Beets, Milk Thistle and Green Tea...can their daily intake help to repair liver damage?

[idyllic420]

Hello all, I was diagnosed with alcoholic liver damage recently. I wonder what foods if eaten daily can do wonders for liver damage and repair the liver if possible. My ALT and AST were sky high in October but then came down to normal range in December after quitting alcohol! I've been clean for 5 months now and will be going for blood work in May now. I don;t have any other symptom except for occasional red cheeks !

[Hidden]

Hi. Please donot take ANY suppliments which claim to "cleanse " your liver unless specifically prescribed by your doctor. They are likely to cause more damage to your liver and bankrupt you! All your liver needs is no more alcohol, a healthy diet and regular daily exercise, 8 glasses of water a day and time to rest and heal.Take care.

Laura

[idyllic420 in reply to Hidden]

Not taking any cleansing products. Just organic milk thistle tea...and some other detox teas!

[AyrshireK in reply to idyllic420]

These so called 'detox' remedies are not proven to be of any benefit at all. They are not properly tested and any so called evidence is purely anecdotal. We have many members who have been strongly advised against taking milk thistle in particular by their hepatologists - as it can cause issues with liver function tests and could potentially do more harm than good. Green tea extract has been implicated in issues with liver disease too. So as Laura and BLT admin have pointed out you shouldn't take anything like this without running it past your medical team as they can do more damage.

[idyllic420 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you. Not taking Green Tea extract. Just drinking organic green tea(Decaffeinated) after lunch and dinner!

[Ranibela in reply to AyrshireK]

I dispute that, milk thistle has substantial clinical findings that confirm its benefits particularly for cardiac and drug related cirrhosis. Obviously it needs to be administered by someone who has some fluence in medicinal chemistry. And not all doctors understand nor are comfortable with pharmacological dynamics therefore preclude the use of herbs/supplements. But consulting with a good doctor first is a start.

[AyrshireK in reply to Ranibela]

Therein lies the rub so to speak, most folks here who think milk thistle is some miracle drug are buying it off the shelf or online where quantities, quality and dosing are not so accurately measured etc. as you describe. Most people on here who have discussed it with their conventional doctors have said no to it's use and the BLT who host this forum go with the advice of only taking such things if first checked out with medical team.

[Peter_Plymouth in reply to Ranibela]

I just wanted to add my support to that. I was advised by my liver consultant some 25 years ago during the early phases of liver fibrosis that Milk Thistle may help but it is not a cure. I can only speak personally but I believe that this advice along with a healthy lifestyle delayed my need for a transplant till 2020.

There are some limited trials which show positive data regarding Milk Thistle but the studies are not big enough to for a definitive answer yet.

However, there are two caveats - one, make sure your hepatology team is informed of anything you take and two, you need to make sure your Milk Thistle is tested and approved the same way conventional drugs are.

In the case of Milk Thistle you need to purchase a brand that has been tested and certified by the Traditional Herb Registration - you will see a THR logo on the pack. This logo guarantees the quality and quantity of the herb is as specified on the label and that it is pure.

The UK government has a list of registrations here gov.uk/government/publicati...

Any Milk Thistle without this logo is of uncertain composition and should not be taken!

Anyway this is my experience for what it’s worth - I guess the key component is to always be in dialogue with your hepatology team and ensure they know if you are taking anything outside of what is prescribed. However, I for one would recommend at least investigating whether Milk Thistle would be useful in prolonging the life of your liver.

[Hidden in reply to idyllic420]

Same thing.... don't!

[Spoons20 in reply to Hidden]

Hi I drink peppermint and camomile tea, probably a cup of each a day is this something that should be avoided?

[Hidden in reply to Spoons20]

" seemingly herbal teas and supplements carry the risk of drug induced liver injury......."

[MLB_77 in reply to Hidden]

This is the first I’ve heard that green tea is not good for you. (Also other teas, but particularly green). Heard exact opposite!

[Hidden in reply to MLB_77]

In some people green tea extract can cause stomach upsets and constipation. It has been known to have caused liver and kidney problems.So l would say if you already have liver problems, avoid it. If you don't, then drink in moderation ?

[Hidden]

Welcome to the forum and well done indeed for quitting alcohol. Laura is absolutely correct in saying you should avoid supplements unless directed by your medical team.

Many products are not classified as a medicine and therefore are not licensed, which means you cannot be sure how much of the active ingredient you are getting or how pure it is. Traditional herbal medicines do not have to undergo the stringent regulatory processes that medical drugs have to; therefore manufacturers do not have to prove effectiveness in well-designed large trials.

It is wise to be cautious about the claims made for herbal remedies, particularly those advertised on the internet, as they can offer false hope.

There is good clinical evidence though that coffee can be helpful ! coffeeandhealth.org/wp-cont...

Keep up the good work with your lifestyle change.

regards

[idyllic420 in reply to Hidden]

I love coffee but I'm drinking lot more instant coffee at home these days. Is coffee from Keurig machine good ? Does it add any unnecessary toxins?

[Millie09 in reply to idyllic420]

Good coffee in moderation is good for the liver.

[DB50 in reply to Hidden]

Hi T5,I see the following message if I try to follow the link: "Sorry, but the page you are looking for cannot be found." Could you re-direct please?

Many thanks,

Richard

[AyrshireK in reply to DB50]

Loads of pages on the BLT website about the studies into coffee and the liver. britishlivertrust.org.uk/?s...

[Millie09]

Hi , I too have alcohol liver cirrhosis, ..please do not take any herbal remedies and indeed no milk thistle , my liver doctor pulled a face when I mentioned Mike thistle with a big shake of the head and a NO NO .

I was diagnosed with end stage alcohol cirrhosis in 2008 , I had ascites, tachycardia, yellow skin , bleeding, etc.. deaths door or near to it if I had not stopped drinking.

Just listen to the advice of your liver team , eat a good healthy diet, no alcohol is the absolute must , low salt and exercise .

[Hillbil in reply to Millie09]

Is it not good to take milk thistle if you have fatty liver

[AyrshireK in reply to Hillbil]

As has been said any so called benefits of these herbal remedies is anecdotal, they don't undergo any testing and many members of the forum have been told absolutely NOT to take milk thistle - this by their hepatologists.

[Hillbil in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you for letting me know

[AyrshireK in reply to Hillbil]

If you are trying to help a liver which has fatty liver the BLT recently published a study about the benefits of a Meditteranean diet. britishlivertrust.org.uk/ea...

[Peter_Plymouth in reply to AyrshireK]

Milk Thistle is one of the exceptions to this rule in that if your purchase THR certified Milk Thistle then it has a guaranteed purity and dose.

In the case of Milk Thistle you need to purchase a brand that has been tested and certified by the Traditional Herb Registration - you will see a THR logo on the pack. This logo guarantees the quality and quantity of the herb is as specified on the label and that it is pure.

The UK government has a list of registrations here

gov.uk/government/publicati...

However, I’m the first to agree that you must discuss with your hepatology team. I can only speak personally but it was my hepatology consultant that first suggested that Milk Thistle may help delay the inevitable degradation of my liver and I only required a transplant in 2020 some 25 years after my first diagnosis with liver fibrosis. As they say your mileage may vary! Peter

[Flowergirl24]

Pre and post transplant, I always start the day with a glass of cooled warm water. Then a cup of coffee. 😀

[Patientz]

Water is the best, herbal supplements are not proven to help promote liver health instead the opposite for many. Keep an eye on the vitamin content of some supplements for example fish oil, too much vitamin A can actually cause liver disease. Coffee has been proven to help thankfully I love coffee!! Most importantly don’t drink any alcohol and you should see improvement over time. It can take a while it’s a slow process to heal depending on the cause of your liver disease.