In college, before any Friday night out, my roommates and I would always jokingly apologize to our livers. Now that I'm 25, I'm starting to actually mean that apology. Even though I don't drink nearly as much as I used to, and have been taking concrete steps for my health, my family history of liver disease and cancer has been at the back of my mind for a few years now. While there is no magic pill out there to prevent my genetic predisposition to liver conditions, after doing some research I discovered there are liver support supplements available to help me keep my liver as healthy as I can.  

 

• Process food -All blood that leaves the stomach and intestines passes through the liver to be metabolized. The liver "processes this blood and breaks down balances, and creates the nutrients," according toHopkins Medicine. 
• Break down fat to convert to energy - Remember that bile substance we mentioned earlier? That yellow-green substance actually helps the body break down fat to use as energy. 
• Regulate blood sugar - The liver also pulls glucose from the bloodstream to create and store a form of glucose called glycogen. When blood sugar levels get too low, the liver then releases glycogen to maintain balance. 
• Flush toxins- When toxins enter our system, the liver pulls them from the blood to flush them out. The liver does this by taking the pulled toxins and releasing them in our urine or stool. Our liver is constantly working to remove these toxins which can include alcohol, medications, environmental toxins, and additives in foods. 

 

In addition to these four main liver functions, this organ has also been identified as playing a role in more than 500 vital functions in the body, according to Hopkins Medicine, including: 

 

• Production of certain proteins for blood plasma
• Production of cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body
• Regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks of proteins
• Processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content (the liver stores iron)
• Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea (urea is an end product of protein metabolism and is excreted in the urine)
• Regulating blood clotting
• Resisting infections by making immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream
• Clearance of bilirubin, also from red blood cells. If there is an accumulation of bilirubin, the skin and eyes turn yellow

 

The good news? Adding a liver support supplement or a liver detox to your routine should help you find balance again. But how do you know when it's time to start a liver detox or liver support supplement? 

 

Here are some signs your body could be giving that you have a buildup of toxins and it might be time to give your liver a bit of a boost: 

 

• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Stomach upset by greasy foods
• Digestive issues (constipation, diarrhea, bloating, etc.) 
• Weight gain
• Food and scent intolerances (cleaning products, harsh chemicals, strong foods, etc.)
• Weakened immune system function (frequently contracting colds or viruses) 
• Skin problems (acne, rashes, etc.) 
• Headache over the eyes
• Bitter taste in the mouth (especially after meals)
• Become sick or easily intoxicated if drinking wine
• Easily hungover
• Pain under the right side of the rib cage
• Lower back pain
• Hemorrhoids or varicose veins
• Fatigue/low energy 
• Dark urine, yellow skin (Jaundice)

 

• Elevated liver enzymes - Enzymes are "are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in your body," and when elevated levels of them "often indicate inflammation or damage to cells in the live" 
• Hepatitis - Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection, but can also be caused by autoimmune conditions and "as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol." There are five kinds of hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis​​​​ E. A) that are caused by viral infections. The other forms, such as alcoholic hepatitis, damage the liver cells over time. 
• Cirrhosis - Cirrhosis is defined by the Mayo Clinic as "a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism." Essentially, every time the liver is damaged, scar tissue is formed to help the liver heal. Unfortunately, too much of this scar tissue can make it difficult for the liver to function properly, and the damage is permanent. 
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - When too much fat is being stored in the liver cells in individuals who have a history of little to no drinking, they may be diagnosed with NAFLD. The Mayo Clinic explains how this can be dangerous, "Some individuals with NAFLD can develop nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an aggressive form of fatty liver disease, which is marked by liver inflammation and may progress to advanced scarring (cirrhosis) and liver failure." The liver damage caused by NAFLD is comparable to the liver damage caused by years of heavy drinking. 
• Chronic liver disease - The NIH describes the chronic liver disease as "a progressive deterioration of liver functions for more than six months, which includes synthesis of clotting factors, other proteins, detoxification of harmful products of metabolism, and excretion of bile." Chronic liver disease usually ends with individuals experiencing cirrhosis, and can be caused by a number of factors, including toxins, alcohol abuse for a prolonged time, infection, autoimmune diseases, genetic and metabolic disorders. 

 

These are all serious medical conditions that need to be discussed with a healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and about potentially adding a dietary supplement for your liver health. You may also want to read our other article aboutsigns your liver is full of toxins.

 

• Dandelion root - While more research is needed, dandelion root is thought to help the liver create more bile. There was alsoa study conducted in 2017 that suggests that a type of carbohydrate called polysaccharides may help with detoxifying the liver. 
• Turmeric - Turmeric is known for its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which aid in digestion and can help boost your liver function by preventing free radical damage and damage caused by toxins.  
• Artichoke leaf - Not only do artichoke leaves have antioxidant properties but they have also been found in animal studies to help liver cells regenerate. Additionally, there have been recent studies in those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that found artichoke leaf reduced markers of liver damage compared to the placebo. 

 

• Dandelion Leaf Extract
• Alpha Lipoic Acid
• Yellow Dock Root
• Magnesium
• Taurine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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