Fact Check: Can taking green chillies after drinking alcohol keep your liver safe?

The video also claims that liver damage is decreasing in people who eat green chili after drinking alcohol.

Fact Check:

Newsmeter found the claims to be misleading.

Dr Arshiya Mubin, gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Gemcare Kamineni Hospital, Kurnool said, “No human trials have been conducted so far. A couple of research have been done only on mice which cannot be considered a process to reduce or cure liver damage due to consumption of alcohol”.

When liquor is metabolized, it produces a compound called acetaldehyde, which is harmful to the human body, particularly the liver.

“This process leads to the production of many reactive oxygen species which require antioxidants to get metabolized. If the liver has sufficient anti-oxidant called glutathione, the reactive species will be removed,” Dr Arshiya said.

However, the quantity of glutathione is not always sufficient to remove the reactive species, that too when alcohol is consumed in larger quantities.

“The green chili has a compound called capsaicin which can provide antioxidants to the human body and remove reactive oxidant species.” Dr Arshiya added.

However, the recent studies are only theoretical and have been tested only on mice.

“Questions remain on the effectiveness of the compound in humans. We do not have any proof about the effectiveness of the compound in people who are already affected by liver cirrhosis,” Dr Arshiya said referring to the claims on research proofs cited in the video.

Experts recommend an active lifestyle to generate antioxidants rather than depending on supplements.

“No medicine can bring a cure if alcohol consumption is high and people are following a sedentary lifestyle," Dr. Arshiya said.