Our liver is one of the most overlooked organs in the body. It is also one of the hardest-working, involved in over 500 important processes.
When we think of the liver, we mainly think of detoxification. It helps move waste and toxins out of 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 these processes may be compromised.
Signs Your Liver May Need Some Love
These signs can have many causes, so it’s worth discussing them with your GP, who can also check your liver with a simple blood test.
Sleepless Nights
Much of the liver’s detoxification work happens while you are sleeping, and in natural medicine the hours between 1am and 3am are often linked with the liver (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 or 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”, it may not be able to do its job properly. Many women experience signs of oestrogen dominance, which may be a sign your liver needs some love. We also need to be aware of the amount of toxins we are exposed to, as some of these can mimic oestrogen.
You Are Constipated
As mentioned, the liver makes bile, which is needed to remove toxins from the body. Bile and a healthy lymphatic system are important for taking waste and toxins out of the body. If your liver is not functioning optimally, waste and hormones (such as oestrogen) may be recirculated. Healthy bile production helps keep things moving, which may mean less constipation.
Weight Issues (Gaining or Losing Weight)
As mentioned, the liver has a big job to do. It needs to remove toxins and hormones, and if it is not able to do so, these may be stored in our fat tissue. When our adrenals are underactive or overactive and our energy pathways are compromised, it can make managing our weight tricky.
You Have Thyroid Issues
Our functional testing often shows patterns suggesting the thyroid may not be working at its best. We work on the whole body, as nothing operates independently. Often, we also see signs that the adrenals are underactive or overactive, which may put pressure on your thyroid. The thyroid makes mostly T4, which needs to be converted into the active hormone T3, and much of this conversion takes place in the liver. Both the adrenals and the thyroid may need support. If you have a diagnosed thyroid condition, please keep working with your GP or specialist alongside any nutrition support.
You Have Digestive or Acne Issues
The skin and the gut are major pathways of elimination. When the liver is overloaded, the body may start pushing out toxins through the skin, or the gut may become 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. 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.
- Avoid processed foods and sugar, which can put a lot of pressure on a congested liver. Eating a wholefood, nutrient-dense diet is one way to support your liver and your whole body.
- Drink around 2 litres of good quality filtered water daily to help move toxins and waste out of the body. Adding some electrolytes, in the form of good quality salt, may also help (unless your doctor has advised you to limit fluids or salt).
- Infrared saunas, lymphatic massage, dry skin brushing and magnesium salt baths may all help support your detoxification pathways and your liver.
- Minimise your exposure to toxins, such as plastics, pesticides on food, skincare products and home cleaning products. Exposure to toxins adds to your liver’s workload and contributes to stress on the body.
If you would like to look more closely at what may be placing extra load on your body, Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) can be a useful place to start, alongside any blood tests from your GP.
If you’d like to understand what may be affecting your health, book a free 30-minute phone call.