Your liver can affect your mood and hormones

If your liver is sluggish, you are not only more likely to struggle with your weight, you are more likely to be moody and out of balance with life in general. This is because the liver will be unable to break down toxins and hormones efficiently, which can cause a “leaky gut and leaky liver sieve” and this can lead to brain inflammation. Suffering from this makes you irritable, foggy, tired and just plain “out of sorts”. Remember the saying “He/she is liverish today – so stay away”! Feeling so poorly does not leave you in the mood for kissing and cuddling or even an interesting conversation . . . The relationship between the liver and moods is an interesting one. Metaphysically the liver is known as the seat of anger and the Chinese say that too much fire in the liver makes you feel aggressive and too reactive. The relationship between the liver and hormones is an interesting one as well. The liver does not make many hormones itself, as these are mainly made in the many different glands in the body. However, the liver plays a significant role in hormonal imbalances because the liver breaks down or metabolizes the hormones once they have done their work in the body. The liver breaks down the group of hormones known as the steroid hormones which include –

Aldosterone which controls the balance of the minerals sodium and potassium and water in the body
The sex hormones which control our sex life and body shape
Cortisone which controls the immune system

If the liver is not efficient at breaking down these hormones, they can accumulate in the body and cause hormonal imbalances If aldosterone is not broken down efficiently this can result in fluid retention and many women find this is a problem. Fluid retention can lead to uncomfortable puffiness, an aggravation of cellulite and weight gain. It can also raise the blood pressure. With the sex hormones things can become more complicated so let’s take a look at what happens if your liver does not break down the sex hormones efficiently.

In women

If the female hormone estrogen is not broken down efficiently, this can lead to excessive levels of estrogen in the body. Excess estrogen can cause breast pain and lumpiness, heavy painful menstrual bleeding and weight gain around the hips, buttocks and thighs. This is very frustrating for women who are pear shaped as they may develop cellulite around the hips and thighs. Pear shaped women are known as Gynaeoid shaped women and they often have a weight problem in the lower part of their body. If the male hormone testosterone is not broken down efficiently, this can lead to an excess of testosterone in the body which can result in weight gain in the upper part of the body on the trunk and abdomen. These women develop an apple shape and are known as the Android body type. To determine your body type go here and do the interactive questionnaire which will give you your answer immediately! It’s a free service and you will enjoy this easy exercise. There are four different body types and each one has unique hormonal and metabolic characteristics. Excess male hormones can also lead to excess facial and body hair, greasy skin, acne and loss of hair from the scalp.

In men

If the liver is fatty this often results in low testosterone in men meaning low libido, reduced sexual performance, depression and fatigue – oops, not a condition conducive to romance and lust. The solution to these problems is to improve the function of the liver and this will result in –