Your liver is one of the most crucial glands and the second largest organ in your body. It functions non-stop – this 1.4 kg organ helps in detoxification, carb metabolism, protein synthesis, production of biochemicals required for digestion, glycogen storage, bile production, hormone secretion, and red blood cell decomposition.
Given our lifestyle choices, such as consuming too much alcohol, not eating healthy, and not keeping fit, the liver is overworked, and this might lead to many complications such as cirrhosis, ascites, hepatitis, liver failure, etc. Of course, you can avoid these or reduce the symptoms by eating foods that heal and cleanse the liver. Below is the list of 20 signs of liver damage to watch out for and 20 foods for a healthy liver that you don’t want to miss. But first, let’s see what the symptoms of an unhealthy liver are that need immediate attention.
Classic And Lesser Known Signs That Your Liver Is Not Functioning Properly
- Inability to lose weight
- Bloating
- Dark urine
- Poor appetite
- Compromised immunity
- Constipation
- Headache
- Heartburn and acid reflux
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic fatigue
- Excessive sweating
- Hypertension
- Rosacea
- Bruising
- Yellow skin and eyes
You Have Super-Itchy Skin
Primary biliary cholangitis — a chronic disease that destroys the bile ducts in your liver — doesn’t typically have super-noticeable symptoms, but one early sign is experiencing itchy skin. Sure, your skin might just be dry, but if it’s becoming a regular thing, it might be worth getting checked out — especially because itchy skin is also an indicator of cirrhosis of the liver.
Your Skin or Eyes Are Turning Yellow
Seeing the whites of your eyes start to turn yellow — or experiencing yellowing of your skin — can be incredibly scary, but it has a solid explanation: it’s called jaundice, it’s due to a high level of bilirubin in the body, which is a yellowish pigment that’s secreted by the liver. If you do notice the discoloration, it could be from many different signs of liver damage, from cirrhosis to hepatitis B.
