Love your Liver!
Our liver is one of the most overlooked organs in the body. It is also one of the most hardest-working organs in the body with over 500 important processes.
When we think of the liver, we mainly think of detoxification. It helps move waste and toxins from the body – surprisingly, it is also responsible for:
Hormone production and detoxification
Fat and Protein Digestion
Maintaining blood sugar
And so much more….
So, if your liver isn’t functioning well, some of the above processes can be compromised.
Signs and Symptoms Your Liver Needs Love
- Sleepless nights
Most of the detoxification occurs while you are sleeping between 1am and 3am (yes, it is a big job). We recommend getting to bed at a good time to prepare your body for this detoxification process. If you wake up in the night, are restless, have night sweats, it might be worth investigating further.
- Hormonal Imbalances
Our liver helps regulate your hormones and makes bile to remove excess hormones. If your liver is “overworked” then it can’t do its job properly. Some women often have estrogen dominance, which is a sign your liver needs some love. We also need to be aware of the amount of toxins we are exposed to as these can mimic estrogen.
- You are constipated
As mentioned, the liver makes bile which is needed to remove toxins out of the body. Bile and a healthy lymph system are important to take waste and toxins from the body. Sometimes, if your liver is not functioning optimally, waste and hormones (estrogen) is recirculated. Healthy bile production, less constipation.
- Weight issues (gaining weight and losing weight)
As mentioned, the liver has a big job to do. It needs to remove toxins and hormones. If it is not able to do so, then these are stored in our fat tissue. When our adrenals are unactive or overactive, and the energy pathways are compromised, it makes losing/gaining weight tricky.
- You have thyroid issues
Often using our functional testing, we can discover that the thyroid is sub-optimal. We work on the whole body, as nothing operates independently. Often, we find the adrenals are underactive or overactive and this puts pressure on your thyroid. We have thyroid hormones called T3 and T4 which must be converted and this takes place in the liver. Both the adrenals and thyroid need support.
- You have digestive or acne issues
The skin and the gut are major organs of detoxification. Often when the liver is overloaded, we start pushing out toxins via the skin or the gut becomes compromised. We also need certain microbes in our gut to support the functioning of the liver.
Natural Ways to support your Liver
- Eat Liver loving foods such as fruit and vegetables, bitter foods such as salad greens, spinach, garlic, beetroot, cruciferous vegetables, and protein are all important for helping the detoxification process and stimulating bile production.
- Avoiding processed foods and sugar can also put a lot of pressure on a congested liver. Providing your body with a whole food nutrient dense diet is one way to support your liver and body.
- Drinking at least 2 Litres daily of good quality filtered water will help move toxins and waste out of the body. Adding some electrolytes in the form of good quality salt, is also recommended.
- Infra-red saunas, lymphatic massage, dry skin brushing, and magnesium salt baths are all beneficial in helping to support your detoxification pathways and supporting your liver.
- Minimise exposure to toxins such as plastic, pesticides on food, skincare products, home cleaning products. Exposure to toxins burdens your liver and contributes to stress.
If you would like to investigate further to see how your liver is functioning, we recommend running a HTMA. Get in touch today at Rachel Doherty Nutritionist.