keep in mind: These foods don’t have to be consumed in traditional “cleanse” style to have their intended effect. Anyone can add them to their current diet. Again, don’t expect a cure-all.
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