Do you wake up each morning still tired from the previous day and just wish you could hit the snooze button for another couple of hours? Do you drag yourself through each day wondering how you will find the energy to complete the day?
If this is you, then it is best to look at the reasons for your fatigue.
Can your liver function be contributing to your tiredness and fatigue?
The liver is the second largest filter of the body and deals with about 500 roles. The roles include balancing blood sugar levels, filters the blood, removes bacteria and viral particles, detoxifies alcohol, detoxifies coffee, helps breakdown hormones after they have been utilised, and stores vitamins and minerals such as Iron, Copper, Vitamin A, D and B12. The liver filters almost everything that enters the body.
The above list is only a handful of roles of the liver and already you can see that the liver has a lot to do each day. When the liver becomes overburdened and the detoxification reactions cannot keep up with the current demands, we are left feeling tired, exhausted and run-down.
In our current diet, many consume too much refined sugar, when we are tired and run-down, thinking that it will help give us energy. Unfortunately, the sugar consumption creates more demand on our liver that is generally already overburdened. We also reach for the caffeinated beverages and alcohol and these too create a burden on our liver. With so much to do every day, it is no wonder the liver gets overburdened and we feel sluggish, tired and fatigued.
How do you know if your liver is overburdened?
Tick the following symptoms that relate to you:
- Feel bloated or full feeling one hour after a meal.
- Nausea or indigestion from fatty or rich foods
- Unexplained nausea
- Sensitive to smells, perfumes and fragrances
- Pain under the ribs on the right-hand side
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Skin issues such as dermatitis or eczema
- Unexplained itchy skin
- Yellow discolouration of the skin or eyes
- Dark urine and a strong smell of urine
- Fluid retention in legs and ankles
- Premenstrual symptoms such as mood changes, cramps, clotting, sore breast.
- Struggle to lose weight
- Low motivation
- Irritability and short temper
- Tight muscles
- Waking up in the early hours of the morning (1-3 am) and struggle to get back to sleep
- Easy bruising.
Add up the number of boxes you ticked. If you scored 8 or more, your liver may be overburdened and in need of support.
Tips to help your liver function optimally:
- Drink at least 2 L of filtered water daily
- Eat plenty of fresh produce of fruits, salads and vegetables, with lots of colour and variety.
- Reduce processed and refined foods (packaged foods)
- Reduce your refined sugar intake
- Reduce your caffeine intake
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Start your day with 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice in a small amount of water.
In my book ‘The Energy Solution – A mothers guide to go from frazzled and fatigued to fabulous’, I talk in-depth about the liver and its roles and what you can do to help it, as well as many other triggers for your fatigue and tiredness.
Making these tips routines will help your liver in its everyday functions. Routine is the key. Doing a liver cleanse once or twice a year helps but does not support your liver for the rest of the year. Make healthy habits to support your liver, your energy and your health. Want help to restore your liver? Contact me for an appointment.
Have a fabulous day.
