Hot flashes in your 30scould be a sign of a fatty liver
My hairstylist is certain I must get a texturiser because my hair is not manageable. What should I do? PHOTO | FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- I also recommended that Brenda take fish oils, since the omega-3 fats they contain are anti-inflammatory and help to heal the liver’s cell membranes.
So the next time you think that your hormones are misbehaving, spare a thought for your liver.
Brenda, a 35-year-old accountant was desperate to have kids. However, she had started to have hot flashes and was convinced that this was the beginning of menopause.
She came to me seeking ways to delay the distressing change that her body was going through.
Tests showed that Brenda’s hormones were normal, so why would she regularly sweat profusely?
With the extra 20 kilos that she was carrying around her belly, I suspected this was a liver issue (elevated liver enzymes on a lab test confirmed fatty liver disease). You see, according to traditional Chinese medicine, when the liver is being overworked, it generates too much heat – and because it is such a large organ, it causes the whole body to overheat. So, the excess sweating Brenda experienced was simply the reaction of her overheated body trying to cool itself.
Very often fatty liver is caused by excessive consumption of carbohydrates (sugar, bread, pasta, ugali, breakfast cereals, potatoes, rice), so cutting this down while eating more protein (eggs, poultry, seafood) was key. Dairy produce should also be avoided.
Apart from diet advice, I gave Brenda supplements that support the liver, such as milk thistle, boldo, artichoke, peppermint and lecithin.
These nutrients are essential not just for repairing the liver, but for efficient fat burning and detoxification too. I also recommended that Brenda take fish oils, since the omega-3 fats they contain are anti-inflammatory and help to heal the liver’s cell membranes.
So the next time you think that your hormones are misbehaving, spare a thought for your liver.
ASK SONA: WHAT CAN I DO TO AVOID FATTY LIVER?
Start your day with a cup of warm water with lemon. Aside from boosting immune function and alkalinising the body, lemon water is a natural diuretic, which means it helps your body flush out liquid and toxins along with it.
The citric acid in particular helps to maximise enzymes which stimulate the liver. Lemon water also helps to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, thereby promoting digestion and elimination.
