Let's Toast (Tea) to Your Liver

The liver deserves much respect and care. It has literally thousands of jobs that it does every single day for us…and honestly, as a culture we don’t treat it with the reverence it deserves! Alcohol, sugar, fried foods, stress, a sedentary lifestyle, environmental pollution, toxic body care products, insufficient (or poor) sleep…all compromise liver functioning in one way or another. Including liver health in daily self-care intentions is a must for us all.

Here are some highlights of what the liver does for the body: 

• Aides digestion by producing bile
• Supports endocrine health by conjugating and metabolizing (aka detoxifying) hormones to maintain balance
• Stores and metabolizes fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, E, D and K)
• Produces cholesterol and maintains balance of blood lipids (LDL, HDL, triglycerides, etc.)
• Detoxifies environmental toxins (BPA, dioxins, heavy metals, etc.)
• Stores iron and copper
• Produces proteins and clotting factors for blood balance
• Plays a role in immune health by producing immune cells (Kupffer and Pit cells)
• Metabolizes alcohol, prescription and recreational drugs
• Produces a potent antioxidant compound called glutathione
• And more! 

With this lengthy list in mind, it’s no wonder that liver health is a hot topic in the wellness world. Liver supportive foods and nutrients, cleanses and detoxification programs are abundant on the internet, including our own website and blog. 

Supporting liver health is critical to maintaining whole-body health. 

While targeted programs may be warranted and recommended by health care providers, there are some daily self-care practices that can help optimize the liver’s efforts. 

There are a number of things I think about when planning my self-care efforts that puts my liver’s health in focus, but one of my favorites is to drink tea. 

Green tea, rooibos and chamomile tisanes all increase the production of glutathione in the liver. Glutathione is considered to be the master antioxidant in the body, meaning that it helps combat oxidative stress in every organ system. Increasing glutathione not only loves up our livers, but helps to bring balance in our mental health, digestive health, immunity, cardiovascular system, kidneys and more.

It takes several cups of tea daily to make a big impact on glutathione production, but other factors like diet and lifestyle also contribute...it all adds up! Making a pot of tea to sip on these cold days is certainly a welcome habit. Here are some of my favorite combos and brands (no affiliation or sponsorship):

• Chamomile and spearmint (equal parts)
• Chamomile with lavender and rose (1 part chamomile to 1/4 part each lavender and rose)
• Chamomile with nettle leaf, raspberry leaf, rose hips and hibiscus (equal parts)
• Well Cova’s Immunitea (green tea) 
• Jasmine green tea
• Well Cova’s Blissful Belly (rooibos) 
• Rooibos with oat milk and chai spices
• Rooibos brewed with golden milk (recipe below)

What are your favorite ways to enjoy these teas? Share your recipes and tips in the comments! 


To learn more about the holistic perspective on liver health and other daily self-care practices, check out these articles: 

• What’s the Deal with Detox and 
• Daily Habits that Promote Detoxification 

Then, try out these liver-loving recipes: 

• Buckwheat and Burdock Root Pilaf
• Caul-Rice Tabouli 
• Beet Cashew Mylk 
• Avocado and Walnut Salad 
• Golden Milk 
• Beet Hummus 

References:

1. Kalra A, Yetiskul E, Wehrle CJ, et al. Physiology, Liver. [Updated 2021 May 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535438/
2. Kalra A, Yetiskul E, Wehrle CJ, et al. Physiology, Liver. [Updated 2021 May 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535438/
3. Zemestani M, Rafraf M, Asghari-Jafarabadi M. Chamomile tea improves glycemic indices and antioxidants status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nutrition. 2016 Jan;32(1):66-72. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2015.07.011. Epub 2015 Aug 14. PMID: 26437613.
4. Prasanth MI, Sivamaruthi BS, Chaiyasut C, Tencomnao T. A Review of the Role of Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) in Antiphotoaging, Stress Resistance, Neuroprotection, and Autophagy. Nutrients. 2019;11(2):474. Published 2019 Feb 23. doi:10.3390/nu11020474