Debbie Zanki

Nutrition Consultant

& Lifestyle Mentor

Blog

The Unexpected Obstacle to Energy & Weight Control:
What Every Woman Needs to Know

 

What is this Unexpected Obstacle?

 

Are you a woman, feeling frustrated and finding it challenging when it comes to your energy and weight management as you age? Sometimes, the biggest obstacles to our energy and weight goals are not the ones we expect. Today, I’m exploring a big, often unexpected obstacle that can hold you back from feeling energised and achieving the weight you desire. A sluggish liver!

 

While many might focus on their coffee intake or how many calories they’re eating, a less obvious but significant obstacle to energy & weight control is an inefficient liver. This affects our ability to achieve our goals in ways we might not even realise: especially as it plays havoc with our hormones and metabolism.

 

Why is a Sluggish Liver Missed?

 

Often it’s missed because even in those with a dysfunctional liver, the routine blood tests of liver function are generally normal. The symptoms we experience in the early stages of fatty liver (excess fat in the liver largely due to lifestyle & diet) are generally non-specific like fatigue, aches or abdominal pain.

Your Liver: Working Overtime to Keep You Healthy

Your liver is responsible for filtering out toxins, breaking down fats, carbohydrates and proteins, balancing hormones, and keeping your metabolism running smoothly. It is the major fat burning organ in our body. Yet (no) thanks to years of exposure to environmental toxins, processed foods, medications, overconsumption of refined sugar, and stress, most livers today are overworked, sluggish, and operating at a fraction of their potential.

 

When your liver is not functioning optimally, other systems in your body become burdened with toxins.

 

Signs of a Sluggish Liver

 

Do you find yourself waking between 1-3AM? According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is the time when your liver is doing its thing. It's in power-cleansing mode. And if your liver is congested or impaired, then it can cause you to wake.

 

A sluggish liver can lead to:

  • Blood glucose problems and insulin resistance (hello pre- & T2 diabetes)
  • Weight gain and an inability to lose weight
  • Hormonal imbalances (hello hot flushes, thyroid problems etc)
  • Blood pressure and cholesterol problems
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Poor digestion, bloating
  • Dark circles under the eyes
  • Foggy head
  • Mood problems
  • Skin problems
  • And more…

 

Slowing progress, causing setbacks, or creating frustration!

Or all of the above!

 

And the other kicker is that we’re prescribed or take medications to treat our symptoms adding more toxins to which an already struggling liver has to try to process.

 

Another compelling reason to have healthy liver function

 

The liver is an amazing organ. It’s the only organ that can repair itself by creating new tissue when it’s given the support it needs. How amazing is that? Yet we need to be proactive before it gets to a stage where it can no longer repair.

 

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD - previously known as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) is a significant sub-group of Steatotic Liver Disease (formerly known as Fatty Liver Disease). It affects an estimated 1 in 3 Australians and increases the risk of liver cancer, the fastest growing cause of cancer deaths in Australia (1). (Similar estimates world-wide)

 

Improving liver function will increase the ability of the liver to burn fat, metabolise hormones, and process toxins which in turn supports your energy, weight management and your “meno” journey.

 

What can we do to support liver function?

 

Overall, it’s by reducing toxin exposure and improving detox capacity. The power is with YOU.

 

  1. Awareness: Just by reading this blog post you’re more aware of how important it is to have healthy liver function and take the steps to improve it. Look at diet and lifestyle. Be aware of the toxins you’re exposed to within your environment each day and reduce them.
  2. Eliminate: Keep your bowels moving! If you’re not eliminating daily, then toxins and excess hormones are reabsorbed into your system that your liver has to then process. A sluggish liver can also lead to sluggish bowels so it can be a vicious circle. Making sure you have enough water and fibre each day can help keep things moving.
  3. Cleanse: a proven, safe, effective and beneficial cleanse program will clear toxins, increase energy, release weight and improve your health. You want a cleanse to be gentle - so it doesn’t overwhelm an already struggling liver - and also provides supportive tools, foods etc to assist detoxification.

 

What you’ll feel when your liver gets the reset it needs:

✅  Energised — wake up refreshed, no caffeine needed

✅  Lighter — naturally reducing bloating and inflammation

✅  Clearer mind  — goodbye brain fog

✅  Better mood — a healthy liver means balanced hormones, better metabolism and mood

 

The truth is most of us have a liver that’s struggling to function properly. When you support it, you unlock a new level of well-being and vitality.

 

Need help?

If you’re keen on making changes and would like help to get started, then you may be interested in my 17-Day Wellness Kickstart program. It’s more than just a “cleanse”. You explore food, mood, your environment, mindset and more. It’s a proven, safe, effective program that gives you some foundations you need to experience transformation and start achieving your wellness goals.

 

Information, awareness, actionable steps & support... the extra bits that help make change happen!

 

Doing our 17-Day Wellness Kickstart will give your body a gentle cleanse; kick-starting your energy, weight management, healthier lifestyle habits, and more.

 

Curious to see what the Wellness Kickstart will do for you? Register your interest here

 

Here’s to your Wellness!

 

SOURCE: (1) https://liverwell.org.au/making-masld-an-australian-public-health-priority/