A message posted on a Facebook page in Nigeria claims that a mixture of garlic, ginger and olive oil will purge the liver of toxins and fat.
But does this really work? We checked.
Liver detoxifies the body
The liver is an important organ in the body that helps remove waste products. It also stores nutrients, and filters and processes the chemicals from food, alcohol and medicines.
Jacob Awobusuyi, a professor of medicine at Nigeria’s Lagos State University, told Africa Check there was no scientific evidence for the claim.
“There is no such thing as purging the liver,” he said. “The liver is the natural body detoxifier.”
Aihanuwa Eregie, a professor of medicine and endocrinology at the University of Benin in southwestern Nigeria, added: “The liver breaks down toxins, such as alcohol and medication, and some of the other things we consume in excess.”
Eregie said people should not take any remedies claimed to detoxify the liver, as they could be harmful. Instead, she said, one way to protect this important organ was to live a healthy lifestyle.
Liver detoxification is considered a myth because there is no evidence to support it.
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