Always Tired – It Could Be A Liver Problem
Alison Cassar
The most common complaint I hear is that people always feel
tired. There are many causes of chronic tiredness. Sometimes
it’s obvious like not getting enough sleep, but other times it
can be due to an underlying health issue. Chronic tiredness can
be a frustrating condition. There usually isn't a simple
solution to it and any medical tests are likely to come back
'normal'.
One reason for chronic tiredness is a problem with liver
function. In this article I’m going to explore liver problems
and how they could cause chronic tiredness.
Common symptoms of liver problems include:
· Feel tired and unrefreshed when you wake up
· Energy levels fluctuate throughout the day, with your
tiredness becoming worse around mid-morning and/or
mid-afternoon
· Difficulty losing weight
· Allergies and intolerances to foods that are worsening as
time goes on
· Reactions to many chemicals including cleaning products,
petrol, paint, perfumes, bleaches, etc.
· Problems digesting fatty/creamy/oily foods. They can make you
feel unwell, nauseous or cause heart burn and reflux
· A yellowish tinge to the skin, eyes and palms of the hands
· Reactions to drugs, in particular headache tablets,
antibiotics and anti-histamines
· An intolerance to alcohol
· Frequent headaches and bad breath
· Skin problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, general
rashes, itchy skin
The liver has many roles within our body and is the hardest
working organ we have. If you have a liver problem, there are
two main reasons that you may experience chronic tiredness.
Firstly, the liver is our main detoxification organ and it does
this three ways.
1. During Phase 1 and 2 detoxification processes, it
coordinates the excretion of most wastes and toxins through the
four main elimination pathways – kidneys, skin, bowels and
lungs. In order to this, it may have to convert fat soluble
toxins into a water soluble form.
2. Along with the kidneys, it is continuously filtering and
cleansing the blood.
3. It produces bile, one of the main carriers of toxins out of
the body.
If the liver becomes congested - either from a high level of
toxins in the body or because bile flow is blocked or reduced -
there will be a build-up of wastes and toxins in the blood
stream. This can pollute the body's fluids and tissues and
place an extra burden on the other eliminative organs. This
situation will commonly lead to an increase in general
tiredness and sluggishness as well as a number of other
symptoms (see list above). This is why people who follow a
detoxification programme often experience an improvement in
their energy; their skin clears and they lose weight.
Secondly, the liver is involved in carbohydrate metabolism.
It's especially important in maintaining a normal blood glucose
level. When blood glucose levels are low, the liver can break
down glycogen (the glucose stored in muscle and liver cells)
into glucose and release it into the bloodstream for instant
energy. The liver can also convert proteins and fatty acids
into energy. Therefore, if the liver's function is compromised
your blood sugar will fluctuate leading to episodic tiredness,
especially around mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon.
Our liver needs to be cared for and supported with a healthy
diet. Certain herbal medicine, amino acids, foods and
supplements can protect and regenerate the liver back to
health. But remember – it’s always easier to prevent something
going wrong than to fix it after it’s broken.
Please note: The information in this article is not intended to
take the place of a personal relationship with a qualified
health practitioner nor is it intended as medical advice.
About The Author: Alison Cassar is a naturopathic practitioner
and nutritionist and runs a busy clinic in Sydney, Australia.
Her website and e-book
http://www.whydoifeeltired.com explores
the many causes of tiredness as well as solutions and
prevention.
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