A yellow tinge to your skin and eyes is a well-known sign that your liver isn't working as it should. Jaundice occurs when your liver can't process bilirubin properly, a yellow pigment created when your body breaks down old red blood cells. But did you know there are lots of other red flags that could also suggest your liver function isn't optimal?
A healthy liver is essential for filtering out the toxins in your blood. Helping to remove any nasties that have sneaked into your body, from harmful bacteria to fungi, parasites, and allergens. It also helps regulate your blood sugar levels and produces enzymes, hormones, and the proteins you need for blood clotting. Plus, the liver plays a crucial role in metabolising carbohydrates and fat into energy. In total, your liver is thought to be essential for over 500 processes in the body! So, when it isn't working as well as it should, it can have a huge impact on how you feel.
A sluggish liver won't necessarily trigger the telltale yellow skin you might associate with liver dysfunction, especially in the early stages. But it can cause a whole host of other health issues – including histamine intolerance (Want to know more about this? Our blog 5 Histamine Intolerance Symptoms You Need to Know has lots of helpful info) – and is definitely something you want to get on top of before it becomes serious.
Why is it so important to recognise the signs of compromised liver function?
According to the Liver Trust, there are 11,000 deaths each year in the UK due to liver disease. Worryingly, there has been a four-fold increase in death-rates over the last 50 years, thought to be due to increasing levels of obesity and alcohol consumption, which can both put pressure on liver function.
It's not all doom and gloom though, there are plenty of things you can do to address a sluggish liver before it escalates into liver disease. From simple lifestyle changes, like more exercise, and diet tweaks, to taking supplements to help support your liver – especially glutathione, a detox superstar that helps your liver filter out all the nasties more efficiently.
The easiest and most effective way to get your glutathione is the Patch Aid Glutathione Plus patch. This handy patch also contains Milk Thistle, a tried and tested natural supplement people have been taking to support liver function for centuries. One of the most researched natural supplements for the liver, Milk Thistle helps protect liver cells, supports regeneration, and reduces inflammation.
But first, you need to recognise the surprising signs that might be telling your liver function is subpar. Here are the most common symptoms to look out for:
6 signs of sluggish liver function:
1. Fatigue and Brain Fog:
If your liver function isn't tip-top, toxins can build up everywhere in your body, including your brain. Leading to brain fog, poor concentration, and forgetfulness. Your liver also helps regulate your blood sugar and metabolise energy. So, if you have a sluggish liver, these processes won't work as they should. You might feel tired all the time, or slump after eating, as your body struggles to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
2. Digestive Issues:
Symptoms like bloating, nausea, constipation, and intolerance to fatty foods could be a sign that your liver function isn't where it should be. The liver produces bile which is essential for breaking down fat in your small intestine, if bile production is low you may struggle with digesting foods with a high fat content. High amounts of toxins in your body can also slow down your metabolism and your digestion, and trigger bloating, and irregular bowel movements.
3. Hormonal Imbalances:
Fed up with full-on PMS symptoms or irregular cycles? This could be down to poor liver function too! The liver breaks down hormones like oestrogen once they're no longer needed. If your liver is sluggish these hormones linger in the bloodstream and can lead to imbalances like oestrogen dominance. The most common symptoms are PMS, heavy periods, mood swings, and even fibroids.
4. Mood Disturbances:
A sluggish liver means toxins and hormones can build up and affect your brain function – leading to depression, irritability, and mood swings. As discussed, your blood sugar might also be all over the place, which can also negatively affect mood.
5. Histamine intolerance:
If you've been experiencing heightened sensitivity to alcohol, caffeine, and foods like aged cheese, cured meat, and fermented goodies like sauerkraut – you might have histamine intolerance (HIT). Yet another symptom of a compromised liver! This highly underdiagnosed condition occurs when there’s an accumulation of histamine in the body, leading to symptoms like headaches, hives, and digestive discomfort. A sluggish liver impairs the breakdown and clearance of histamine, so if you've got HIT, this might be a factor.
6. Skin Problems:
Poor liver function won't just affect what's going on inside your body, there can also be some outward signs. Acne, rashes, and dark circles under the eyes could all indicate your liver isn't clearing toxins as well as it should be.
All these symptoms could be warning signs that your liver is overburdened and not effectively processing toxins and hormones. Living with a few of these? Try these tips to support your liver and see if you feel better:
Take the right supplements to support liver function:
Your go-to supplement for liver health is Glutathione. Known as the “master antioxidant,” glutathione supports detoxification, encourages cellular repair in the liver, AND protects against oxidative stress. The Patch Aid Glutathione patch is an excellent way to provide the steady supply of glutathione a sluggish liver might need – because the active ingredient is delivered continuously throughout the 8 hours you wear the patch, rather than one big dose (which can be hard for your body to use). Plus – because the glutathione is delivered through your skin, less is broken down in the gut, unlike oral supplements.
You could also try taking N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) which can help with detoxification and protect against liver damage. As well as other supplements that experts recommend to help support a sluggish liver such as: choline, taurine, curcumin (turmeric), and vitamins C and E. Guess what? Our Patch Aid Hangover Plus patch contains all of these – everything you need to support your liver and enjoy the odd glass of wine, safe in the knowledge you’ll avoid the dreaded ‘morning after’ feeling!
Tweak your diet to support liver function:
If your liver function is already compromised, toxin-laden processed foods and alcoholic drinks are the last things you should be eating and drinking! Fat can be particularly problematic for your liver to break down, so it's also worth switching to a lower-fat diet.
Drink plenty of water each day (at least 2 litres) to help flush the toxins from your body and switch to a diet that supports liver function. Liver-friendly foods include leafy greens, like spinach and kale, cruciferous veggies including broccoli and cauliflower, plus: garlic, beetroot, and berries. All these goodies contain high levels of antioxidants and will help support liver health by boosting detox and reducing inflammation in your body.
Make your lifestyle liver-friendly:
Other simple ways to give your liver function a boost include: exercising regularly, to improve circulation and support detoxification. It's also worth reducing the environmental toxins around you as much as you can, to cut down the toxins your liver has to process. Try using natural or so-called 'clean' personal care and cleaning products around your home and avoid harmful chemicals like ammonia and bleach. For more ideas on how to switch up your lifestyle to support your liver, we'd recommend Dr Sarah Williams blog here.
