This is a sponsored posting with Ridgecrest Herbals. All thoughts, opinions and information shared here are my own.
When my husband and I first started dating, he had some liver issues. Now prior to dating me (the bad influence, ha!), he had never really drunk alcohol, gotten drunk, or any of the things typically associated with liver issues. BUT he didn’t have the best diet (no shade to McDonald’s and Subway but also: lots of shade). I would make all these fresh juices with things known to help cleanse and support the liver. I basically because an expert on liver health at that time which is good because now it’s my turn to need it.
My blood tests recently came back with my liver levels a little off. And I wasn’t surprised.
Signs That Told Me My Liver Function Wasn’t In Tip Top Shape
This year has been a pretty stressful year for us. We started out being exposed to COVID19 on January 1st to being fully infected by January 7th. We spent the month recovering and trying to parent 3 kids while they learned virtually. Then March 1, we were delivered the news we would have to vacate our current home within 60 days. So March and April we dedicated ourselves to finding a new house to buy, going through the home buying process, packing up, and moving our family of 5 to a new house in May. In May, we spent this time unpacking our home while helping the kids wrap up school. And it was then that I noticed I smelled different.
We all have a scent. Like our natural smell and mine was off. That was the tell-tale sign for when my husband had some liver issues too. I was also way more tired, which I attributed to stress and the fact that I was in need of a month-long vacation. My appetite was pretty non-existent but I was still feeling and looking really bloated. Of course, these could have also been explained by other things like heat and humidity, stress, etc. But the thing that really gave it away was my scent was off.
Top Signs Of Liver Issues
It was time for me to have a check-up with STAT Wellness so after they drew my blood, I hit up Dr. Google so I wouldn’t have any surprises. According to Mayoclinic.org, the following are all signs and symptoms of liver problems:
- Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Swelling in the legs and ankles
- Itchy skin
- Dark urine color
- Pale stool color
- Chronic fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Tendency to bruise easily
While I didn’t have most of these symptoms, the ones I did have spoke loudly to me. Because my test results were only slightly off, my healthcare practitioner and I decided that changing some things about my lifestyle would be the best way to treat.
Holistic Ways To Take Care Of Your Liver
Eat foods good for your liver. Some of these foods include coffee (yessss), green veggies, tofu, salmon, oatmeal, walnuts, avocado, low-fat dairy/whey protein, sunflower seeds, olive oil, garlic, and green tea.
Reduce your intake of things that are NOT great for your liver (you know where I’m going with this…): Some things to avoid are alcohol, added sugar, fried foods, salt, red meat, white bread, rice, and pasta. Yes, this here is SO hard.
Be more active. Aim for 10,000 steps daily.
Lower your cholesterol.
If you have diabetes, make sure that you’re treating that as well.
Take supplements that support your liver. There are currently no drugs on the market for fatty liver disease BUT that doesn’t mean there aren’t supplements designed to help love on your liver. One of these is LiverCleanā¢ by Ridgecrest Herbals.
LiverCleanā¢ By Ridgecrest Herbals
Our liver is both a gland and organ–the only body part that doubles as both. The liver serves as the protector in our body against toxins like alcohol, excessive sugars, and other things that are typically bad for you without moderation. Because of this, the liver needs some time to cleanse itself or disease develops. This is where LiverCleanā¢ comes in. It helps to support liver function–even before concerns arise.
With it’s beautiful combination of ingredients, LiverCleanā¢ slides into your body like, “hey liver… let me help you out.”
Here’s a list of the ingredients and what they do from the Ridgecrest Herbals website:
Barberry Root Bark
The most potent alkaloid it contains is berebein, which has been studied for its immune-supporting effects in test tubes and is used to support the body’s natural, healthy state free from excess inflammation.
Blessed Thistle Herb
As a “bitter” herb, it is believed to help stimulate the production of gastric juices for healthy digestion. It was also often used to support lactation in nursing mothers.
Boldo Leaf
Comprised of 2% essential oils and numerous isoquinoline alkaloids, the herb may have a mild diuretic effect and may help stimulate the body’s normal excretion of uric acid.
Dandelion Root
The root supports the healthy functioning of the liver, thyroid, and urinary tract, as well as the kidneys, spleen, and gallbladder. Often used as a support to the cellular removal of toxins, the dandelion root was first known in TCM but quickly spread to Arab, Welsh, and Native American herbalists.
Radish Root
An ancient Chinese proverb says, “When white radish is in season, doctors should take a break.” That should tell you everything you need to know about this superfood. Rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and other health-boosting components, radish root has a positive effect on almost every bodily system.
Wild Yam Root
A herbaceous twining vine, wild yam contains steroidal saponins, which studies have shown may help protect the body from free radicals. This can be beneficial for the eyes, as blue light damage can increase free radicals. In TCM it was used to promote positive bile flow and to support the digestive system.
Fennel Seed
Rich in a myriad of vitamins and minerals, it is still a popular spice today, and packed with antioxidants and can help support the body’s natural, healthy state free from excess inflammation.
Cloves
They contain high amounts of eugenol, which makes them particularly useful as carriers to increase the effectiveness of other herbs.
AvailablendĀ® Bioavailability Complex
AvailablendĀ® is RidgeCrest Herbals’ patented blend containing several ingredients that have been recognized for their digestive and bioavailability-supporting properties. It includes ginger root, black pepper, habanero pepper, and Sichuan pepper.*
Because there are no official medicines for liver disease, making sure that your lifestyle supports your liver is key for it’s health. I hope this helps you take better control of your health or gives you something to discuss. As a reminder, I’m not a healthcare professional and I’m sharing what works for me.
If you do have questions, please feel free to drop them and I’ll pass them on to my healthcare professional!
