Just like the name suggests, fatty liver is a build-up of fat in the liver.
Fatty liver affects our energy, weight, and hormones by affecting how effectively the liver can operate.
Check your symptoms below and take action to LOVE YOUR LIVER!
Thyroid and Liver Function
Thyroid hormone directly acts on our body, affecting the way it functions. This includes the brain, the digestive tract, the cardiovascular system, bone metabolism, red blood cell metabolism, gall bladder and liver function, steroid hormone production, glucose metabolism, lipid, and cholesterol metabolism, protein metabolism, and body temperature regulation.
And that is just the tip of the iceberg!
Therefor it goes without saying that most of our patients with sub-optimal thyroid function will also have sluggish liver function at best.
If coupled with a history of stress, obesity, alcohol abuse, or autoimmune diseases, there is a good chance the liver has built up unhealthy levels of fat inside it called FATTY LIVER.
Interestingly, one of the first signs of sub-optimal thyroid hormone production is a rise in serum cholesterol levels. Before statin medications were developed, Doctors would give a low dose of thyroid hormone to correct this.
There have been studies done that associated a clear link between sub-clinical hypothyroidism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and what we see in our clinic definitely confirms that.
Drugs – party or prescription
The liver normally removes and breaks down most drugs and chemicals from your bloodstream, including alcohol, prescription medication, panadol, and antihistamines.
Many drugs have warnings on the box stating if they can cause liver inflammation or damage – but some don’t. The most common include; Antibiotics, Antipsychotic drugs, Statins, Ibuprofen, Birth control pills, Anabolic steroids – to name just a few.
The majority of drugs are fat-soluble, meaning that they are difficult to pass in urine. The enzymes in the liver work to break down these substances and convert them into water-soluble forms, which can then pass in bile and/or urine.
Things get more complicated when multiple factors combine, all needing to be metabolised by the liver. This includes; Combining drugs and/or alcohol, Obesity, Genetics (such as MTHFR), Pregnancy, Other diseases, such as HIV or liver disease, Illicit drug abuse, or polypharmacy.
Are you feeling like you need a liver detox yet?
Your Liver and Chemicals
ALL toxins need to be dealt with through the liver – and we live in the most chemically saturated time in existence!
You might be aware of some chemicals, like exhaust fumes or cigarette smoke. But the following are also considered toxins to our bodies and need to be dealt with every day.
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- Allergens
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- Chemicals
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- Drinking Water
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- Electromagnetic Fields
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- Geopathic Stress
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- Germs
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- Lead
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- Mould
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- Toxic Gasses
Breaking down toxins creates byproducts that can damage the liver. Although the liver has a great capacity for regeneration, constant exposure to toxic substances can cause serious, sometimes irreversible harm.
Signs that you need a liver cleanse:
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- Fatigue – sluggish
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- Waking between 1:00 – 3:00am
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- Inappropriate anger or rage
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- White or yellow-coated tongue and/or bad breath
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- Weight gain – especially around the abdomen
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- Poor digestion
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- Feeling nauseas after fatty meals
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- Headaches
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- Red or dry eyes, itchy eyes
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- Craving sour foods
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- Yellow Whites of Your Eyes
Why you store fat around the middle
As you can imagine, our liver has a LOT to do every day!
On top of what we have already discussed, it also does the following:
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- Bile production and excretion for digestion of fats and absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K.
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- Excretion of hormones and by products – such as excess estrogen
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- Metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates
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- Enzyme activation
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- Storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals
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- Synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin, and clotting factors
The liver serves as a pre-processing organ that can convert fructose to glucose or fat. The liver can release the glucose and fat into the blood or store it as glycogen or fat depots. If you overwhelm your liver’s capacity to metabolise fructose, which happens relatively easily with the standard Australian diet, then excess fructose will get turned into liver fat. This is a process called de novo lipogenesis.
It is all made way worse when you have a sluggish thyroid, high stress hormones, insulin resistance, or a mutation with the MTHFR gene.
If you have more than 1 of the above factors, you may find that you need to do a liver detox every 3-6 months to stay lean and healthy.
Work with a detox specialist to get on top of your health, lose weight, and feel great again!
Ask us how ~ Click here to book your first 15 minute consult for FREE!
