Six drinks that can help prevent devastating liver disease… including the ones that may REVERSE damage

As liver disease surges in the US, certain dietary factors have become increasingly clear.

More than 100 million Americans have some form of liver disease, most commonly in the form of fatty liver disease or permanent scarring called cirrhosis. 

It’s long been shown that alcohol contributes to liver disease, as it breaks down into toxic byproducts that trigger dangerous fat buildup, leading to inflammation and scarring. 

Sugary sodas, teas and energy drinks also contribute to weight gain and fat accumulation in the liver.  

But science is increasingly shedding light on beverages that may help lower the risk of liver disease, and it’s not just water. 

Coffee, when not loaded up with sweeteners and syrups, is packed with plant compounds shown to reduce inflammation and slow rates of scarring. 

Juices made from beetroot and grapefruit are high in antioxidants that help the liver filter out excess toxins and protect cells against damage.

Even dressing up water by infusing it with lemon, lime and cucumber boosts intake of nutrients like vitamin C, which can lower harmful enzymes in people with fatty liver disease.

Below, dietitians have revealed the healthiest drinks for your liver.  

Coffee

It’s easy to load up on sugar and artificial flavors when ordering a coffee, but science shows taking it plain or with just a splash of milk may protect your liver. 

In one 2026 study, researchers measured coffee consumption in more than 350,000 adults without a liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma and without cirrhosis. 

The team found that over a 13-year follow-up period, people who consumed more than five cups of coffee per day had a 32 percent lower risk of cirrhosis and 47 percent decreased chance of hepatocellular carcinoma. 

Additionally, patients consuming this much coffee were at a 42 percent lower risk of liver-related death. 

The protective associations were similar for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, suggesting it was not the caffeine providing the protective effect. 

Instead, researchers noted plant compounds such as chlorogenic acid and kahweol may have led to lower liver fat and inflammation.

‘Coffee contains antioxidants and other bioactive compounds that decrease inflammation, promotes cellular health and prevents fat accumulation, all which protect the liver,’ Dr Theresa DeLorenzo, dietitian and nutrition science professor at Russell Sage College in New York, told the Daily Mail.

Another 2021 study found that drinking two or more cups of coffee daily was associated with a 21 percent lower risk of chronic liver disease and 20 percent reduced chance of liver cancer.  

The American Liver Foundation suggests choosing unsweetened coffee when necessary to avoid the inflammatory effects of sugar on the liver.

‘I encourage my clients to add ground cinnamon, ginger and turmeric to enhance the anti-inflammatory impact of coffee,’ DeLorenzo said. 

Herbal tea

Herbal teas such as green, lemon ginger and turmeric tea are generally seen as soothing, and this may be true for the liver as well. 

‘These teas help to decrease inflammation and promotes detoxification, improving liver health,’ DeLorenzo said. 

In one 2020 review, researchers found that drinking green tea regularly helped lower the liver enzymes AST and ALT in people with fatty liver disease. Elevated levels of these enzymes have been shown to signal inflammation or damage in the liver.

However, there were no significant changes in people who were not already diagnosed with fatty liver disease or a related condition.  

One 2026 study in mice looking at an oil mixture of lemon and ginger found the combination helped reduce ALT levels by lowering inflammation. 

DeLorenzo also points toward milk thistle tea, which contains the protective antioxidant silymarin. It is thought to encourage protein synthesis, a process that can help regenerate damaged liver cells.  

Experts recommend against overdoing it, however. Recent studies have shown high-dose green tea supplements have been linked to rare cases of liver injuries.

Beetroot and grapefruit juice

It may not be as popular as a glass of orange juice in the morning, but beetroot juice is an unsung hero for the liver. 

The purple juice contains dietary nitrates, naturally occurring compounds that the body converts into nitric oxide to support blood flow, reducing liver inflammation. 

The antioxidants betalains and betaine found in beetroot juice have also been shown to protect liver cells and prevent fat from building up within the organ.  

In one 2023 study lasting 12 weeks, adults diagnosed with fatty liver disease were split into four groups: control, a Mediterranean diet with beetroot juice, Mediterranean diet alone and beetroot juice alone. 

The group that consumed both the Mediterranean diet and beetroot juice had significant reductions in liver fat based on ultrasound scans. 

They also experienced improvements in liver enzymes, fats called triglycerides and cholesterol levels. 

Additionally, grapefruit juice contains the antioxidant naringin, which some lab studies have suggested may protect liver cells from alcohol. A study in the journal Carcinogenesis also showed similar findings in rats. 

Chia seed water 

Water is arguably the best drink for promoting liver health, but for some added excitement, DeLorenzo suggests adding chia seeds.  

‘Chia seed water promotes hydration, decreased inflammation promotes healthy bowel movements because of the fiber content –  improving gut health and reducing the workload on the liver,’ she told the Daily Mail.  

One two-tablespoon serving of chia seeds contains 10g of dietary fiber, which adds bulk to stool and allows it to pass easily, promoting regular bowel movements. 

This stops harmful bacteria and toxins from lingering in the gut and leaking into the blood, which can place strain on the liver. Additionally, when digestion moves smoothly, the liver does not have to overwork to break down unabsorbed food.

Chia seeds also contain omega-3 fatty acids that may help lower fat accumulation in the liver.

In one small clinical trial, researchers gave 25g of milled chia seeds to patients with fatty liver disease every day for eight weeks. In 52 percent of treated patients, their disease improved and the amount of fat in their blood decreased. 

A 2024 study in mice also found that chia seeds helped lower inflammation in the liver in mice with high cholesterol. 

Infused water

Similarly, infusing water with lemon, lime, cucumbers, mint and other similar additives may ‘provide antioxidants which reduce the potential for oxidative liver damage,’ DeLorenzo said. 

These additives are also high in vitamin C, which studies have shown may lower liver enzymes such as AST and ALT in patients with fatty liver disease. 

One 2021 clinical trial of 84 people with fatty liver disease found that consuming 1,000mg of vitamin C each day lowered both AST and ALT. 

Additionally, the vitamin was associated with improved insulin resistance, which in turn can lower fat accumulation in the liver. 

Flavorings in water can also make it easier to stay hydrated in general, DeLorenzo notes, which ‘allows for optimal blood flow to the liver.’ 

Proper hydration helps thin the blood, allowing the liver to filter waste out of it without extra strain. 

DeLorenzo also suggests electrolyte mixes that combine sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, which can further hydrate liver cells.