This is a guest post by Kristin Merizalde, BS, from Sassy Holistics, discussing how to heal your liver to aid in weight loss and maintenance. She offers valuable tips and insights for anyone looking to enhance their internal health and shed pounds.
When you think about losing weight, what comes to mind first? Diet and exercise, right? But what if I told you there’s much more to weight loss than we’ve been led to believe? A key factor in sustainable weight loss is something most people overlook: your liver!
Over the years, many clients have told me, “I hardly eat and exercise a lot, yet I can’t lose weight!” This is because we haven’t been educated about how our bodies function and how weight loss truly happens. We often find ourselves trapped in a cycle of extreme dieting, exhausting workouts, and then regaining the weight once we stop the “diet.”
What if there was a better, safer, and more nourishing way to achieve lasting weight loss? Your liver is crucial in this process, and for many, healing it is the most important step to seeing real results.
The liver is one of our body’s most vital organs, performing over 500 functions. We can survive with as little as one-sixth of our liver, which is why it can take years, even decades, before we notice any significant liver issues. Many clients have said, “I don’t feel liver pain, so I must be fine,” but this is not a reliable way to assess liver health!
Today, we face numerous environmental toxins in our food, air, household products, and even furniture. One of the liver’s roles is to filter out these toxins and convert them into less harmful substances for excretion. However, when the liver is overwhelmed by toxins and we eat a nutritionally deficient diet, it struggles to perform its functions effectively.
When the liver can’t do its job, toxins accumulate in fat, and this cycle continues until we start focusing on liver health. If we neglect our liver, health issues will worsen, or new symptoms will emerge. In terms of weight loss, the liver’s primary function is to detoxify excess hormones, toxins, heavy metals, parasites, and more.
A healthy liver produces about a quart of bile daily, essential for fat metabolism, absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, and detoxification. When the liver is stressed and overloaded, it stores toxins until it can find the energy to eliminate them. This can lead to hormonal imbalances and various chronic symptoms, including weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, and skin problems.
The liver can become sluggish due to toxins and nutritional deficiencies. When we become depleted, the liver starts to store toxins in fat, leading to chronic illnesses and symptoms. By supporting the liver, we can help eliminate toxins and normalize weight. Weight loss is not just about losing pounds; it’s about achieving overall health!
The condition of your skin reflects your liver’s health. If your liver is sluggish, toxins may be expelled through your skin, leading to issues like acne, rashes, eczema, cherry angiomas, or itchy skin. If you’ve been told you have estrogen dominance or low hormone levels, your liver needs attention!
The liver regulates hormonal balance, and if it’s overwhelmed, it can’t perform its functions properly. A healthy liver produces enough bile to eliminate excess hormones. If you often experience constipation, you’re not alone; this is a common issue linked to a sluggish liver.
As mentioned, the liver produces bile, and a healthy liver should generate about a quart daily. Bile is crucial for effectively removing toxins from the body. If you’re not having regular bowel movements or if they’re small and hard, you may be constipated.
A sluggish liver can hinder both weight gain and loss. Many people today are on the heavier side because if the liver can’t process toxins and excess hormones, they get stored in fat. Our bodies hold onto these until we’re strong enough to eliminate them.
The liver works hardest at night. If it’s stressed, sleep issues are common. Night sweats, waking up frequently (especially around 3-4 AM), anxiety before bed, and restless sleep are signs your liver needs support. If you have any chronic illness, it’s essential to care for your liver.
Interestingly, the liver also plays a role in thyroid health. However, many don’t realize that the body functions as a whole—everything is interconnected. If the liver is sluggish, it can hinder the conversion and utilization of important thyroid hormones.
Symptoms of poor liver function can include various issues. While some blood tests can help assess liver function, they aren’t always accurate or informative regarding solutions. As a holistic health practitioner, I have several methods to determine if the liver is stressed.
Examining your current symptoms associated with liver dysfunction is one of the simplest ways to assess your liver’s needs. The symptom list provided earlier is a good reference for identifying liver issues. A history of chronic illness is also a significant indicator that liver support is necessary.
Imbalances in copper, ceruloplasmin, zinc, and iron in blood tests can signal liver struggles. Ceruloplasmin, a protein produced in the liver, is vital for utilizing copper and iron. Low levels indicate a sluggish and stressed liver. You can request these tests from your doctor or order them through online lab services like Walk In Lab.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is another effective way to evaluate liver health. If we are in slow oxidation, it suggests detoxification is sluggish. A copper imbalance or heavy metals can also indicate that the liver needs extra care. This is a primary service I offer, and I believe it’s one of the best ways to assess overall health and wellness.
The practitioner’s expertise is crucial with HTMA, as proper interpretation is necessary for accurate insights. I prefer to focus on healing and supporting the liver for better function rather than resorting to harsh cleanses or fasts. Many practitioners push clients toward intense detox cleanses or immediate detoxification instead of nourishment, which I learned early on is not the right approach.
Our bodies require nourishment, care, and support to function optimally, not additional stress. Many people need to introduce detox gradually to avoid overwhelming their bodies. Since the liver must work effectively every day, this method is more sustainable than trying to force it to function better when it’s already under stress.
One of the simplest ways to support the liver is through dandelion root tea. Opt for the root for long-term use, as the leaf is primarily diuretic. Dandelion can aid those recovering from infections and hepatitis, primarily helping to cleanse the body of toxins. It effectively removes toxins from the blood, lymphatic system, kidneys, liver, and urinary system.
Being a bitter herb, dandelion is excellent for digestion. I personally enjoy dandelion root tea—it’s easy, affordable, and delicious! Bone broth, gelatin, or collagen are also fantastic options. Protein is essential for the liver, providing the amino acids necessary for healing and detoxification. Collagen is my preferred source, but bone broth is also excellent.
Aloe vera is incredible for overall health. It cleanses the colon, aids detoxification, reduces histamine and mast cell issues, strengthens the immune system, balances blood sugar, increases bile flow, and much more. Bitter herbs are particularly beneficial for bile flow, improving stomach acid, and aiding nutrient absorption. You can find tinctures or sprays to use with meals for optimal benefits.
Castor oil packs are one of the most effective ways to support liver healing. They are gentle, effective, and easy to use. Instead of taking a supplement, apply castor oil to a cloth compress and place it on your abdomen over your liver. I view castor oil packs as a soothing balm for the liver—when it’s stressed and overworked, the castor oil helps calm and nurture it.
As the liver heals, it functions better and efficiently eliminates toxins. Let’s move away from fad diets and self-punishment and focus on healing our bodies. For decades, weight loss has revolved around deprivation, exhausting workouts, calorie counting, and self-punishment. It’s time to shift our mindset and start nourishing, loving, and healing ourselves.
If you’re ready for a health-focused diet plan designed for those needing significant bodily healing, our 21-Day Fat Loss Challenge might be just what you need. This Challenge emphasizes consuming real, whole foods—especially vegetables and protein—while enhancing your internal and hormonal health. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone looking to lose a substantial amount of weight.
My name is Kristin, and I’m a Holistic Health Practitioner at Sassy Holistics. For nearly a decade, I’ve been dedicated to helping people achieve better health through whole food nutrition, mineral balancing, and holistic healing principles. The body is a whole system, and we must treat it as such! I hold a Bachelor of Science in Natural Health Sciences, certificates in Herbal Studies from Herbal Academy, and I continually expand my knowledge of holistic health to assist my clients and followers.
My goal is to help you unlock your inner healer! You already possess the power to heal within you. My role is to guide you in realizing this potential.
