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Got a Fatty Liver? 7 Herbal Teas to Boost Liver Function

Fatty liver is a disease that develops very quietly, gradually, and almost without any symptoms. Many people do not even know that their liver is in trouble until they have a simple test. Fatty liver is caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver tissue, and the main causes are poor, high sugar and fat diet, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, chronic stress, and diabetes.

The liver plays an important role in detoxifying the body, digesting food, making enzymes, regulating fats, and producing energy. Therefore, any damage to the liver affects overall health. Fortunately, fatty liver is treatable in the early stages, and many people overcome it simply by adopting a better lifestyle and changing their diet. Herbal teas are one of the best ways to boost liver function and reverse early-stage damage. In addition, forming a habit around drinking herbal teas helps you replace sugary snacks with healthy, organic alternatives.

In this article, we will discuss the causes and symptoms of fatty liver and introduce the best herbal teas to boost liver function.

What Are the Causes of Fatty Liver?

Fatty liver is mostly the result of an unhealthy lifestyle. Common causes include:

  • Eating too much fatty, fried, and processed foods
  • Drinking sugary drinks
  • Abdominal obesity
  • Sedentary lifestyle and inactivity
  • Insulin resistance and diabetes
  • Severe stress and irregular sleep
  • Lack of vegetables and fiber
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Smoking or vaping

What are the Symptoms of Fatty Liver?

Symptoms of Fatty Liver

Most people have no symptoms in the early stages of fatty liver, but when symptoms appear, they include some or all of the following:

  • Feeling constantly tired
  • Lethargy and loss of energy
  • Discomfort on the right side of the abdomen
  • Bloating and digestive problems
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Decreased concentration
  • Increased liver enzymes

What Happens if You Don’t Treat Fatty Liver?

If fatty liver is not treated promptly, it progresses to higher stages and may cause irreversible damage. This is usually where main symptoms appear and cause the following health issues:

  • Severed liver inflammation (Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH)
  • Liver fibrosis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Increased risk of heart disease
  • Blood lipid problems
  • Metabolism and energy disorders
  • Increased risk of diabetes

Best Treatment for Early-Stage Fatty Liver

The main treatment for fatty liver in its early stages includes substantial changes to our lifestyle. Here’s what it means to “change your lifestyle” when talking about reversing the fatty liver damage:

Healthy & Active Lifestyle for Liver Health
  • Losing weight
  • Eating healthy and eliminating soda, sugar, sweets and fried foods
  • Increasing daily physical activity
  • Consuming vegetables and healthy protein
  • Reducing stress
  • Getting enough sleep

7 Herbal Teas Beneficial for Fatty Liver

Fatty liver is a serious health problem and requires a delicate approach. I did a lot of internet research and read several blogs and scientific articles to come up with the list of best herbal teas to boost liver function.

If you are already diagnosed with fatty liver, please consult your doctor first before drinking these or any other herbal teas. If you’re seeking a healthy lifestyle and want to take up drinking herbal teas, you can safely consume any of the following herbal teas in moderation.

Let’s explore the best herbal teas for liver health.

#1 Milk Thistle Tea

Milk Thistle Tea

Milk Thistle is a very popular liver-protecting herb and has been used for centuries in traditional and modern medicine to treat liver problems. Its active ingredient, silymarin, has very strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It protects liver cells from damage and helps repair damaged cells.

Many studies show that silymarin reduces ALT and AST enzymes, slows down the process of fibrosis, and even lowers the level of fat inside liver cells. Milk thistle is one of the herbs that has extensive scientific support and is considered one of the first choices for supporting liver health.

#2 Turmeric Tea

Turmeric Tea - The Golden Milk

Turmeric tea, or The Golden Milk, is one of the strongest natural herbal teas with anti-inflammatory properties. Its main ingredient, curcumin, helps reduce liver inflammation, improve insulin resistance, and reduce fat accumulation.

Insulin resistance is a major cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, so turmeric is very effective in the healing process. It also reduces oxidative stress in the liver and protects liver cells. Regular use of turmeric helps improve liver test results, which, in turn, improves liver health.

#3 Peppermint Tea

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is best known for aiding digestion, but one of its important effects is improving bile flow. Bile plays a key role in the digestion of fats, and when it moves more freely, fats are processed faster and efficiently without putting pressure on the liver.

Peppermint also helps reduce bloating, soothe the digestive system, and reduce stomach inflammation, all of which are beneficial if you are looking to improve your liver health or have been diagnosed with fatty liver.

#4 Dandelion Root Tea

Dandelion Root Tea

Dandelion root tea is one of the best natural cleansing herbal teas for your body. This herb stimulates the body’s detoxification pathways and helps reduce internal inflammation, reduce fluid retention, and improve blood flow. Some research shows that dandelion has the ability to reduce fat accumulation in liver cells. It also helps improve fat digestion and reduces metabolic stress on the liver.

#5 Ginger Tea

Ginger Tea

Ginger is one of the base herbs that has a direct effect on reducing insulin resistance. A cup of ginger tea can improve metabolism and reduce inflammation in the body, and has a strong antioxidant effect. It also helps reduce liver fat by helping to reduce blood sugar. Many studies show that ginger consumption lowers blood lipid levels, blood sugar, and liver inflammation.

#6 Green Tea

Classic Green Tea

Green tea is rich in EGCG, one of the most powerful antioxidants that prevents fat accumulation in the liver. Regular consumption of green tea reduces liver enzymes and internal inflammation, and protects liver cells from being damaged. Research shows that green tea is also effective in reducing visceral fat (belly fat), which plays a direct role in the treatment of fatty liver.

#7 Chamomile Tea

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a calming herb that helps reduce stress, improve sleep, and calm the nervous system. Chronic stress is one of the factors that worsen the condition of fatty liver, because stress hormones increase inflammation in the body. In this regard, chamomile tea has an indirect but substantial effect on liver health. In addition, better sleep is an important factor in the repair and regeneration of liver cells.

Conclusion

Fatty liver is one of those diseases that, if addressed in a timely manner, is completely treatable. Lifestyle changes, weight loss, eliminating high-fat and sugary foods, daily physical activity, and stress management are the most important stages of treatment. Along with these principles, the use of herbal teas such as milk thistle, ginger, turmeric, green tea, dandelion, mint, and chamomile helps reduce inflammation, improve the detoxification process, and strengthen liver cells.

These teas are not a replacement for medication, but as a supportive tool, they make the treatment process faster and easier. If you take these teas along with a healthy diet for a few months, you will likely see noticeable changes in your body’s energy, digestion, sleep, and liver test results. Taking care of your liver means taking care of your whole body, and these small changes can completely improve your life.