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Going Day Drinking? Support Your Liver Before & After — Here's How

Author:

Hannah Frye

May 10, 2023

Assistant Beauty & Health Editor

By Hannah Frye

Assistant Beauty & Health Editor

Hannah Frye is the Assistant Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including health, wellness, sustainability, personal development, and more.

Image by Alba Vitta / Stocksy

May 10, 2023

There's a reason "Dry January" takes place in the middle of winter. After all, who wants to skip an ice-cold margarita in the summertime when the sun sets late and the social scene is at its peak?

For those who partake in summer day drinking, just know this: Your body will need to be detoxing regularly to keep up with those warm-weather festivities. Thankfully there are a few easy ways to keep your body detoxing so you can sip freely all summer long:

Build colorful plates at each meal

If you plan on drinking alcohol, make sure to support your liver with healthy foods. In simple terms, this means focusing on whole foods with a rainbow of colors. Pick fruits and vegetables you enjoy (so you actually eat them), and always include protein at every meal.

Try adding these liver-supporting foods to your plate:

Almonds
Berries
Beets
Citrus fruits
Green tea
Leafy greens
Lentils
Salmon

Take a liver supplement

The term "detox" gets a bad rap. To be clear, we're not talking about laxatives or supplements that "cleanse" your body. By "detox supplement," we mean a well-rounded blend of ingredients that promote natural detoxification and support overall liver health.

Look for plant bioactives with scientific backing for their ability to support liver health. Such ingredients can protect liver cells, assist in the filtering and removal of unwanted toxins and stimulating bile production.

The following ingredients are all generally safe, but you should still talk to a health care professional before taking one or more to ensure they don't interfere with your health regimen (e.g., medications).

Ingredients that support natural detoxification:

Milk thistle
Turmeric
Glutathione
N-acetyl-L-cysteine (aka NAC)
Vitamin C
Selenium

Not sure where to find a trusty liver supplement? Here are a few of our top picks, from a nutrition Ph.D.

Prioritize daily sweat sessions

If you're consuming alcohol regularly, do your best to schedule a daily sweat session. This will help your body remove toxins through the skin, be it with exercise or some time in the sauna.

Exercise promotes glutathione production, which boosts detoxification even more—so try to move your body every day. Movement can be as simple as a light walk or slow yoga flow. If your daily exercise doesn't make you sweat, find another way to do so for the sake of detoxification (e.g., a sauna blanket or steam room).

The takeaway

You don't have to give up the occasional cocktail to have a healthy lifestyle. Just be sure to balance alcoholic drinks with consistent healthy choices regarding movement and diet—and always drink in moderation. Want more ways to detox your liver? Check out this full article.