12 Unusual Signs of Liver Damage You Should Never Ignore

12 Unusual Signs You Might Have Liver Damage (And How to Help Your Liver Heal)

Liver disease is a growing concern, currently affecting over 25% of people worldwide, and the numbers are rapidly increasing. While many associate liver damage with excessive alcohol consumption, it can also be caused by other factors such as consuming too much sugar, processed foods, and omega-6 vegetable oils, frequent use of painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, viral infections, excess iron, and exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides and plastics.

If you’re curious to find out whether your liver might be in trouble,where we’ll also explore natural home remedies to cleanse your liver and prevent further damage. Please note, this is educational purposes only, so consult your doctor if you have any medical conditions.

1. Pale Stools

One of the first signs of liver problems is pale stools. Normally, your liver releases bile acids to help digest fats, giving your stool its usual brown color. However, if you have fatty liver disease or liver damage, bile flow is disrupted, leading to pale or clay-colored stools that may even float due to undigested fats.

2. Poor Night Vision

If you struggle to see clearly at night or in low-light conditions, this could be a sign of a vitamin A deficiency. Bile from the liver helps your body absorb vitamin A, which is crucial for your eye’s ability to adapt to different light levels. Liver disease can reduce bile production, leading to night blindness. Dry, sore, or irritated eyes may also indicate a congested gallbladder.

3. Swollen Right Foot

Swelling in the right foot or ankle could be a sign of liver damage. When the liver becomes enlarged and blood flow is restricted, it puts pressure on the portal vein, causing fluid to accumulate in the legs or feet. If pressing your finger into the swollen area leaves an indentation, it could indicate liver issues.

4. White Eyelid Growths

Another unusual sign of liver damage is the appearance of white or yellowish growths around your eyelids. These are cholesterol deposits that form because your liver isn’t processing cholesterol properly, causing it to accumulate in different parts of the body.

5. Right-Sided Pressure

A feeling of pressure or pain on the right side of your rib cage, especially after eating, can be a sign of liver disease. This is often due to bile turning into sludge and clogging the tubes connected to your gallbladder. The pressure can also affect the phrenic nerve, leading to pain in the right shoulder area.

6. Purple and Red Spots

When the liver is congested or inflamed, it produces fewer proteins needed for blood clotting, making you more prone to bruising. Unusual purple or red bumps can appear on your skin, often around the lower legs or arms, due to poor blood circulation related to liver disease or diabetes.

7. Cracked Heels

Cracked heels may indicate a liver issue. Your body uses vitamin B3 (niacin) to keep your skin strong and moisturized. When your liver is damaged, it uses up niacin to repair itself, leaving less available for your skin, leading to cracks on the soles of your feet and heels.

8. Constant Itching

If you have a persistent urge to scratch your hands or feet, this could be due to a buildup of bile acids under the skin. When the liver isn’t filtering these acids properly, they accumulate, leading to an itchy sensation caused by elevated histamines in the blood.

9. White or Clubbed Nails

White or clubbed nails are another sign of liver damage. If your fingernails lose their pink color or become round and bulbous, it could indicate that oxygen isn’t reaching the nail matrix properly. Studies show that 8 out of 10 people with severe liver scarring have all-white nails.

10. Dark Urine

Dark urine is a common sign of liver problems. The liver breaks down old red blood cells, which contain a yellowish pigment called bilirubin. If the liver or gallbladder is damaged, bilirubin can build up in the body, causing dark orange, amber, brown, or cola-colored urine.

11. Yellowed Skin

Jaundice, or yellowed skin, is a serious sign of liver damage. When the liver fails to filter bilirubin from the blood, it can cause the skin to take on a yellowish tinge. This condition often indicates severe liver issues such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, so immediate medical attention is crucial.

12. Spider Veins

Spider veins, which appear as small red dots with spider-like extensions on the skin, are another sign of liver damage. High estrogen levels, often caused by a poorly functioning liver, weaken blood vessels, leading to visible spider veins.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s highly recommended to see a doctor for an ultrasound. This non-invasive test uses sound waves to create an image of your liver and its blood vessels to check for fatty deposits.

How to Reverse Liver Damage

Fortunately, the liver is one of the only organs that can fully regenerate and heal itself when given the right support. Here are some essential steps to reverse liver damage:

1. Clean Up Your Diet: Reduce your intake of sugary, starchy, and processed foods. Avoid fructose and alcohol, as they can be as damaging as alcohol to a fatty liver.

2. Eat Sulfur-Rich Foods: Include leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, onions, and eggs in your diet. These foods help detoxify the liver by boosting glutathione levels.

3. Drink Coffee and Turmeric: A cup of organic coffee with a teaspoon of turmeric can help reduce liver scarring and repair damage caused by toxins.

4. Intermittent Fasting: Eat your daily calories within a 6-hour window and fast for the remaining 18 hours. This practice reduces inflammation and stimulates the liver to regenerate.

5. Use Healthy Fats: Replace inflammatory seed oils with extra virgin olive oil and virgin coconut oil, which have liver-protective properties.

6. Take Purified Bile Supplements: These supplements help eliminate fat from the liver and prevent gallstones.