Did you know that anger, resentment, and bitterness could be due to a faulty liver?

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the liver regulates chi (qi), sometimes referred to as life energy, prana or life force.

Just about every system in the body relies on the liver to function effectively so that it can cleanse and restore the blood.

Many dietary practices in the west, such as drinking alcohol and eating fatty foods damage the liver.

This can go undiagnosed for a long time, however, it can result in feeling sluggish.

Detoxing your liver is a fantastic way to lose weight and boost overall health.

If you have joint pain, it could be due to a fatty liver.

Inflammation in one area of the body (ie. the liver) means that you could have inflammation in a wide range of other areas of the body.

By detoxing the liver you can reduce symptoms in a wide range of other conditions.

In this article we’ll explore how long it takes to detox your liver plus seven natural ways to detox your liver to reduce weight and joint pain.

How Long Does it Take to Detox the Liver?

The length of time it takes to detox the liver fluctuates from person to person. Your liver can heal from minor alcohol damage in days or weeks. For those with more severe liver damage, it could take months to heal. Permanent liver damage can occur after 5-30 years of alcohol abuse. Another disease of the liver – non-alcoholic fatty liver disease occurs when people at too much fat. The fat then accumulates on the liver. This is most comon in people suffering from obesity, diabetes or high triglycerides.

To cleanse the liver you’ll need to avoid fatty foods and alcohol. Some people who drink heavily will need to slowly wean themself off. The normal amount of time for a reasonably healthy person to detox their liver is about one to two weeks. The liver can be compromised due to chemicals or chemotherapy. In these cases more intense liver cleansing is necessary. In these cases, if appropriate measures are taken, and there is less than 60% damage to the liver, then it should heal within 30 days.

3 Best Drinks to Flush Your Liver

Possibly the best fluid you can drink to flush your liver would be water. Simply drinking high-quality water can flush your body of toxins. People should drink at least eight cups of water every day, however recent science is now suggesting that women should drink 11.5 cups (2.7 litres) and men should drink 15.5 cups (3.7 litres) of water every single day.

#1 | Lemon Water

Lemon is filled with vitamin C, it’s also antibacterial which helps your body detox. It is better to drink lemon water first thing in the morning to finalise your body’s natural detox processes. Interestingly the liver produces more enzymes from water with lemon than from any other food. Lemon water first thing in the morning stimulates your liver to flush out toxins. Lemon water can help melt fat, which is important in fatty liver disease. Additionally, pectin, a fibre in lemon can curb hunger, thus preventing overeating.

#2 | Chamomile Tea

Chamomile (also known as scented mayweed) tea has long been known to calm the central nervous system and help with a good night’s sleep. Your liver detoxes when you are asleep, so you need to make sure that you get good quality sleep to boost liver function. One of the most popular herbs in the world, Chamomile is the national flower of Russia. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects and as such is perfect for liver detox.

#3 | Turmeric Tea For Liver Health

Grated turmeric root or pure turmeric powder can be brewed into a tea. Simply boil two cups of water, add 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Adding a pinch of black pepper helps activate the turmeric and is a great addition to your turmeric tea. Curcumin (the active compound in turmeric) has been found to protect against liver damage by increasing the production of bile and protecting the liver from bile associated chemicals.

#4 | Walk Or Do Other Gentle Exercise

Exercise can fight weight gain, that accumulates around the liver. The more weight you lose, the healthier your liver becomes (to a point). Both cardio and resistance training is great for liver health. Helping to remove a build-up of fat in the liver. It has been proven that inactive or sedentary lifestyles can result in liver conditions. Starting an exercise program can be daunting, especially if you suffer from obesity. Why not start with 20-30 minutes of exercise per day and then increase the amount of time gradually. Make sure to pick an exercise that you enjoy.

The 3 Best Foods/ Herbs To Detox The Liver

#5 | Milk Thistle

One of the best herbs for detoxing the liver is Milk Thistle. Unlike other herbs, they don’t extract well in water. Instead, you need to obtain a tincture, grind seeds or get a good quality capsule. The seeds should be kept intact until you are going to grind them for use.

#6 | Grapefruit

When I’ve had alcohol, I often crave grapefruit in the middle of the night. It’s no wonder, grapefruit has been found to protect the liver from injury. It does this by protecting cells and reducing inflammation. Chronic inflammation can lead to hepatic fibrosis (a serious liver condition). In rodent models, the compound naringin (in grapefruit) can improve the ability to metabolise alcohol, in turn reducing some of the harmful effects.

#7 | Grapes

Grapes are high in resveratrol, a compound that has many health benefits. Grapes improve liver health by lowering inflammation, boosting antioxidants and preventing further damage. Grapes are very healing and that’s why they’re often gifted to people in hospital and depicted in historical paintings.