Hormones can go out of balance at any time of a woman’s life but the peri menopausal phase which often starts from the late 30s and early 40s onwards, is a prime time for imbalances to wreak havoc.
Here is a top tip…when it comes to your hormones, there is one organ that most needs attention, your liver.
In this blog article, I explain how your liver affects your hormones, the symptoms to look for when your hormones are out of balance and give you some simple steps to start showing your liver some love with your diet. You’ll also get some delicious liver friendly recipes.
What your liver does for you
- Your liver makes hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone and helps your body use those hormones
- The liver is also your body’s filter and if it gets blocked up it has a major impact on your hormones and on your entire body
- Your liver is constantly working away in the background. It detoxifies all the harmful substances that are part of every day life; chemicals in your food, air and water, medications, alcohol, cleaning products, toiletries and cosmetics
- The process by which liver enzymes chemically change wastes and toxins so that they can be dissolved in water and excreted, is known as BIOTRANSFORMATION.
- During the peri menopause, on top of its usually daily burden of toxins, the liver has to deal with fluctuating oestrogen levels and it has to work hard to detoxify the harmful oestrogens associated with breast cancer.
Signs your hormones are out of balance
- Feeling tired all day
- Mood swings & anxiety
- Food cravings
- Headaches
- Irregular monthly cycle
- Weight gain around the middle
- Hot flushes
- Inflammation
- Foggy thinking & poor memory
- Feeling easily stressed
How to help your Liver
What you eat impacts hugely on your liver function. Committing to one month of my clean eating plan is a great way to start. I have lots of delicious recipes that make it enjoyable to do, rather than something to be endured!
For extra support, I use liver supportive supplements too. When it comes to supplements for the liver, it’s best to check in with a practitioner to find ones that are suitable for you and avoid potential interactions with medication.
4 ways to help your liver right now
- Include more broccoli in your diet. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and onions contain sulforophane, a powerful liver protector. I love this broccoli soup recipe
- Buy or make some carrot juice. Fresh is best but there are good brands of bottled pure carrot juice such as James White available from Sainsburys or Waitrose and Amazon
- Treat your liver to a home spa and bathe in 3–4 cups of Epsom Salts. Rich in magnesium, the salts help draw out acids and toxins from the body, thereby taking the pressure off the liver (good for the skin and joints too). Add to warm rather than hot, running water and relax in the bath for 20 mins!
- Turmeric is a great food to include in your diet, for your liver. I’m often talking about turmeric but with good reason. It is a super powerful antioxidant. In Chinese medicine it has a history of use as a liver decongestant. See here for turmeric recipes including a delicious turmeric rice which makes a flavoursome change to plain rice
And here is a super simple Spring Salad recipe to try out. Make 2 servings for a main meal or 1 serving as a side dish.