Is Your Liver Overworked? Seven Signs It Might Need Support

Most of us don’t think about our liver on a daily basis—until something feels off. But your liver is constantly working behind the scenes, filtering toxins, regulating hormones, and supporting digestion. When it’s overburdened, your body has subtle ways of letting you know. Ignoring these signs is like ignoring the “check engine” light on your car—it might seem fine for a while, but eventually, it could lead to bigger problems.

As we embrace the longer, sunnier days of spring and summer, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on whether your lifestyle is helping or straining your liver. From unexplained fatigue to stubborn weight gain, your body may already be sending signals that it’s time to give your liver a little extra care.

Here are seven common signs that your liver might be overwhelmed—and what they could mean for your health.

1. Fat Under the Bra Line or Pectorals ("Liver Roll")

The location of body fat can tell us a lot about what’s going on inside. For example, abdominal fat often points to insulin resistance, while thicker torsos are linked to high cortisol levels. If you’ve noticed a roll of fat just under your bra line (for women) or around the pectoral muscles (for men), it might be a sign that your liver is struggling to keep up with its workload. This is a visual clue that your body may be storing toxins in fat cells to reduce their circulation in your system.

2. Elevated Cholesterol Levels

Your liver acts as the body’s cholesterol “manager,” regulating how cholesterol is distributed and reabsorbed. While dietary cholesterol has minimal direct impact on blood levels for most people, the liver’s overall health plays a huge role. If your liver isn’t functioning optimally—due to lifestyle factors like poor diet, lack of exercise, or excess alcohol—it can lead to elevated cholesterol levels in blood tests. Supporting your liver is key to keeping cholesterol levels balanced.

3. Stubborn Fat That Won’t Budge

When your liver is overwhelmed, it may struggle to process toxins efficiently. To protect the body, these toxins are stored in fat cells, making it harder to lose weight, especially around the midsection. This resistance to fat loss is the body’s way of keeping toxins “locked away” rather than circulating in your system.

4. Recurring Headaches

If your liver is overburdened, toxins can build up in your body and trigger more frequent headaches. These persistent headaches are a signal that your detoxification pathways may need some extra support.

5. Hormonal Imbalances and PMS Symptoms

The liver plays a major role in regulating hormones like estrogen and progesterone. When it’s overwhelmed, it struggles to metabolize these hormones properly. This can lead to intensified PMS symptoms, such as heavy or painful periods, and worsen perimenopausal symptoms. Excess estrogen or harmful forms of it may linger in your system, causing a ripple effect on your hormonal health at any stage of life.

6. Skin Issues: Breakouts and Rashes

Your liver is responsible for clearing waste from your body, primarily through urine and bowel movements. When it can’t keep up, your skin becomes a secondary detox pathway. If you’re experiencing persistent breakouts, rashes, or other skin inflammation, it could be a sign that your liver needs support to better handle its workload.

7. Waking Between 1-3 AM

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver is most active between 1 and 3 am, when it’s busy detoxifying the blood and processing nutrients. If you frequently wake during these hours or feel overheated at night, it could indicate that your liver is overworked. Modern science also supports the idea that our biological rhythms affect liver function, and stress, poor diet, or exposure to environmental toxins can disrupt this delicate balance.

How to Support Your Liver

If any of these signs resonate with you, the good news is that you can take steps to support your liver and improve its function. Here are some simple ways to lighten its load:

• Prioritize Whole Foods: Focus on a diet rich in vegetables (especially cruciferous ones like broccoli and kale), lean protein, healthy fats, and fibre. Reduce your intake of alcohol, sugar, and ultra-processed foods.

• Stay Hydrated: Water helps flush out toxins and supports healthy liver function.

• Move Your Body: Regular exercise improves circulation and supports your liver’s detox processes.

• Get Quality Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of restorative sleep each night to give your liver the downtime it needs.

• Reduce Stress: Chronic stress taxes your liver, so incorporate relaxation practices like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing into your routine.

Listen to Your Body

Your liver works hard to keep your body running smoothly, but it needs your support to function at its best. By paying attention to the subtle signs that it’s overwhelmed and making small lifestyle changes, you can help your liver do its job more efficiently—and enjoy better energy, clearer skin, and balanced hormones in the process.

Take this as your sign to check in with your body. Is your liver asking for a little extra care? If so, now is the perfect time to take action and enjoy the benefits of a healthier, more balanced system.