Fact Check: Can a spice concoction with sugar treat fatty liver? Here’s the truth
The claims in the video needs more scientific research, since the cure for fatty liver requires medical support and lifestyle changes
By Neelambaran A Published on 28 Nov 2024 12:20 PM GMT
Claim: An Instagram video says the fatty liver condition can be cured within 15 days by consuming a drink prepared with ginger, cinnamon sticks, sugar, black pepper, turmeric powder and lemon juice on an empty stomach.
Fact: The claim is misleading. Though the ingredients have some medicinal benefits, the mixture alone cannot cure fatty liver.
An Instagram video claiming to share a 15-day cure for fatty liver condition has gone viral. The video is a recipe for a concoction prepared by grinding ginger, cinnamon sticks, sugar and black pepper, mixing the powder with hot water and adding turmeric powder while squeezing in a lemon.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found the claim was misleading. Though the ingredients in the recipe have some medicinal benefits, the mixture alone cannot cure fatty liver.
“Ginger and turmeric have anti-inflammatory properties which can help keep the inflammation in check and help detoxify the liver. However, all these home remedies at best are just supplements to medical treatments. More study and research are needed to prove their efficacy,” said Dr Tejaswini Tumma, a consultant gastroenterologist and therapeutic endoscopist at Kamineni Hospitals, LB Nagar.
The recipe also suggests adding sugar to the juice which could be detrimental, say doctors. When sugar is regularly consumed in high quantities, the liver stores the sugar as glycogen which is a type of fat.
“Adding sugar daily to the drink is not going to help treat fatty liver. The individual has to reduce insulin resistance first. Taking sugar every day is not going to help it,” Dr Tejaswini added.
Further, fatty liver is classified as alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD). Black pepper mentioned in the viral recipe has an active component called piperine which can lower lipid peroxidation and improve liver function enzymes, glucose control and lipid profile.
However, as per the available studies, black pepper can only help in helping treat NAFLDs and not alcoholic fatty liver disease.
