10 Warning Signs Your Liver is Crying Out for Help
By Dr. Kevin Passero
Supporting optimal liver function is critical if you want stay healthy and feel well every day.
Our body relies on the liver to not only eliminate most toxins, but it is also responsible for over 500 different vital functions. It filters all our blood, and anything we eat or drink must first pass through the liver and be processed before it is distributed throughout the body.
I see people every day who experience a range of symptoms that, at first glance, may seem unrelated, with the common denominator often being suboptimal liver function and its impact on our body’s natural detoxification processes.
So, in this article let’s explore the top 10 signs of an impaired liver, the mechanisms behind each symptom and the relevant scientific research, along with strategies for improving your liver health.
If you are experiencing one or more of these 10 symptoms, your liver may need additional help to effectively support healthy detoxification:
1. Frequent Sugar Cravings
The liver plays a crucial role in both regulating and storing glucose; therefore, when its function is impaired, blood sugar levels fluctuate, triggering intense sugar cravings as the body seeks a quick energy source.
Clinical studies have shown that liver stress is associated with insulin resistance, which disrupts the delicate balance of blood glucose.
Impaired liver function can lead to a disruption in insulin signaling pathways, making sugar-rich foods more appealing as the body attempts to restore energy balance.
Frequent sugar cravings might be a signal from your body that your liver is struggling to keep up with detoxification and metabolic demands.
2. Low Energy
Fatigue and low energy levels are common complaints in individuals with compromised liver function.
The liver is central to the metabolism of nutrients; when it’s overloaded or damaged, the conversion of food into energy becomes inefficient, often leading to feelings of exhaustion and a persistent lack of vitality.
The liver’s role in detoxification means that when it is overwhelmed, toxic metabolites can accumulate, slowing the body down and contributing to cellular fatigue.
Additionally, impaired liver function can lead to essential nutrient deficiencies required for energy production, further contributing to fatigue.
3. Skin Conditions (Acne and Rashes)
The skin is often a mirror of our internal health. When the liver’s detox pathways are overburdened, it may redirect the elimination of toxins through the skin, leading to inflammatory responses that can manifest as acne, rashes or other dermatological issues.
Additionally, the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream may irritate the skin, disrupting its natural barrier function and leading to conditions like eczema.
4. Irregular Bowel Movements and Fatty Floating Stools
The liver produces bile, a substance critical for digesting fats and absorbing fat-soluble vitamins. When liver function is compromised, bile production or flow can be disrupted, resulting in malabsorption and digestive disturbances, including irregular bowel movements or the appearance of fatty, floating stools.
Digestive disruption not only affects nutrient absorption but can also cause gastrointestinal discomfort, bloating and other related symptoms.
5. Inability to Lose Weight
Excess toxins and fatty deposits in the liver can impair metabolism and hormonal balance, making achieving a healthy weight challenging.
Research has demonstrated that certain liver conditions are associated with metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that includes weight gain, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.
These metabolic disturbances can hinder the body’s ability to break down and burn fat efficiently, resulting in persistent weight issues despite diet and exercise efforts. Clearing toxins and improving liver health can help increase fat burning efficiency and promote weight loss.
6. Elevated Liver Enzymes on Blood Tests
Elevated levels of liver enzymes such as AST, ALT and GGT are clear clinical markers that the liver is under stress or damaged. These enzymes are released into the bloodstream when liver cells are injured, often as a result of toxin overload, infection, fatty infiltration or inflammation.
When these markers are elevated, it is a clear signal that the liver’s capacity to detoxify and process metabolic by-products is compromised. This can set off a cascade of metabolic and inflammatory issues throughout the body impacting almost every other organ system.
7. New or Existing Allergies and Environmental Sensitivities
An overloaded liver may struggle to effectively detoxify and eliminate allergens and environmental toxins. This can lead to an exaggerated immune response, resulting in new allergies or heightened sensitivities to foods and environmental allergens.
Emerging research in immunotoxicology suggests that compromised detoxification pathways in the liver can influence the body’s immune system, making it more reactive to potential allergens.
This heightened immune system reactivity can manifest as food sensitivities, seasonal allergies or reactions to chemicals commonly found in household products.
8. Hormonal Imbalances (Irregular Periods, PMS, Painful Periods, Mood Swings, Low Mood)
The liver is key to metabolizing and eliminating hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. When liver detoxification is impaired, hormones can accumulate, leading to imbalances that result in a variety of symptoms including irregular menstrual cycles, severe PMS and mood swings.
Studies have indicated that women with liver dysfunction may experience higher circulating levels of estrogen, which in turn disrupts the delicate balance of hormones. The interconnectedness of the liver and endocrine system underscores the importance of liver detoxification in maintaining hormonal equilibrium.
9. Intolerance to Alcohol
Alcohol is primarily metabolized by the liver, and an already overburdened liver will struggle to process even moderate amounts of alcohol effectively.
This can result in a lower tolerance, with symptoms such as nausea, headaches and a generally adverse reaction to even small amounts of alcohol.
When liver function is compromised, the efficiency of key enzymes that break down alcohol are reduced, making the liver less capable of handling alcohol’s toxic effects
10. Headaches and Toxin Sensitivities
Exposure to common environmental toxins—such as paint fumes, gasoline fumes, perfumes and heavily scented cleaning products—can trigger headaches and other adverse reactions, particularly when your liver’s detox pathways are overwhelmed.
Studies show that when the liver is unable to clear these toxins effectively, they accumulate in the bloodstream, leading to systemic inflammation and neurological symptoms like headaches. Symptoms triggered by these types of exposures are a sure way to know that your liver needs detoxification support.
How to Support Liver Detoxification
Scientific research continues to validate the connection between liver health and a range of systemic symptoms, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to supporting detoxification and overall liver function.
Recognizing the subtle signs of suboptimal liver detoxification—from sugar cravings and chronic fatigue to digestive issues, hormonal imbalances and toxin sensitivities—provides us with an opportunity to proactively support the liver and its critical functions.
Adopt a liver-supportive lifestyle by incorporating a nutrient-dense diet, regular physical activity, adequate hydration while minimizing toxin exposure by avoiding harsh cleaning chemicals, filtering your water, reducing pesticide exposure in foods, reducing pollution exposure and limiting alcohol, cigarette and drug use.
I also frequently recommend targeted herbal supplements to help restore balance to your body’s detoxification processes and improve overall health.
I created Durable LIVER DETOX® to offer a highly effective daily detox solution, so you can feel your best every day and minimize cellular damage from the toxins in our environment.
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