You are probably asking yourself, “How do I know if my liver is toxic?”
It is not always easy to determine if a liver is functioning poorly. The reason is that there are many conditions that are associated with a sick liver that arise from different causes. Symptoms like irritability and fatigue may indicate a toxic liver but they can also be caused by a multitude of factors.
A doctor may tell you your chronic fatigue arises from stress and a poor diet. Those problems may actually be contributing to a poorly functioning liver, but because toxic liver symptoms are so common to other conditions, you are diagnosed incorrectly.
Once you experience multiple adverse health conditions regularly, this could be a sign that you have an unhealthy liver. Remember that the liver’s main function is to rid the body of harmful substances. So if it is not working properly, a long list of negative health conditions and symptoms can arise.
How do you know if your liver is not functioning well? Below are the symptoms of a toxic liver.
Superficial Symptoms
Superficial symptoms refer to signs that you can see on your body. This means you can simply step up to a mirror, or look at your body and identify symptoms. These involve the color of your eyes, skin or even the condition of your mouth. Below are the superficial symptoms that possibly indicate a problematic liver.
Eyes
Having a toxic liver can be manifested through the eyes. As the windows to our souls, we can tell that something is wrong in our internal body through the condition of our eyes. For instance, if you experience chronic itching, redness or puffiness in your eyes and you are not allergic to anything, it can indicate a problem in your liver.
Take note of the color of your eyes. If you see a yellow tinge on the whites of your eyes, it can be an indication of jaundice, which is a sign of a toxic and severely damaged liver.
Skin
The skin can tell if the liver is functioning well or not. (This needs to be repeated, because it is so important. If you have chronic skin conditions of any sort, this could be a sign of a poorly functioning liver. This is one of the easiest and earliest toxic liver symptoms to spot.) If you feel itchy at all times or mysterious brown spots or blemishes appear on your skin, then you can suspect something is wrong with your liver.
Other signs you need to look for include a yellowish hue on the skin, rashes such as eczema, extreme acne breakouts and the emergence of gross body odor. The visible appearance of blood vessels on the face can also indicate a problem, as well as the itchiness of your palms and the soles of your feet.
A toxic liver can also be manifested through bad breath and a coated tongue. However, such symptoms are often mistaken for other diseases thus it is important to look for the major signs and symptoms of a toxic liver.
Major Symptoms
While the superficial symptoms are not always reliable in identifying the presence of liver disease, looking at the major symptoms can help you confirm that your liver is suffering severely. Below are the major signs that identify a toxic liver.
(If you have more than one of the following major symptoms, and one or more of the minor or superficial symptoms, you should take some kind of treatment action as soon as possible. A natural liver detox can be implemented immediately, and goes to work instantly returning your liver to its naturally healthy state.
However, it is important to always consult with a physician regarding your symptoms and discuss your plans to try a natural approach to improving your health.)
Poor Immunity
Since the liver is mainly responsible for removing contaminants and toxic substance from the body, a damaged liver often results to having a low immune system. This means you find yourself frequently falling prey to sickness, infections, colds and the flu.
A person with a toxic liver often experiences inflammation, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and recurring infections. Autoimmune diseases may also arise from having a poor liver. These conditions indicate a weakening of your body’s natural defense systems.
Blood Sugar Problems
Type 2 diabetes may also be associated with a toxic liver. In fact, it is one of the symptoms of a fatty liver disease. Remember that one of the functions of the liver is the storage of glucose. A fatty liver disease means your liver is incapable of removing glucose from the blood. So if you suffer from Type 2 diabetes, then you should suspect a toxic liver.
Impaired Cognition and Brain Function
The liver is often referred to as the seat of anger because you often feel angry and agitated if it is not functioning well. This has something to do with the inability of a damaged liver to detoxify the body from harmful substances. Once these (harmful substances) build up in the bloodstream, it affects all of your other organs as well.
As a result, having a toxic liver causes distress particularly to the nervous system. This means chronic headaches occur, as well as heightened levels of anxiety, stress, depression, impaired cognition, and drastic mood changes.
Digestive Problems
Bile is produced in the liver to aid in digestion. A toxic liver wreaks havoc on the digestive system which can lead to problems like indigestion, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, vomiting, and hemorrhoids. Gallstones may also result from a poorly functioning liver, as well as intolerance to alcohol and fatty foods. This is often manifested by bloating.
Slow Metabolism
A slow metabolism means weight gain. Your metabolic process is how efficiently you burn calories. When your liver is not functioning well, your metabolism slows down to a snail’s pace so you likely gain weight easily. Having a roll of fat tissues in the abdominal area is an indication that the liver is not functioning properly.
This happens because the liver does not produce enough bile to break down fats and remove it as wastes. As a result, fat easily builds around the organs as visceral fats, which can lead to elevated cholesterol levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
(If you have tried in vain to lose weight and burn body fat, it may not be your fault. It is not a cause of laziness or lack of willpower. It may just be that you need a healthy liver detox to lose the extra body weight which has been frustrating you for so many years.)
Once you suspect yourself of having a toxic liver, you can confirm your condition by undergoing a liver-function test. If you determine your liver is toxic, and is not functioning properly, a natural liver detox is your first step to looking and feeling healthy once again.
