Love Your Liver: A Guide for Hormonal Balance and PCOS Management

As a Naturopath, I always emphasise the importance of loving your liver. Did you know that the liver is the metabolic powerhouse of the body? It plays a crucial role in bile production, blood filtering, and hundreds of metabolic processes, including detoxification. Anything you eat, smell, or touch is processed by the liver in some way. Love Your Liver: A Guide for Hormonal Balance and PCOS Management

Given its vital role in metabolism, it's no surprise that the liver is intricately connected to many health conditions, including those related to the female reproductive system. A compromised liver can lead to poor detoxification of hormones, resulting in hormonal imbalances such as androgen and or oestrogen excess.

Women with PCOS face a greater risk of developing Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), previously known as Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). MAFLD is the most common liver disease and is characterised by fat accumulation in the liver, influenced by multiple metabolic factors. Severity ranges from simple fatty liver to severe inflammation of the liver. If unmanaged MAFLD can ultimately lead to the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver and in the long term increases the risk of liver cancer

Insulin resistance is a common link between PCOS and MAFLD.

Women with both conditions show a higher prevalence of insulin resistance, leading to severe liver steatosis and elevated liver injury markers. Low-grade inflammation also contributes to insulin resistance and worsens liver conditions.

The good news is that the liver is resilient, and MAFLD is reversible. By proactively addressing insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, and inflammation, you can halt the progression of MAFLD and promote liver health.

Tips for Liver Health:

• Adopt a Low Glycemic Diet: Limit processed carbohydrates and sugars, and include whole grains, lean proteins, and colourful fruits and vegetables.

• Increase Intake of Leafy Greens and Cruciferous Vegetables.

• Engage in Regular Exercise: Combine aerobic and strength training exercises for better insulin sensitivity and overall health.

• Manage Stress: Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques to reduce stress and improve hormonal balance.

• Prioritise Sleep: Ensure sufficient quality sleep to support liver health and hormonal regulation.

• Drink at least 2 Litres of Water Daily.

• Limit Caffeine and Alcohol.

  
  

You can also consider herbal medicine as an adjunct therapy to improve liver health. It's always recommended to seek the assistance of a Naturopath or Herbalist when wanting to use herbal medicine, this ensures you're getting a herbal dosage that is therapeutic and a blend that is individualised.  Beneficial herbs include:

• St. Mary's Thistle

• Globe Artichoke

• Turmeric

• Schisandra

Loving your liver is crucial for hormonal balance and managing PCOS. Remember, the liver is resilient, and reversing MAFLD is entirely possible. Implementing these lifestyle and dietary changes can lead you to a healthier, more balanced you.

If you'd like my guidance in managing hormonal weight gain, PCOS, and liver health, book a free PCOS Success Gameplan Call with me today.

Stay healthy and love your liver!

Madison

References

1. Fouad, Y., Waked, I., Bollipo, S., Gomaa, A., Ajlouni, A., & Attia, D. (2020). What’s in a name? Renaming “NAFLD’’ to “MAFLD.” Liver International. doi:10.1111/liv.14478

2. Carnagarin R, Tan K, Adams L, Matthews VB, Kiuchi MG, Marisol Lugo Gavidia L, Lambert GW, Lambert EA, Herat LY, Schlaich MP. Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)-A Condition Associated with Heightened Sympathetic Activation. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Apr 19;22(8):4241. doi: 10.3390/ijms22084241

3. Spremović Rađenović S, Pupovac M, Andjić M, Bila J, Srećković S, Gudović A, Dragaš B, Radunović N. Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Pathophysiology of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Biomedicines. 2022 Jan 7;10(1):131. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10010131

4. Javed, Z., Papageorgiou, M., Deshmukh, H., Kilpatrick, E, S., Mann, V., Corless, L., Abouda, G., Rigby, A, S., Atkin, S, L., & Sathyapalan, T. (2019). A randomized, controlled trial of Vitamin D supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors, hormones, and liver markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Nutrients, 11, doi: 10.3390/nu11010188.

5. Abenavoli, L., Greco, M., Milic, N., Accattato, F., Foti, D., Gulletta, E., Luzza, F. (2017). Effect of Mediterranean diet and antioxidant formulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized study. Nutrients, 9 (8), 870. doi: 10.3390/nu9080870

6. Hechtman, L (2016). Clinical Naturopathic Medicine (2nd Edition). Elsevier.