Liver Dysfunction and Toxic Burden – How to Support Healthy Liver Function
By Kirsten Petersen, DC
The liver is one of the hardest working organs in the body. It aids in detoxifying our blood, producing bile to appropriately digest fats, breaking down hormones, and storing essential vitamins, minerals, and iron. The liver’s detoxification process converts toxins to metabolites that can be efficiently eliminated from the body through the kidneys and GI tract.
When the liver is not operating at its optimal function, we may see far-reaching imbalances and dysregulation in the body.
Here are some major signs of liver dysfunction and toxic overload to look out for:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood swings
- Lack of energy
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Bloating
- Digestive discomfort
- Migraines/headaches
- Skin conditions
- Abdominal swelling
- Abdominal pain
- Brain fog
- Weight loss resistance
- Skin issues
An individual’s health and wellbeing depends on how well they are able to process and eliminate toxins from the body, but how are we exposed to toxins in the first place?
Alcohol might be the first thing that comes to mind, since when many people think of liver disease, they think of alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis. However, there are a number of nonalcoholic factors that can contribute to cirrhosis and liver damage.
In today’s world, we are constantly surrounded by toxic elements that contribute to our toxic burden. Environmental toxins, household cleaning products, hair and skincare products, makeup, chemicals in food, alcohol, medications, and chronic malnutrition.
Our systems are equipped to handle some degree of toxic exposure, but as individuals are increasingly exposed to more and more toxins, the liver can surpass its threshold and start to experience damage.
It is a common misconception that we can take a magic remedy to “detox” the liver and our bodies. However, the liver itself is the mechanism behind the detox. Therefore, we can show the liver some love by utilizing sound nutrition, movement, herbal remedies, and environmental monitoring to support the body and optimize the liver’s detox capacity.
Top Ways to Support Liver Detox
Reduce toxic input
Think about the products you use in your everyday life – makeup, skin and haircare, cleaning products, etc. – all of these have an impact on your toxic buildup. Whenever possible, try opting for products that are “fragrance free” and have no harsh chemicals. Also, following the “clean 15” and “dirty dozen” to opt for organic produce whenever possible can help cut down on toxic exposure.
Improve air quality
Reduce sources of air pollution, avoid burning candles laden with artificial fragrance, vacuum and dust regularly, open the windows occasionally to let in outdoor air, maintain and clean the filters in your home, invest in a quality air purifier, and be sure to test for mold if you suspect mold is present in your home. Another great way to purify the air is to get yourself some plants.
Improve water quality
Hidden sources of toxins can hide in the water we drink every day so be sure to test your water often, review online reports of water quality in your community, change your filter lines, replace old plumbing and use a high-quality water filtration system whenever possible.
Increase toxic output
Stimulate the body to more efficiently remove toxins. Sweat it out! Working up a sweat through movement is a great way to naturally rid the body of toxins. Try spending some time in an infrared sauna if you have access to one. Another great way to stimulate detox is to try incorporating regular Epsom salt baths into your daily routine.
Boost protein and fiber intake
Both protein and fiber are incredibly important for detox. Protein helps to sweep away toxins from the body and can aid in hunger control, which can prevent over-indulgence of unhealthy foods. Dietary fiber has also been associated with increased antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes in the liver, thus reducing the nitrogen-processing burden of the kidneys.
Stimulate bile production and flow
Bile plays a large role in the detoxification process. Toxins such as carcinogens, heavy metals, xenobiotic chemicals and pharmaceuticals are stored in the bile before they are eliminated. That said, it is important to make sure that bile flow and production are optimized. To do this: make sure you are properly hydrating, try eating bitter foods like dark leafy greens, beetroot, and artichokes; try out some roasted dandelion tea, lemon tea or celery juice; and practice regular meal times.
Try out some herbal remedies
Bitters taken 15 minutes before meals can help with bile production while herbs like triphala, shilajit, guduchi, and hibiscus also aid in this process. Detoxifying herbs like burdock root and milk thistle can also be a good option for opening up liver detox pathways. Herbals can be incorporated through tinctures or teas and can be a great way to support your liver.
Castor oil packs
Castor oil comes from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant and can aid in liver detoxification. Castor oil contains essential fatty acids such as ricinoleic acid that help the liver naturally shuttle particles and cleanse the body of toxins. A castor oil pack can be placed directly on the liver to stimulate detoxification, and a heating pad can be added over the castor oil pack for extra warmth and relaxation!
Testing for liver health
Not sure how to know if your liver is functioning optimally? When in doubt, test don’t guess! While physical presentation of symptoms can be a great indication of how the liver is functioning, we can also look to lab testing. Here are some common labs that we can look at to measure liver damage:
- Alanine transaminase (ALT)
- Aspartate transaminase (AST)
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
- Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)
- Serum bilirubin
- Serum albumin
These liver function tests will look for elevated liver enzymes, which identify death of liver cells, commonly caused by insulin resistance and fatty liver.
Our livers do so much for our bodies to help regulate our toxic burden. If you are interested in learning more about the health of your liver, I encourage you to work with a practitioner!