The liver is the largest internal organ which is responsible for many important functions in the human body. The liver plays a vital role in many metabolic processes including the elimination of toxic waste from the body (If the toxins are not flushed from the body, they will create a toxic environment, which is perfect for all carcinogenic cells). Apart from this important function, the liver also helps in the digestion process and it also stores nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for the organism.

If this essential organ becomes sluggish and slows down, the accumulated toxins in the body become stored in the fatty tissues until your liver becomes healthy again and able to remove the toxins. Early signs of liver problems should not be ignored and medical help should be sought to assure proper treatment. Here are 15 warning signs to look out for.

Some of the warning signs, which may indicate that your liver isn’t functioning properly:

• Anxiety and depression
• Chronic fatigue
• Headaches
• Improper digestion
• Lethargy
• Acne and other skin conditions
• Chronic muscle and joint pain
• Gases, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation
• Hormonal imbalance
• Increased weight
• Allergies
• Chronic bad breath
• Excessive perspiration
• Chemical sensitivities
• Pessimistic emotions

If you experience any of these warning signs, don’t disregard them as insignificant. These are just some of the symptoms that can happen when your liver isn’t functioning properly.

The ones listed above are the most significant and common ones, but there are also other signs which warn you that your liver is not in its best state. For instance, at times, liver issues may also lead to difficulties at losing weight even if the person consumes healthy food and exercises regularly.

What should you do to improve the liver’s function?

As with most metabolic issues, dietary changes come first. In order to improve the function of your liver, you need to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Also, habits that affect your liver function should be avoided as much as possible.

Here are some important tips and tricks that will help you improve the liver’s health

• Drink plenty of water
• Replace processed and refined foods with organic foods, which are free of sodium and other toxic substances
• Go on a healthy balanced diet that includes whole foods, animal and plant protein, grains, fermented foods, healthy fats, nuts and seeds
• Cut out inflammatory vegetable oils from your diet such as canola, corn, soybeans, vegetable oil cottonseed, safflower or sunflower
• Increase your intake of healthy fats
• Do not use refined sugars in your diet
• Increase your intake of dietary fiber: whole foods, chia seeds, artichokes, avocados, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, etc.
• Reduce your fructose intake to 20g per day
• Increase your intake of leafy green vegetables, as they contain high amounts of magnesium, folate, Vitamin C and Vitamin B
• Limit or cut down alcohol intake
• Consume animal and vegetable amino acids, which are found in chicken, eggs, raw spinach, parsley, cabbage, beets, etc.
• Increase your intake of sulfur-rich foods like eggs, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, garlic, onion, asparagus, kale, etc.

The following 3 ingredients are also very useful and beneficial for your liver:

Artichokes:

The high fiber and antioxidant properties of artichokes protect and support the liver function.

Turmeric:

Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is another useful ingredient that is effective in protecting the liver.

Milk thistle

This medicinal herb is rich in antioxidants, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties, that are able to prevent damages to the liver caused by toxins, viruses or alcohol.

As you can see, the liver is a vital organ that is essential to the human vitality and health. So, you should take good care of it by eating the right foods and improving your lifestyle.