383: Coffee Enema Side Effects No One Talks About (Beware Of These Liver Detox + Gut Issues)

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If you’ve heard that coffee enemas are the secret to liver detox and gut problems, it’s time to hear the other side of the story.

Social media makes the benefits of coffee enema look like a quick fix. With influencers claiming boosted energy, rapid toxin removal, and improved digestion, it’s no wonder so many people are intrigued.

But behind the scenes, there are some major red flags.

For starters, coffee enema side effects can trigger imbalances within your liver and gut that can lead to toxin buildup, systemic inflammation, and greater sensitivity to foods and chemicals.

And if you’re the type of person concerned about medications causing dependency – then you should know that this is another overlooked coffee enema side effect.

Yes – chronic coffee enema use can cause dependency!

Before jumping onto the coffee enema bandwagon because you’re serious about supporting your liver the right way, let’s talk about why I don’t recommend coffee enemas (and what I suggest instead).

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In This Episode:

• Quick overview: Three phases of liver detox
• What is a coffee enema commonly used for?
• Coffee enema benefits: Are they overblown?
• Coffee enema side effects: Gut + liver impacts
• Why Phase 2 liver detox is so crucial to avoid skin flare ups
• How gut microbes wreck liver detox
• Can you become addicted to coffee enemas?
• Surprising sources of toxins you’re exposed to daily (and how to reduce them)
• Safer alternatives to support your liver and detox pathways
• Top nutrient hacks to boost Phase 2 liver detox (HINT: no coffee enemas required)

Quotes

“Coffee enemas crank up Phase 1 liver detox without supporting Phase 2 or Phase 3.”

“Enemas force liquid up in the wrong direction, and just like driving the wrong way down a one-way street, it’s not a good idea.”

 

383: Coffee Enema Side Effects No One Talks About (Beware Of These Liver Detox + Gut Issues) {FULL TRANSCRIPT}

Welcome back to episode 383 of the Healthy Skin Show!

If you search online, you'll quickly find an overwhelming list of supposed benefits tied to coffee enemas. Whether you're scrolling TikTok, Instagram, or watching videos here on YouTube, the promises are everywhere: boosting energy, losing weight, getting rid of parasites—you name it.

I’ll admit, it sounds incredible—almost like a holy grail for health. For a long time, I even considered trying coffee enemas myself because so many people were raving about them. But I wanted to know: Is there any real research backing this up?

In my clinical practice, I’ve worked with real people—living in real bodies—who tried coffee enemas with the hope of improving liver detox, fixing constipation, or just feeling better overall. They believed, based on what they had seen online, that coffee enemas were the solution, or at least the gateway to it.

But the reality often didn’t match the promise.

What people don’t anticipate—and what no one online seems to talk about—are the unintended consequences. That’s what I want to share with you today, because the way liver detox is discussed online is, frankly, wrong. And following bad advice can actually make your health issues worse.

Coffee enemas can cause unexpected problems in your gut and, yes—you can even become dependent on them. Kind of like how you worry about becoming dependent on certain medications? Well, the same risk applies here.

So let’s dive into what you really need to know about coffee enemas—and what actually works better.

 

Why The Benefits Of Coffee Enema For Liver Detox Are Overblown

Now that you know I’m not a fan of coffee enemas, I want to quickly walk you through why—especially if you haven’t seen any of my other videos or episodes about liver detox.

Since liver detox is a pretty complicated biochemical process, I’m going to keep it simple with an analogy. That way, whether you’re watching or just listening, you don’t need a crazy, wild biochemical diagram to follow along.

Here’s the gist: liver detox happens in three phases.

It’s not just one simple thing like a filter magically removing toxins—which is often how it's oversimplified online. That oversimplification is part of why advice like “just do a coffee enema” can actually make things worse.

Let’s break it down:

• Phase 1 is the first step, and it’s the one that tends to get upregulated
  Think of it like flooring the gas pedal and revving your engine as fast as it can go. Coffee enemas—and caffeine in general—can speed up Phase 1 way too much, way too fast.
• Phase 2 is where your body repackages toxins to safely get rid of them.
  It’s like taking something out of a box and rewrapping it properly so it can be removed. This phase requires a lot of nutrients to work. If you're low on those nutrients—or the toxin load is too high—you end up with a backlog.
  In car terms: it’s like slamming on the brakes.
• Phase 3 is the elimination phase through your gut (aka: pooping).
  If you struggle with chronic constipation, you already know this phase can get stuck. Without regular, healthy bowel movements (not hard, pellet-like stools), the toxins your liver processed can’t leave your body efficiently.

Here’s the problem: Coffee enemas crank up Phase 1 without supporting Phase 2 or Phase 3.

In my clinical experience, most people already have a Phase 2 bottleneck.

When you push Phase 1 even faster, but Phase 2 and 3 can’t keep up, it sets the stage for major issues—like reactivity to foods, supplements, chemicals, and even things like salicylates.

Bottom line: All three phases need to work together smoothly.

And coffee enemas? They throw everything out of sync, making you more reactive and inflamed—not healthier.

 

Coffee Enema Side Effects On Your Gut (No One Tells You Until It’s Too Late)

As you can probably tell by now, I’m not a fan of using coffee enemas for liver detox.

Like I said earlier, they push Phase 1 so hard that they overwhelm Phase 2—and can even cause problems with Phase 3. They don't actually help liver detox the way so many people swear they do.

Coffee enemas don't add anything beneficial to the process.

They’re not providing nutrients or the key support your liver needs to actually rebalance this complex—and frankly, really cool—biochemical pathway that keeps your body healthy.

So when it comes to liver detox? Hard pass.

Another big concern is that coffee enemas can create dependency, specifically in your colon. Not every single person will experience this, but when enemas are used regularly—days, weeks, or even months—you can become reliant on them just to have a bowel movement.

At first, you might think, “This is great! I’m finally pooping every day!” But when you reach a point where you realize you can’t go without a coffee enema, that’s a serious problem.

And I’ve worked with clients who have deeply regretted using them because getting off coffee enemas can be incredibly challenging.

Here’s the other issue: Your GI tract is a one-way street—from your mouth all the way down.

Enemas force liquid up in the wrong direction, and just like driving the wrong way down a one-way street, it’s not a good idea.

It can cause inflammation—and there are actual case reports of people developing colitis from coffee enemas. (And no, these weren’t hot coffee enemas. Even when using room temperature coffee, colitis still developed.)

I talked about this at length with Dr. Ilana Gurevich on The Healthy Skin Show (episode 334). She’s a naturopathic doctor who specializes in inflammatory bowel disease and gut issues, and she also doesn’t recommend enemas for this reason.

So to recap:

• Coffee enemas can cause dependency—where you literally can’t poop without them.
• They can trigger inflammation and serious gut issues like colitis.
• And they don’t actually support healthy liver detox in the way people claim.

That’s why I don’t recommend them, and I don’t use them in my clinical practice.

If a client comes to me already using coffee enemas, especially if they’re dependent on them, my goal is to help them safely wean off and get back to a place where they can have normal bowel movements naturally—no enemas required.

Because that’s the ideal: a healthy gut that works the way it’s supposed to—without needing these types of crutches.

 

Toxins Impacting Your Liver (And How To Practically Avoid Them)

If I’ve convinced you that maybe the coffee enema train isn’t one you want to be riding—or at least that you might want to slow down or get off—let’s talk about what you can do instead.

As I’ve already shared, your liver is constantly dealing with toxins.

Some of those you can control and minimize pretty easily. Others are a little more complicated.

For example, you can reduce your exposure to toxins in your air, water, and food.

Simple steps like installing a good water filter, using an air purifier, and buying cleaner, more locally grown foods (especially from farmers markets) can make a big difference. Even prioritizing organic options when it comes to the Dirty Dozen fruits and veggies can help lower your pesticide exposure.

These are the kinds of toxins you can control.

But what you can’t control as easily is what’s happening inside your GI tract. Believe it or not, your gut bacteria—and even fungal organisms—naturally produce chemicals that your body still has to detoxify.

You can’t just poop these out either. They have to go through Phase 2 liver detox.

For example, gut bacteria produce a chemical called benzoates, and your liver has to process these through Phase 2 pathways to safely remove them.

So if your gut microbiome is imbalanced or “messed up,” it’s going to put even more stress on your Phase 2 detox pathways.

And that's exactly the overload I mentioned earlier—the one that coffee enemas can accidentally make worse.

Taking care of your gut health is a crucial (and often overlooked) part of supporting your liver the right way.

 

Diet Suggestions to Support Liver Detox (Without Needing A Coffee Enema)

When it comes to simple diet hacks to support your liver, one of the easiest things you can do is add fresh sprouts to your meals every day if possible.

Even just a ¼ to ½ cup once or twice a day can make a big difference.

Now, if you’re like me and hate buying sprouts at the store because they get slimy so fast, don't worry. I talked with Doug Evans on The Healthy Skin Show (episode 365) all about how to grow sprouts at home.

Homemade sprouts stay fresh longer, they’re healthier, cheaper, and they're an amazing support for Phase 2 liver detox.

Beyond sprouts, there are specific nutrients you can focus on to give your liver even more love:

• Amino acids — especially glycine, which I talk about all the time, are critical for Phase 2 detox (you get these from protein).
• B vitamins — particularly vitamin B6 (sometimes listed as P5P in supplements) are very supportive.
• Molybdenum and sulfur — both important for detox pathways.
• Choline — found in foods like eggs — also plays a big role.

Many of these nutrients show up naturally in foods like dark leafy greens, legumes, and a variety of plant-based foods that help your body thrive while supporting detox.

I dive deeply into what liver detox is and the nutrients to address it in my 2-hour masterclass – Liver Detox Deep Dive. Specifically looking at the connection of your liver detox to how imbalances manifest on the skin, this is one of the best educational opportunities to figure out what’s going wrong using my assessment tool (included with the masterclass) AND all the resources that help you rebalance it without meds.

And because my clients kept asking for a simple, extra boost they could add on top of a healthy diet, I created my P2 Detox Balance liver support supplement. It's a flare-free formula that can more quickly get your liver detox up-to-speed to process the backlog and move things through efficiently with the nutrients critical to get the job done!

 

Tips To Fix Your Phase 3 Liver Detox (No Coffee Enema Needed)

And last but not least, let’s talk about optimizing your gut function to support Phase 3 detox.

We don't want stools that are too hard or infrequent.

Ideally, you want to have one to three bowel movements a day.

If you’re currently at just one good bowel movement a day, try challenging yourself to increase to two or even three—you might be surprised by how much better you feel.

Many of my clients have noticed that improving their constipation actually reduced their itchiness, skin flares, and other symptoms.

So yes, Phase 3 detox is legit—and it’s something we want to prioritize.

If you’re a coffee lover, you could absolutely have a cup or two of coffee a day to gently support things.

Yes, coffee impacts Phase 1 detox a bit, but drinking coffee isn’t the same as forcing it backward into your colon—which, as you know, is my bigger concern.

When it comes to supporting regular bowel movements naturally, here’s what matters:

• Fiber intake — Make sure you’re getting enough! I usually suggest 25 to 35 grams per day.
• Hydration — Drink plenty of water throughout the day. That would be at least 80 ounces daily (or more if you’re active or sweating a lot).
• Daily movement — If you sit most of the day, that can seriously slow digestion. Get up every hour and walk around. Do some movement. And schedule regular work outs 3 to 4 times a week.
• Proper pooping posture — Using a small stool to lift your feet can help you get into the right position for easier, more complete bowel movements.

(Yes, there’s actually a correct way to poop—and there are even products designed to help with it if you’re interested!)

If you follow a carnivore-style diet, you’re more prone to constipation. So it’s especially important to monitor magnesium intake.

Forms like magnesium oxide or magnesium citrate are less absorbed by the body but help stimulate the bowels naturally. I talk more about how to pick the right type of magnesium supplements in THIS episode.

Overall minerals and micronutrients — These keep everything moving smoothly.

Sometimes, people also need a little extra digestive support. Because when food isn’t properly digested, you lose access to all the nutrients in it AND that can increase gut issues that contribute to constipation.

A supplement like Digest Aid can help ensure your food breaks down properly before it even hits the small and large intestines. I frequently recommend this digestive enzyme supplement to clients (especially if they have chronic skin issues as it’s generally well-tolerated).

With all of these tips, I hope you have some new strategies to consider—especially before jumping into the coffee enema world.

If you still want to try it, that's your choice.

But at least now you’re making a fully informed decision—with your eyes wide open.

If you’re rethinking it, great—you now have tools that can actually help support your body in a much healthier way (and maybe in ways you weren’t expecting).

That’s one of the things I find so fascinating about all of this!

I’d love to hear from you: Have you ever tried coffee enemas?

Are you considering them?

Or are you totally turned off by the idea?

Tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly—I want to hear it all! Leave your thoughts, questions and comments below!