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Business Standard
25-04-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Liver myths busted: What about detox water, turmeric, alcohol, fruit juice?
Fact check Friday: From turmeric fears to water detox delusions, leading gastroenterologist Dr Gourdas Choudhuri clears the air on widespread liver health myths Barkha Mathur New Delhi When it comes to liver health, the internet is full of conflicting advice. From 'cleanses' that promise a full-body detox to viral tips about fruit juices, it's easy to fall for misinformation. But your liver is a complex, powerful organ, and it deserves better than clickbait cures. This Fact Check Friday, Business Standard spoke to Dr Gourdas Choudhuri, chairman, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Sciences at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, to separate myths from medical facts. During the telephonic conversation, Dr Choudhuri broke down some of the most common misconceptions around liver health. What you think you know may harm you Myth: Drinking detox water flushes out liver toxins Fact: According to Dr Choudhuri, there's no scientific evidence that detox water aids in removing toxins from the body. 'In healthy adults, the liver is more than capable of rendering toxic substances harmless and removing them from the body without the need for special detox beverages,' he said. Myth: Drinking excess water flushes out liver toxins Fact: 'Excess water does not help the liver,' he clarified. 'Liver toxins are flushed via bile, not urine. So, excess hydration has no proven benefit for liver detox.' Myth: Packaged fruit juices are healthy Fact: 'Fruit juices and smoothies are loaded with fructose, which contributes significantly to fatty liver and insulin resistance,' Dr Choudhuri warned. 'Interestingly, during school bans on sodas in the US, obesity rates didn't drop—because fruit juices replaced them.' Myth: Herbal supplements are always safe Fact: 'Nothing is absolutely safe,' warned Dr Choudhuri. 'Many herbs are fine in moderate quantities, but large or unsupervised consumption can lead to liver injury.' He cited examples of popular immune-boosting herbal mixtures taken during Covid-19 that were later linked to liver damage. Drugs like paracetamol and antibiotics such as Augmentin are also known to cause liver enzyme elevations in some individuals. 'Even commonly used medicines can trigger idiosyncratic liver reactions,' he noted. Myth: Only older people get liver disease Myth: Only alcohol causes liver damage Fact: 'A lot of people come to me and say, 'But I don't touch alcohol, how can I have liver cirrhosis?'' Dr Choudhuri shared. 'But today, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has actually outnumbered alcohol-related liver cirrhosis in terms of cases. The culprit? Our lifestyle.' Sedentary habits, overeating, obesity, high cholesterol, and unmanaged diabetes are significant contributors to liver disease. 'You don't need to drink to harm your liver. Excess calorie intake and poor exercise habits are just as dangerous,' he added. Myth: A glass of wine a day is good for your liver Fact: 'This one's tricky,' Dr Choudhuri said with caution. 'There is no scientifically agreed-upon 'safe limit' for alcohol. It is now classified as a carcinogen by global health bodies.' Yet, he acknowledged a cultural nuance: 'In regions where moderate alcohol is part of tradition, people haven't shown clear harm. But that doesn't mean it's beneficial—it just hasn't been conclusively harmful in low, regulated doses.' Myth: Turmeric harms the liver Fact: This myth is as colourful as turmeric itself. 'Because turmeric is yellow, and jaundice is associated with yellow skin, people assume a connection and avoid turmeric during liver illness,' said Dr Choudhuri. 'In reality, turmeric is rich in antioxidants and actually supports liver health.' Myth: All medications should be stopped if the liver is weak Myth: High-protein diets hurt the liver Fact: 'Reasonable protein intake is actually good,' he said. 'Prefer plant-based proteins like dals and soy over animal protein. Red meat, with its fats and aromatic amino acids, is less liver-friendly than plant sources rich in branched-chain amino acids.' Myth: Liver damage cannot be reversed Fact: For acute damage, like hepatitis from contaminated water, the prognosis is often good. 'Recovery is usually complete,' he said. 'But chronic liver damage, like cirrhosis, accumulates over time. Full reversal is rare, though the right care can prevent further decline.' 'Don't panic, but do stay vigilant,' Dr Choudhuri advised. 'The liver is resilient, but not invincible. Small lifestyle tweaks and fact-checked awareness go a long way in protecting it.'
BBC News
07-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peterborough mosques host Iftar to promote community cohesion
A chief constable and a council chief executive joined a city mosque as it hosted a community Iftar - an evening meal that breaks the Ramadan Joint Mosques Council (JMC) held the event on Thursday at the Salahaddin Community Centre in those who attended were Nick Dean, the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire, and Matt Gladstone, Chief Executive of Peterborough City Choudhuri, JMC chairman, said the community was keen to "work together with all the public organisations to help improve inter-faith dialogue and community cohesion". 'Positive light' The holy month of Ramadan sees Muslims fast and refrain from eating or drinking between dawn and Choudhuri said the Muslim community "welcomes the support and solidarity shown by the police and the council" and he said he hoped to build on from the city's schools, university and the NHS were also at the Iftar. Some attendees of different faiths also observed the Ramadan Choudhuri added: "It is also not just about sharing a meal, but to understand and reflect on the significance of Ramadan."The community is still concerned about the safety as a consequence of events that previously have taken place around the country."But tensions have definitely calmed down a lot and we pray that things don't get as bad again."And events like these help to shed a positive light." 'Invaluable experience' Mr Dean said: "It was a wonderful opportunity for us to visit the centre during this special time and indeed to experience fasting even if only for one day."We have a really positive relationship with all the Mosques across the county and events like this give everyone the chance to come together, strengthen our understanding and deepen that relationship further."Mr Gladstone, said "working collaboratively is key".He added: "This experience is invaluable for appreciating and understanding the opportunities and challenges facing our city."Abstinence from food and water during the day does help us to recognise that some people in the world do not have the most basic essentials in life." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
