Liver Supplements for Alcoholics

by Vorst Canada March 09, 2022

liver supplements for alcoholics

DISCLAIMER: This article has been written for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment

While the liver is the primary organ of the body’s whole detoxification and filtration system, it can also detox itself when necessary. A variety of liver conditions have been found to be associated with alcohol use. For this reason, alcoholics require some medications or supplements to detoxify and rejuvenate their liver on a regular basis. There’re some supplements that work wonders.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best liver supplements for alcoholics and the research behind them. So, let’s get started.

What are liver supplements?
Why alcoholics need liver supplements
How liver supplements work
Some of the best liver supplements for alcoholics
Milk thistle
Artichoke
Curcumin
lycopene
Precautions and side effects
Final words

What are liver supplements?

Liver supplements refer to a group of dietary supplements that help get the liver in optimal shape and support the liver to perform its all vital bodily functions such as cleaning the blood, producing hormones, synthesizing proteins, and aiding digestion.

The ingredients liver supplements contain help the liver to detox and rejuvenate itself by repairing damaged cells and protecting the liver from oxidative damages caused by free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules that cause chain chemical reactions called oxidation and lead to many harmful and damaging conditions.

Why alcoholics need liver supplements

Observation suggests, many alcoholics, particularly heavy drinkers, replace their essential dietary nutrients due to consumption of alcohol. Besides, excess alcohol consumption interferes with the ability of absorbing essential nutrients they consume.

Therefore, alcohol consumption often results in malnutrition. Studies suggest, malnutrition, regardless of its reasons, can cause impared liver function and lead to liver damage.

Alcohol consumption and alcohol metabolism produce several harmful effects on the liver and cause various liver conditions called Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD).

ALD develops in various sequential stages, they may include:

First stage - fat accumulation in the liver - fatty liver.
Second stage - fatty liver associated with inflammation - alcoholic hepatitis or steatohepatitis.
Third stage - more severe, liver cells begin to die and scar tissue may occur - fibrosis.
Fourth stage - excessive scar tissue occurred that literally ruins the liver structure - cirrhosis of liver (the most severe liver disease).

A large number of alcoholic liver diseases can be prevented and managed by limiting alcohol use and using liver supplements. However, these preventive measures must be started as early as possible.

How liver supplements work

Liver supplements may help detoxify and regenerate the liver in several ways. But choose liver supplements wisely, use only natural and safe dietary liver supplements under proper medical supervision and don’t believe in overwhelming advertisements.

Liver supplements may help in:

Detoxifying the liver
Promoting liver health and its functions
Stimulating regeneration of liver cells
Protecting liver cells from oxidative damages
Improving blood flow towards and from the liver

Some of the best liver supplements for alcoholics

Though there’re numerous products that claim to support the liver in people who regularly consume alcohol. Most claims don’t have any evidence and may lead to more severe damages to the liver.

Hence, choose liver supplements that are safe and proven and always buy from trusted and reliable manufacturers only.

Here’re some of the best liver supplements for alcoholics:

Milk thistle

Milk thistle, also called silymarin, is a flowering medicinal herb that grows in Mediterranean countries and is considered one of most effective liver supplements in the world.

The extract of this herb contains silibinin which is the active compound in the milk thistle supplements. Silibinin has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation by neutralizing free radicals.

Therefore, milk thistle has the ability to block alcoholic substances from affecting the liver and accelerate the repairing process of liver damage.

A 2010 review published in the Phytotherapy Research showed that silymarin is effective in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease, toxin-induced liver disease, and viral hepatitis.

Here you can check out our natural Milk Thistle 150 mg Capsules.

Artichoke

Artichoke is an edible herb cultivated as a food. The buds of flowers are used for cooking as well as in natural medicine.

The extract derived from the leaves and roots of artichoke showed strong antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and lipid lowering actions. It can help protect the liver from various alcoholic conditions and may help regenerate new liver cells.

A 2015 review published in the Plant Foods for Human Nutrition concluded that artichoke leaf extract demonstrated a capability to protect the liver and possibly help in the regeneration of liver cells.

Curcumin

Curcumin is one of the most used herbal supplements in the world. Curumin is endowed with diverse therapeutic properties that can help protect and support the liver.

Studies show curcumin exerts noticeable therapeutic and protective effects on various liver diseases caused by oxidative stress through different cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Here you can check out our natural and pure Curcumin Extract 600 mg Capsules.

Lycopene

Lycopene is a natural bright red compound found in tomatoes and a range of other red vegetables and fruits. It shows remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions that can act as a potent therapeutic agent in the treatment and prevention of alcoholic liver disease.

A 2018 review published in the Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine found that tomato lycopene is effective in the prevention of alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver cancer. But lycopene supplementation should be used with caution according to this study.

Here you can check out our natural Lycopene with Zinc and Selenium 30 mg Capsules.

Precautions and side effects

Though liver supplements have huge benefits when it comes to protecting and supporting the liver, some people may experience side effects or allergies depending on their specific health conditions and sensitivity.

Therefore, always seek the direct supervision of a licensed natural medicine practitioner prior to using liver supplements especially if you're alcoholic.

Final words

Liver supplements are highly beneficial for supporting the overall functionality of the liver and preventing various liver diseases associated with consumption of alcohol. Some examples of liver supplements that may benefit alcoholics include milk thistle, artichoke, curcumin, and lycopene.

Liver supplements may also produce some side effects depending on the specific conditions. Always seek the direct supervision of a qualified naturopath before using any liver supplements.

Here you can check out our special liver supportive formulation Liver Care Vegan Capsules that contain almost all liver supportive ingredients including milk thistle, artichoke, and more.

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