Which mineral water is good for the liver — an overview of 5 options

At the stage of remission of chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys, pancreas and other gastrointestinal organs, doctors often recommend that patients regularly consume mineral water with a high salt content (over 4 grams per liter).

The main benefit of such therapy is the normalization of the water–salt balance in the body, which normalizes the biochemical composition of the blood, accelerates the withdrawal of urea products (derivatives of sodium salts).

And it will also help to balance the composition of the intestinal microflora, since salts in large quantities stimulate the outflow of bile (which accelerates the digestion of food).

But are all the mineral waters found on store shelves equally beneficial for the liver? Which of them are considered more effective in chronic diseases? All the answers are in our article.

8 facts about the benefits of mineral water

In addition to providing the body with minerals and salts, medicinal waters have the following beneficial effects:

1. Protects liver cells from destruction. One of the common causes of cirrhosis is a regular violation of the water–salt balance (alcohol abuse can also provoke this). Mineral water restores it to normal and saturates the body with potassium, sodium, sulfates, and chlorine compounds.
2. Stimulate bile formation. This helps not only to increase the amount of gastric juice produced, but also to prevent the formation of stones in the gallbladder, ducts (which is why the liver most often hurts). This effect is more pronounced in chloride-sulfate mineral waters.
3. Disinfects. Mineral water restores the normal microflora of the intestine, stomach, prevents the formation of ulcers of the stomach and duodenum due to the action of helicobacter pylori. Indirectly, it also prevents the development of infectious liver diseases, including hepatitis.
4. Normalizes the stool. For chronic constipation, doctors always recommend increasing the amount of water consumed daily, as well as fiber.
5. Increases the acidity of gastric juice. Provides this choleretic effect. It comprehensively accelerates metabolism, helps to fight obesity. This effect is also important, for example, in hepatosis, when in of blood a large number of lipid compounds accumulate.
6. Improves the secretory function of the stomach. That is, it stimulates the synthesis of enzymes, gastric juice. Again, it improves digestion, increases the amount of nutrients that the body receives from food.
7. Reduces blood sugar levels. When the amount of glucose in the body increases rapidly (including in diabetes mellitus), this immediately negatively affects the work of the liver, since it is in it that the transformation of carbohydrate compounds takes place. Mineral waters not only accelerate this process, but also improve the work of the endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of insulin.
8. Prevents the fermentation process in the intestine. In this regard, mineral waters with a high chlorine content are more effective, which destroys the pathogenic microflora in the gastrointestinal tract.

It is customary to take such water in short courses. With constant use, there is a high probability of cholecystitis. And if there were stones in the bile ducts, then their blockage may occur with subsequent inflammation.

Which types are the most effective – Top 5

The composition of different mineral waters varies significantly. In some, sulfate compounds predominate, in others – sodium, in others – potassium, chloride. That is why, for example, with high acidity of the stomach, Berezovskaya is better suited, but with low acidity – Morshinskaya. Which of the mineral waters are the most useful for the liver, for the prevention of chronic diseases of the gallbladder?

1. Essentuki

Belongs to the chloride-bicarbonate group. It is for the liver that the most useful Essences number 4 and 7 (they are also prescribed to patients with chronic liver and gallbladder diseases).

Essentuki is recommended for hepatitis of various etiologies, cholecystitis, cholangitis, as well as diseases of the urethra.

It is allowed to prescribe this mineral water for chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach / duodenum.

2. Borjomi

Unlike other mineral waters, Borjomi is water of volcanic origin, which explains the presence of several groups of sulfates. This will be useful for any malfunction of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

Another additional property of this water is a slight laxative effect.

Along with this, liver detoxification from accumulated toxins is achieved. Borjomi is the best option for the prevention of gastrointestinal and liver diseases. But in the acute stage, it is better to give preference to more potassium–saturated waters.

3. Mirgorodskaya

One of the most popular "mineral waters" in Ukraine, it is extracted from artesian wells with a high content of sodium compounds. It gives a powerful choleretic effect, stimulates the secretory function of the stomach. It is also useful for obesity, slow metabolism.

But drinking is allowed only in short courses. Since 2017, the manufacturer has also been producing Mirgorodskaya Lite water with a reduced sodium content – it is suitable for chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

4. Morshinskaya

Stimulates the outflow of bile, gives a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. Such mineral water is especially saturated with chloride and sodium compounds. Increases the acidity of the stomach.

The manufacturer also indicates that it will be useful for patients with diabetes mellitus, as it helps the body to lower blood sugar levels.

Morshinskaya is also recommended for high blood pressure – hypertension often provokes disorders in the liver.

5. Luzhanskaya

Its key difference is the presence of a large amount of magnesium in the composition. It is necessary for the regeneration of liver cells and their protection from further destruction. And due to the presence of fluoride and silicon, such water neutralizes a wide range of toxins, which the liver is engaged in removing from the body.

The manufacturer claims that Luzhanskaya helps to "get in shape" much faster with a hangover.

How to clean the liver?

Cleansing the liver with mineral water is recommended for those who have previously been diagnosed with dyspeptic gastrointestinal disorders, duodenitis, chronic pancreatitis. This procedure can be performed at home.

First, preparation for the cleansing procedure is carried out for 3 days. The essence of preparation is quite simple – the use of only vegetable products (fresh, boiled or baked without oil). Enemas are contraindicated.

It is better to choose the optimal mineral water with a specialist. You can contact a nutritionist or gastroenterologist for help. At the same time, you will need to pass basic tests – this will allow you to establish a general picture of the work of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

Liver cleansing is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. Every morning on an empty stomach, drink 1 glass of mineral water without gas;
2. Before each meal (20-25 minutes in advance) – also drink 1 glass of mineral water;
3. The course of treatment is 6 weeks.

It is recommended to calculate a single dose of mineral water by body weight, at the rate of 3-4 ml per 1 kilogram of body weight. That is, for a man weighing 90 kilograms, it is recommended to drink not a glass at a time, but 270 – 360 ml.

You can add a few drops of lemon or a teaspoon of honey to a glass of water. Honey water should be drunk at the rate of 2-3 ml per 1 kilogram of body weight.

The so-called "gentle" cleaning method is indicated above. There is also a so-called "two-stage", but it is contraindicated, for example, with inflammation of the gallbladder.

Features of reception for diseases

Since the composition of mineral waters varies dramatically, then preference should be given to different types of chronic liver diseases. Let's consider the most common options:

1. For hepatosis any mineral water that has a choleretic effect and also enhances the secretory function of the stomach will be equally useful. When replacing liver tissues, the main thing is to speed up metabolism, but it is also important to follow a low–calorie diet (or with minimal protein inclusion, if hepatosis is fibrous, that is, ligaments of connective tissue are formed).
2. For hepatitis the best option is Essentuki number 4 and 7. This mineral water suppresses inflammatory processes, comprehensively normalizes the work of the liver and gastrointestinal tract, which will help to recover faster after a viral infection.
3. For cirrhosis Borjomi and Luzhanskaya are best suited, which help the body cope with toxins, thereby "unloading" the liver.
4. In the recovery stage Morshinskaya is perfect – it normalizes the work of the cardiovascular system, lowers blood pressure, which will accelerate the restoration of liver function.
5. In diseases affecting the functional of the bile ducts , you can advise Mirgorodskaya. But this is relevant only in cases where there are no formed concretions in the liver.

Conclusion

In total, mineral waters help to normalize the functionality of the digestive tract, but their composition differs dramatically. And to get a certain effect, you should individually select the best mineral water, it is advisable to trust the attending physician at all. And you should not drink such water regularly – you can even harm the liver. It is better to take courses lasting up to 6 weeks, while drinking only about 1 liter of mineral water per day.