While there are many liver support supplements on the market right now, there are few that truly improve liver function or boost liver health in any way. It can be challenging to find a supplement that meets all of your health needs or even understand what different supplements do to support your liver.
That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive list of what to look for or avoid when looking for liver supplements that meet your health needs!
Keep reading to find out:
- How different ingredients work improve liver function
- What ingredients to look for in liver support supplements
- What to avoid when looking for liver support supplements
So, what do liver support supplements do?
Liver support supplements help to improve liver function when added into a healthy diet and can be a great first step towards living a healthier lifestyle. There are many different kinds of liver support supplements on the market and many help with different aspects of liver function.
The ways in which liver support supplements can improve liver function can include
- Improving production and flow of bile
- Preventing liver cell damage
- Repairing damaged liver cells
- Protecting against free radicals and other toxins
These are just a few of the many ways in which liver support supplements can improve liver function and help you lead a healthier and happier life.
What ingredients should I look for in liver support supplements?
While some liver support supplements contain a multitude of ingredients, there are only a handful of ingredients that have been shown to improve liver function. Here are some of the best ingredients to look for when shopping for liver support supplements:
- Milk thistle
- Artichoke root
- Dandelion root
- Zinc
Milk Thistle
One of the most popular herbal supplements on the market, milk thistle has long been a popular ingredient in most liver support supplements. Containing the highly important antioxidant, silymarin, milk thistle contains many beneficial qualities that help with protecting the liver against further damage and restoring liver cells.
Used all over the world to help with liver diseases caused by drug and alcohol abuse, milk thistle is also highly effective in increasing the body’s production of glutathione–sometimes called the “mother of all antioxidants”--which is contained primarily in the liver.
Artichoke Root
Like the rest of the artichoke plant, the artichoke root is full of all kinds of beneficial nutrients. When it comes to liver health, one of the most beneficial of these nutrients is the compound, cynarin, which helps to increase the liver’s production of bile.
With an increase in bile production, the detoxification process performed by the liver becomes more efficient, allowing for other organs to get rid of toxins faster as well.
Not only is artichoke root great for the liver, but it is extremely beneficial to your overall health and has been shown to help with managing cholesterol levels in people who have a higher risk for coronary heart disease.
Dandelion Root
Dandelion root is another highly nutritious and beneficial ingredient to look for in liver support supplements. Like milk thistle, dandelion root is extremely high in antioxidants and has been shown to help prevent liver damage caused by environmental toxins.
Dandelion root also aids in bile production and decreasing oxidative stress linked to atherosclerosis and the potential formation of cancer.
Zinc
An essential element to cellular metabolism, zinc has been found to play a strong role in the reduction of inflammation in damaged liver. As inflammation is a common symptom of a variety of alcohol-related and non alcohol-related diseases, this means that zinc is an incredibly important ingredient to have in your liver supplements.
While research on zinc products/serums and their impact on the liver and inflammatory diseases, this essential element shows promise for providing safe and effective treatment for preventing further liver damage and inflammatory diseases.
What to be cautious of or avoid when looking for liver support supplements.
When it comes to shopping for liver support systems there are a few things that you want to be cautious about or be aware of to make sure you are getting a product that is helpful and worth the money you are spending on it.
Cheap price, cheap product.
Whether you’re shopping online or searching the isles of your local pharmacy or health foods store, it can be easy to be drawn to the lower prices to look for any potential deals.
However, when it comes to your health it is important to make sure you are getting quality products with quality ingredients and unfortunately that means somewhat higher prices.
Avoid artificial colors or flavors
As with pricing, it can be just as easy to get drawn in by fun colors or flavored supplements that sound appealing. While it is very possible to get supplements with natural flavors and natural colors, it’s important to read the ingredient labels carefully to make sure it’s not just a list of artificial flavors or colors.
These ingredients may add to the appeal of the product but they do nothing to improve liver function and can be less than beneficial for your health. Artificial flavors and colors may be more often found in cheaper products but it’s important to check any ingredients list carefully before making your decision.
Try to buy third-party verified products
Since the FDA does not regulate most dietary supplements in the same way that it does other health products, it’s important to make sure that the product is third-party tested and approved by a third party regulator or in discussion with your healthcare provider. This helps to protect you from fraudulent products or potentially inaccurate medical information.
When looking for a certificate of analysis or verification for a third-party regulator, it is also important to make sure that the lab doing the testing is not in affiliation with the manufacturer.
Liver support supplements can be a great addition to an already healthy diet or a fundamental first step to living a healthier and happier life. No matter where you’re at with your liver health journey, a quality liver support supplement can give you just the boost you need to reach your health goals.
