Sluggish Liver

Before we discuss \sluggish liver and the signs of a sluggish liver, let us first familiarize ourselves with the liver function and how does it play a vital role in the body and what's its contribution in the other bodily functions. One of the major functions of liver includes breaking down the food and converting into the energy when required by the body. The process of breaking the food and converting into energy involves two steps, the first step involves breaking down of carbohydrates consumed in the form of foods such as bread etc., into glucose and storage of it in the liver and muscles are stored as glycogen. The second step of converting it into energy takes place when the body requires energy, the liver converts the stored glucose into energy and if need be, the stored glycogen turns into glucose and provides energy to the body.

Waste products in the blood that is not removed by the kidneys are removed by the liver, some of which pass through the duodenum and then through the bile ducts it goes into the bowel. The liver also plays an important role in fighting infections, more specifically infections in the bowel. It prepares a defense mechanism or macrophage system in order to fight back against such infections. Those were some of the main functions of liver and given below are some more but mind you, that's not all, there are hundreds of functions performed by the liver.

• Processes digested food from the intestine.
• Clearing off the infections and particles in the blood including bacteria that could cause infections.
• Maintaining the blood glucose levels and fats and amino acids in the blood.
• Destroying or removing toxins and other drugs or being a part of the detoxification process.

As mentioned earlier, these were just some of the liver functions, there are numerous other functions performed by this largest internal organ and the largest gland in the human body.

Sluggish Liver Causes

Sluggish liver means that the liver is overburdened, due to which it becomes sluggish or slow in performing its regular functions. The major factor is accumulation of fat in the liver, also referred as fatty liver which could slow down the liver functions. Poor eating habits such as eating junk food high in fat and processed foods is what results in this condition of the liver. Excess weight or being obese is another factor that causes sluggishness in the liver. A sluggish liver does not function normally and starts storing in the body cells. In normal functioning of the liver, fat is removed through bile and then is eliminated through the bowel. Exposure to environmental toxins also causes malfunctioning of the liver.

Sluggish Liver Symptoms

Given below are some of the signs and symptoms to identify this liver condition.

• Constipation
• Low energy levels
• High blood sugar levels or imbalance in blood sugar
• Spots on the skin
• Pale or yellowing eyes
• Skin rashes
• High levels of cholesterol
• Mood swings and irritability
• Acne
• Allergies
• Problems relating to digestion
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Bad body odor
• Lack of concentration and poor memory
• Poor hair and skin
• White patch or coating on the tongue accompanied with bad breath
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Hot flashes
• Hormone imbalance

Sluggish Liver Treatment

As part of the treatment, a colon cleanse is essential in order to prevent liver poisoning from the toxins that are reabsorbed. The treatment involves consuming antioxidant vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, C, E etc. An alternative treatment involves remedies like the intake of certain herbs namely, dandelion, catechu black, yellow dock root, globe artichoke, blackroot, fringe tree bark, milk thistle, butternut bark wahoo bark and boldo. Foods that contain lecithin such as soya beans and egg yolks also helps treat this disorder of the liver as it not only helps in processing cholesterol and fat but also protects the liver cell wall from any damage.

Those with a sluggish liver will be able to identify it with the aforementioned symptoms and once it's identified, one must consult with the doctor to determine the condition. If a sluggish liver is diagnosed then the doctor would prescribe the appropriate treatment and also recommend a liver cleanse diet that is rich in fiber such as water soluble fiber like pectin, rice-bran, oat-bran, whole grain bread, fruits and vegetables, beans, pasta and tofu. Avoiding oil, fat, processed food, spices, salt and chemical additives is also a part of the diet.