An unhealthy liver can make your perimenopause symptoms worse. Learn about the relationship between estrogen and your liver.
Excerpt from the Peri Post, our weekly newsletter.
Want more community and solutions, right in your inbox? Sign-up here.
Jan 23, 2025
Dear Peri Posse,
If you’re like me, perimenopause quickly became an obsession with estrogen—particularly, estrogen production.
Do I have enough?
What is my cycle doing?
Should I be supplementing my estrogen?
What no one mentioned, though, was estrogen removal!
Estrogen health isn’t just about production; it’s about its entire lifecycle - from production and metabolization to detoxification and disposal.
Once estrogen has done its job, it becomes toxic or "dirty." I think of it like used car oil—grime builds up and needs to be disposed of properly.
Your liver and gut are responsible for this part of the estrogen process. In fact, they are so closely connected it's called the Liver-Gut Axis.
You can read more about the science here.
A healthy liver (and gut) is essential for hormone health.
When your liver isn’t functioning properly, it can’t efficiently detoxify your “used” estrogen. This can lead to a buildup of “dirty” estrogen in your body, leading to something called Estrogen Dominance.
And while you might think, “Just give me more estrogen!”—trust me, you don’t want dirty estrogen circulating through your system.
Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance:*
Heavy or irregular periods
Breast tenderness
Mood swings
Fibroids
Estrogen Dominance can worsen other perimenopause symptoms like:*
Fatigue
Hot flashes
Brain fog
Acne and skin issues
So what can cause your liver to become sluggish?Common culprits include:
Alcohol (ugh, I know)
Poor diet (especially high-sugar, highly processed foods)
Certain diseases (e.g., hepatitis, diabetes)
Obesity/weight gain
Environmental pollutants (such as air pollution and pesticides)
Some medications, like acetaminophen
How to Support Your Liver
Liver cleanses and detoxes are popular, but they’re not always necessary.
I personally blend herbs to support my liver, but I played around with what worked for me.**
Popular liver-supporting herbs include:
Milk thistle - studies suggest it may protect the liver from toxins and help it repair itself
Dandelion - antioxidant; diuretic, may help liver function
Artichoke - antioxidant and liver detoxifier
Important: Don’t overdo cleanses and detoxes. This may cause other complications such as making your liver work too hard!
Like everything in peri, it's all about balance. And learning what works for you.
Luckily, there are some gentle lifestyle and diet habits that you can all incorporate to improve your liver function and overall health:
Cut back on alcohol (I know, boo!)
Add beets and carrots to your meals
Drink green tea
Eat fruits like grapefruit, blueberries, and cranberries
Load up on cruciferous veggies and leafy greens (e.g., broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cucumbers)
Incorporate healthy fats like avocado, nuts, wild-caught salmon, and olive oil
Stay hydrated
I genuinely feel better since supporting my liver. And that's not something I say lightly.
How about you? Have you given thought to your liver health? I'd love to hear from you on this important topic!
Next week we’ll take this one step further and dive into the gut— aka your second brain!
To your liver health!
Kelley
Your Peri Cheerleader-in-Chief
*These symptoms can also be associated with other conditions, so proper diagnosis is essential for effective treatment. If you’re experiencing symptoms, please speak to your doctor.
**Be sure to always introduce new herbs or supplements cautiously. It's always best practice to speak with your doctor or practitioner first.
