Of all of our organs, our livers are probably tasked with the most duties because they help rid our body of toxins through bowel movements and filtration. While our bodies are quite hardy and our livers will continue their functions, keeping poor dietary and lifestyle habits can jeopardize our health.
If people keep poor diets, our livers can become surrounded by a layer of unhealthy fatty tissue. This fat can keep our livers from performing their usual functions, allowing toxins to stay inside our body.
While it might seem impossible to recognize this as it’s happening, doctors have very helpfully compiled a list of warning signs that could help us diagnose when we have liver problems ourselves. These are the symptoms that your body might exhibit if your liver is failing to perform because of fatty tissue built up from your diet:
Chronic fatigue, negative emotions, brain fog or other lethargy, dull headaches, headaches or migraines that start from behind the eye, chronic joint or muscle pain, excessive sweating, allergies, acne or other skin conditions, gas and bloating, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, hormonal imbalances, anxiety or depression, chemical sensitivities, and chronic bad breath.
It’s a long list to wade through, but don’t get too scared. Doctors say that it’s only when you can recognize three or more of these symptoms occurring simultaneously that you have cause for concern.
At that point, there’s still no need to panic. You can easily return your liver to its healthy state by making some simple adjustments to your diet and lifestyle:
Buy organic, non-GMO foods; maintain a balanced diet of protein, grains, fermented foods, and healthy fats; avoid unnecessary sources of oil; get enough fiber (at least 1.25 ounces each day); reduce or eliminate refined sugars; pack in leafy green vegetables; avoid alcohol; and drink enough water for your body weight.
You can find out how much water your body needs by dividing your body weight in pounds by 2. This will let you know how many ounces of water your body actually needs in a day.
If you’re not sure what foods to start with to improve your health, try globe artichokes that promote liver functions, or turmeric, an herb that helps flush carcinogens out of your body.
For even more food inspiration, watch this helpful video:
Good luck!