You might be gaining weight despite the regular exercises you take. The problem might not be solvable by just that.
There is a link between liver function and weight gain. If you have recently been adding weight, then it might be your liver.
What can stop your liver from functioning efficiently, and how does that affect your body weight?
We will explain how the liver works and how its malfunction can result in weight gain. We will also talk about how to keep your liver healthy and many more related topics. Stay on board!
Contents
The Link Between Liver Function and Weight Gain
To understand how liver malfunction can lead to unexpected weight gain, we should break the topic into sections.
We will know how the liver works. Secondly, we list what can affect the function of the liver. And lastly, we will state symptoms of a damaged liver organ.
How Does the Liver Work?
The liver is the second largest organ in the human body after the skin. All the blood that leaves the digestive system is channeled to the liver for processing.
The liver holds about 13% of the total volume of blood in the body at any given time. That explains the vital functions that the liver performs.
In explaining how the liver works, we will not introduce the scientific jargon. The liver’s primary function is to purify the blood from the digestive tract before passing it on to the rest of the body.
The part of blood filtration includes detoxification of chemicals and metabolism of fat absorbed from the digested food.
The liver does over 500 known functions. However, in this context, we will only explain the fat metabolism in the liver.
Fat is digested from the food we eat and absorbed into the bloodstream. When they are broken down, they release energy to the body. This is needed by the liver and other organs to function.
What Happens to the Liver Affects Your Weight
A damaged liver cannot carry out the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates efficiently.
That leads to the accumulation of fats in the body, especially in the lower abdomen. If you have noticed any additional weight gain you can’t explain, then a damaged liver can be the victim.
The liver ensures that the excess fat you eat with the food does not accumulate in the body.
It metabolizes fats and releases the by-products through bile and released into the intestines and finally out of the bowel.
By metabolizing fat, the liver keeps your body weight checked. As mentioned, an improperly functioning liver will not perform this function properly.
The immediate effect of liver damage is the swelling of liver cells, making the liver bigger. The swollen liver will lead to a protruding belly.
Possible Symptoms Of Bad Liver
You can know when your liver is damaged before it is too late and take necessary measures. The following symptoms indicate a bad liver:
- Yellowing of skin and eyes due to the obstruction of the bile duct in the liver.
- Protruding belly, which is characterized by pain due to the swelling of the liver.
- Legs and ankles swell due to sodium retention in the body – a damaged kidney cannot get rid of sodium from the blood.
- Advanced kidney diseases cause skin irritation that can be life-disrupting.
- Dark brown urine is a sign of liver or kidney damage.
- Light-colored or clay-colored stools.
- A damaged liver cannot metabolize efficiently, causing recurrent tiredness.
- Accumulation of waste products in the body causes nausea or stomach upset.
- Liver diseases such as Cirrhosis and liver cancer can result in appetite loss.
- Easy bruising due to inefficient protein production by the damaged liver
Many people are fond of ignoring these early symptoms, however, they can develop into more severe conditions.
In such cases, your liver can fail. A liver transplant will be the only remedy. It is advisable to see a doctor as soon as you experience the above signs and symptoms.
The symptoms listed can be as a result of liver diseases such as:
- Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): The term refers to different conditions that result from the fat build-up in the liver. It is common in obese and overweight individuals. It is characterized by abdominal pain, general body weakness, edema, jaundice, etc.
- Hepatitis: This is an inflammation of the liver caused by viral infections. It can also result from heavy drinking, drugs, allergic reactions, and other causes.
- Cirrhosis: A long-term damage to the liver that causes permanent scarring of the liver. It is a severe condition that will affect organ function. Liver Cirrhosis is fatal.
- Liver Cancer: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common liver cancer triggered by liver Cirrhosis and other conditions.
4 Effective Ways to Support Liver Function
The liver is a crucial organ in the body. Its malfunction or failure can lead to death. It is, therefore, a necessity to ensure that your liver stays healthy and functions properly.
Gaining weight is just one among other more severe conditions that can result from liver damage.
Fortunately, you do not need to spend much to maintain the health status of your liver. It only involves some worthy lifestyle changes and eating habits. You can do that through the following ways:
Eat Foods to Cleanse Your Liver
Fruit is a diet rich in fiber and antioxidants that can help you remove chemicals from the liver and other body organs.
They naturally cleanse the liver by enhancing its ability to remove toxins from the body. Cleansing your liver will benefit your health in many ways, and you can do it by eating the following fruits:
- Grapefruit
- Beets
- Carrots
- Papayas
- Broccoli
- Avocados
BROCCOLI FRESH PRODUCE FRUIT VEGETABLES EACH BUNDLE
- Fresh Broccoli
- california grown
- try in salad
Avoid Foods That Are Harmful to the Liver
What we eat has a significant impact on the health of our livers. We can damage it or make it function better. Foods with chemicals overload this vital organ, especially sugary and processed foods.
An influx of sugar forces the liver to rapidly break them down, producing glucose and heat.
There will be a rise in blood sugar levels. The liver has to work round the clock to keep up with the required rate of metabolism and detoxification.
In other words, avoid foods that will over-work your liver for it to serve you better. The following is the list of food you should avoid:
- Baked Food Items
- Aerated/Fizzy Drinks (Soda/Cola etc.)
- Alcohol
- Bread
- Fatty/Fast Food Items
- Food Items Rich in Salt
- Red Meat
- Excess Alcohol
- Refined Vegetable Oils
- Factory-Farmed Animal Products
- Refined Grains
- Sugary Drinks/Snacks
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Move And Practice More
The more energy demanded by your body, the higher the rate of metabolism.
Eating carbohydrates and just resting there will lead to the accumulation of glucose in the body. The liver will also slow down because its workload is less than expected.
Walking or doing any other physical activity requires or demands more energy. That energy is generated in the liver when carbohydrates are broken down.
As a result, your body becomes hot, and you begin to sweat. It is a healthy exercise that reduces fat deposition in the liver. The cells will be operating at an optimal condition to remove chemicals from your body.
Reduce Mental Stress
During stress, natural killer cells in the liver expand, sometimes leading to the death of liver cells.
That condition also worsens liver-related complications. Stress also affects the part of your brain that controls blood flow to the liver. An impaired blood flow can trigger liver damage.
Stress demands more energy in your body. That should be provided through metabolism in the liver, meaning the organ has to do extra work. Live a stress-free life to keep your liver healthy.
Conclusion
Liver damage can cause weight gain and other health conditions. It is, therefore, crucial to keep the liver and other organs healthy.
It is our responsibility to live a healthy life. Eat foods that can help detox your liver while avoiding sugary and processed foods that can potentially damage the liver.
We thank you for reading this article at the Em Offgrid. We hope you now understand your liver better and invite you to share this article with your friends. Also, check our previous posts on related topics.