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The role of the liver in self-rejuvenation
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Feeling tired and need an energy boost? Maybe your liver’s health needs more attention! The liver’s a unique powerhouse of an organ, and one of its main functions, beyond fighting infections and purifying your body of waste products, is converting food into energy for you. When your liver function is compromised, this can have a negative effect on your normal metabolic processes. The results? Feeling tired and slow. And, for energy, liver health generally makes it possible to maintain the levels of energy you need to thrive.1
Read on to learn about how the liver and your energy levels are connected, how the liver and fatigue are linked and could indicate poor liver health, and what you can do to support a healthy liver and get an energy boost.
The Liver’s Role in Energy Metabolism
Your liver is an important metabolic organ and plays a key role in the body’s energy metabolism. You can think of the liver as being a metabolic hub that connects the tissues of the body, including your muscle and fat. When we eat, food is digested in the gastrointestinal tract and nutrients, glucose, and amino and fatty acids are absorbed into the blood stream and taken to the liver and taken to the liver into metabolic fuels for your body to use to be processed into metabolic fuels for your body to use, which is essentially what gives us “energy”.
And, when the liver isn’t doing the best job, it’s not just your body that can experience lower energy levels, but your brain, too. Poor liver function means it’s not processing and eliminating toxins in the body, which can lead to things like brain fog, confusion, and memory problemsi.
The bottom line is that, when it’s functioning at its best, the liver helps store and release energy as you need it, a key part of your healthy metabolism.
Liver Health and Fatigue
Although there are many things that can cause you to feel tired and fatigued that are unrelated to the liver, in the case of a variety of different liver conditions, fatigue is a common symptom.
Here are a few conditions where liver disease and tiredness can show up together:
- Hepatitis (A, B, C). Hepatitis is a viral infection, and it’s known to cause liver damage and inflammation. Although hepatitis is often a short-term infection, it can be long-lasting (chronic) in some cases. In addition to visible symptoms like jaundice, dark-coloured urine, and vomiting, liver tiredness and fatigue are common symptoms associated with hepatitis.
- Cirrhosis. When the liver is unable to fulfill its normal functions, it’s possible that it’s unable to purify the blood, break down toxins, and prevent the absorption of fats.
- Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease. You may have heard this condition referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the term has been retired in favor of MASLD. This often manifests without any major symptoms, but fatigue and abdominal swelling are big time symptoms of this disorder.
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Energy Drinks and the Liver
You may have turned to energy drinks when you need a pick-me-up, and they may seem like a good option when you’re looking to keep your eyes open for an extended period. Energy drinks are commercial beverages that have a high content of caffeine, so they’re designed to keep you up for many hours on end.
However, while energy drinks can give you a jolt of energy when needed, they can also negatively impact your kidneys and liver when consumed excessively. This is because, due to their high content of niacin, energy drinks and the liver can be a recipe for damage in the long run.ii
There’s a fair amount of research that shows caffeine in moderate amounts can help to improve liver function. In fact, it’s been shown that two cups of coffee per day can limit the risk of cirrhosis by 44%.iii
So, is coffee good for your liver? Well, the jury is still out on why coffee supports liver health, especially as in addition to caffeine there are some 1000 other chemicals present in coffee. One possible reason is the body makes a chemical called paraxanthine when it digests coffee, which helps to slow the formation of scar tissue involved in fibrosis. There are also other chemicals in coffee, like kahweol and cafestol, that may have anti-cancer properties, and also acids in coffee that may help fight the hepatitis B virus.iv
However, before you reach for another shot of espresso, it’s important to note that coffee should still only be consumed in moderation. This is because coffee, in the amount of more than three or four cups per day, can lead to side effects, including headaches, anxiety, or even jitters. Another tip is to indulge in black coffee, as sugary or milky coffee can exacerbate health problems for people with diabetes or other heart conditions.
Tips for Maintaining Liver Health and Boosting Energy
There are a variety of ways to manage liver health, and the following are a good start:
- Reaching or maintaining a healthy weight. Adhere to a healthy weight, and if you’re in danger of tipping into the obese category, you’ll want to watch your diet and weight even more diligently. A healthy weight can help ward off metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
- Following a healthy Diet. Fiber, fats, and dairy are important parts of a healthy and balanced diet. You’ll want to avoid high-calorie meals as well as high fat dairy products. Consider adding more fibre from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and definitely remain hydrated!
- Getting regular exercise. Exercise is a good way to put your liver to work by burning fat for energy, and reducing fat stored in the liver.
- Limiting Alcohol. Alcohol can cause problems for your liver, and it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about the amount of alcohol you drink on a regular basis. An excessive amount of alcohol can damage and scar your liver, so it’s vital to practice moderation when it comes to enjoying a cocktail or two.
- Not using drugs. It should go without saying, but using illicit drugs is a big hazard when it comes to protecting your liver health. We’re talking about marijuana, heroin, cocaine, or any other hallucinogenic drug. These substances don’t do you any favours, and your liver will thank you for staying away from them.
- Practicing safe sex. Practicing safe sex is your best bet against contracting infections like hepatitis B and C. Using protection is the best way to prevent the spread of infections.
- Keeping hygiene practices. We’ve all lived through a recent pandemic where hand washing, and mouth covering has been of the utmost importance. That’s still important to help prevent the spread of infections that can compromise your liver. Since we’re all in the habit of hand washing and using hand sanitizer, let’s keep it up, and help prevent the spread of liver-related infections, too.
FAQs About Energy and the Liver
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Itchy skin
- Dark urine
- Chronic fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bruising to the skin.
- Coffee. Is coffee good for your liver? The short answer may be yes - coffee can help lower the risk of cirrhosis, as it prevents the buildup of fat and collagen in the body.
- Tea. Green tea can help reduce levels of liver enzymes (ALT – alanine aminotransferase and AST – aspartate aminotransferase) and help ward off metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver sidease (MASLD).
- Grapefruit juice. Grapefruit is full of antioxidants, and they’re just what you need to protect against liver damage. Grapefruit is generally helpful in preventing inflammation and more extensive liver damage.
- Grape juice. More information is needed, but it’s thought that grapes can help to lower inflammation levels, inhibit cell damage, and increase antioxidant levels.
- Beetroot juice. Beetroot is thought to be a successful anti-inflammatory ingredient, so it’s a good thing to include it in your liver-health repertoire. Look forward to more nitrates and antioxidants that your liver needs to do its best work.
The liver is responsible for storing and maintaining energy that can help you function.
This essential organ is also necessary when it comes to regulating vitamins and minerals the body and nervous system need to thrive.
There are a variety of symptoms, both internal and external, that show that your liver may be struggling. Look for the following symptoms if you’re concerned for your liver’s well-being:
Many people wonder if energy drinks are bad for the liver. In general, you’ll want to limit your consumption of energy drinks, and caffeinated beverages, overall. It’s thought that one energy drink per day is unlikely to cause any significant harm to your health, but it’s important to limit your caffeine intake to help preserve your liver function.
In addition to alcohol, sugar-sweetened drinks are considered harmful to the liver. Sugary beverages may be a factor in the onset of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and researchv suggests that you should limit your consumption of these sugary beverages.
It’s hard to narrow down a specific drink that can help with liver function, but there are a few that are known to be helpful:
The liver just might not get enough credit for all the work it does in our bodies. The liver’s responsible for purging waste, monitoring blood sugar levels, and creating nutrients that turn into vital energy. If you’re looking for an energy boost, you might want to turn your attention to helping your liver health. By following a healthy diet and consistent exercise regimen, you can help keep your liver happy and get all the energy you need to thrive.
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