Liver Health and Extra Weight

While decreasing the caloric intake can lead to weight loss, in some cases this doesn’t work.

If you are seriously overweight, tried many diets and couldn’t lose weight, the answer might be the liver dysfunction. Some symptoms of liver dysfunction are sluggish metabolism, accumulation of fat around the upper abdomen, liver pain, digestive problems, depression, cravings for sugar, allergies and food sensitivity, recurrent infections, excessive sweating and hormonal imbalances.

Some of the causes of liver dysfunction are reactions to drugs and toxins, incorrect diet or alcohol abuse.

Liver purifies the blood. If it can’t perform this vital function, it will affect the entire body. Liver also plays an important role in fat metabolism. If it functions properly it burns the fat and creates the energy needed for the body.

Proper liver functioning also helps take the extra fat out of the body. If the liver doesn’t function properly, fat is stored in the body. In this case the healthy liver tissue is replaced by fat so liver becomes “fatty”. If this condition is present, it is practically impossible to lose weight without addressing it.

Taking appetite suppressants or other weight loss aids won’t help in this case: a complete change of diet is needed. You also need to follow a detoxification program. One day fasting with hot lemon water performed once a week over a period of time can help cleanse the liver.

You will also need to take multivitamin, multimineral supplements and herbs that support the liver function. Some liver tonics are milk thistle, dandelion, green tea, vitamin B complex, vitamins C and E. This will restore the normal functioning of the liver. Only after that you’ll be able to lose weight by following a weight loss program.

If you keep the liver in a good shape you’ll be able to easily lose weight and maintain it.

What to Do Before Going on a Diet

You consulted weight loss charts, calculated the BMI index, determined the ideal weight for your body frame. You know how much weight you need to lose. What to do next?

Before starting a weight loss diet visit a medical doctor for some tests. These tests will help determine if there are any underlying causes for your weight gain.

Below are few tests you should consider:

1) Blood tests. There are different blood tests – make sure to do the one that determines food intolerances. Food allergies (intolerances) result in different symptoms. Some of them are weight gain, headaches, chronic fatigue, constipation, depression.

2) Glucose tolerance test. Among other things this can help determine the insulin resistance that is one of the factors of weight gain.

3) Liver function tests. Liver plays a vital role in the fat metabolism process. Impaired liver function can lead to weight gain.

4) Thyroid test. Thyroid regulates the body’s metabolism. Consequently, the underactive thyroid leads to weight gain. It will also render inefficient your weight loss activities if you don’t take steps to cure this condition. This test is especially important if you tried unsuccessfully to lose weight in the past; if your energy levels are low.

5) Check up your adrenal glands functioning. Adrenal insufficiency can contribute to weight gain.

In general consider a check up of the entire endocrine system since hormones produced by different glands affect each other and the functioning of the body in various ways.

If you have any health problems that cause your weight gain or make the weight loss process inefficient consider a detoxification program in addition to your doctor’s prescriptions. This will help eliminate the cause of the weight gain and make it easier to lose weight.

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