Most people know that liver health is important, but don’t know how to go about boosting it. However, understanding the liver’s key role in the body—what it does, what keeps it functioning well, and how it impacts our wider well-being—can help us lead healthier, happier lives, so we probably should know how to boost our liver health. Here’s what experts have to say.
What role does the liver play in the body?
“The liver is the body’s largest solid organ and has over 500 vital functions,” explains nutritionist Lucy Miller. “Its main role is to support metabolism, detoxification and immune functions. The liver processes the food that we eat and converts it into energy—it also breaks certain substances down and makes toxins less harmful to the body, removing them from the bloodstream.” Hepatocytes, the cells within the liver, sort out which nutrients to process, and which should be stored, eliminated or returned to the blood.
It also plays a key role in our hormone health, processing all of the hormones circulating around our bodies. “Once the body has used a hormone, the liver then processes it out of the body,” says Natasha Richardson, medical herbalist and founder of Forage Botanicals. “Most of us don’t realize the key role it plays in our menstrual cycles.”
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is responsible for directing the flow of Qi (energy) in our body, plus it also directs blood circulation, says acupuncturist Renata Nunes.
What is key to remember is that the liver acts as the body’s natural detoxifier.
What are the symptoms of an unhealthy liver?
Unsurprisingly, our livers now encounter more toxins than ever before. “We are surrounded by far more chemicals in daily life, which have made their way into our air, water, soil and food,” says Miller. “We are also exposed to toxins via the products that we use in the home or on our skin, and these substances accumulate over the years, sometimes causing harm and pushing vital nutrients out.” The most damaging things for our liver are long-term heavy alcohol use, drugs, excess sugar and obesity.
As for the symptoms of an unhealthy liver: “If we overload it with everyday toxins, we may experience symptoms such as brain fog, aching joints, poor skin, changes in mood, alteration to bowel function, headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, poor sleep and poor immunity,” explains Miller. All generally unwelcome, but when the liver is exposed to excessive toxins—such as too much alcohol, or processed foods filled with high sugar and saturated fat—in the long-term, we can suffer actual liver damage or disease. “If you’re worried about your liver health, your GP can perform a liver function test,” adds Miller.
If you’ve ever had acupuncture or another TCM treatment, your practitioner may have explained that your liver needs balancing. In TCM, when the liver function is not working well, Nunes says we may have difficulty moving our joints, difficulty in reasoning, slow digestion (potentially leading to gas, period cramps and blood clots), shoulder and neck pain, and other issues related to circulation problems. “We call it stagnation, which means the liver’s energy system is not working as it should,” she says, adding that emotionally, it’s often linked to anger. “Irritability, frustration, hurt and resentment are emotions that affect the liver system.”