Did you know that people with higher stress levels are more likely to develop a fatty liver? Stress also makes it much harder to reverse a fatty liver. Stress changes the way your liver metabolises fat and sugar, and it also raises hormones that slow your metabolism. Stress hormones make insulin resistance more likely and that is a leading risk factor for fatty liver. Balancing your cortisol level can be an effective way to help reverse fatty liver.

Fatty liver disease occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver. This can lead to inflammation, scarring, and eventually liver failure in some people. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is usually caused by metabolic syndrome, obesity, and insulin resistance. Gut dysbiosis (overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria in the intestines) is often a contributing factor as well.

Having a fatty liver makes it incredibly hard to lose weight. This is because your liver is supposed to be your greatest fat burning organ. This can’t happen if the liver is clogged with fat. Fatty liver also raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, cancer and dementia. It is an underappreciated risk factor for the serious chronic diseases that most people end up dying from.

How stress can adversely affect your liver

A study published in the journal Nature found that higher levels of perceived stress are linked to a higher incidence of non alcoholic fatty liver disease, independent of typical risk factors. The effect was stronger in men and in people who are obese.

  • Chronic stress promotes the release of neurotransmitters, hormones and inflammatory cytokines. All of these can promote weight gain on the torso area.
  • Cortisol is a hormone that your adrenal glands release into your bloodstream when you are stressed. Cortisol impairs glucose tolerance. It makes it harder to achieve a healthy blood sugar level. It makes it more difficult for the hormone insulin to work properly in your body, thus promoting insulin resistance. Cortisol stimulates the release of free fatty acids from body fat stores into the bloodstream. The fatty acids can overload the liver, encouraging it to store the excess fat inside it.
  • Chronic stress usually leads to maladaptive behaviours. Individuals are more likely to eat poorly and not exercise regularly. This is especially the case if stress interferes with sleep and causes chronic exhaustion.

How to reduce the negative impact of stress on your liver

Magnesium has a reputation for being “the great relaxer” because it really is. It helps to relax your muscles and nervous system, helping you to wind down. It may also help you keep a level head and not overreact to stressful situations during the day. Magnesium makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Your adrenal glands are heavily reliant on vitamin C. Most of the vitamin C in your body actually gets stored there. Even if you eat lots of fruit and vegetables, it can be difficult to ingest sufficient vitamin C if you’re living with chronic stress. A vitamin C supplement can make a world of difference for you.

Cortisol can make you feel hungrier and crave sugary or salty foods. This is because it impairs the ability of insulin to work in your body. This means glucose has a hard time entering your cells, where it should be burnt off for energy. Consequently your cells end up being starved of energy. This will send signals to your brain telling you to eat something, especially something sugary. The herbal extract berberine is excellent for improving insulin sensitivity and enabling your cells to burn calories for energy.

If you are unhappy with the health of your liver, you would greatly benefit from my liver tonic Livatone Plus. It helps make your liver a more efficient fat burner and detoxifier.

If chronic stress is adversely affecting your mental health, the book Help for Depression and Anxiety offers many helpful tips.

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.