A doctor has warned about the symptoms of an unhealthy liver that can manifest on your feet and should not be ignored – spotting them can take just seconds. Dr Eric Berg DC, a health expert who specialises in healthy keto and intermittent fasting, says there are eight key signs to look out for on your feet and legs that could indicate liver problems.
Most of these signs involve changes in the appearance of your skin, so they can be spotted in a matter of seconds. In his YouTube video titled: “How your feet are warning you about your liver problems”, Dr Berg advises viewers: “Because liver problems often show up in your feet, I’ll explain the signs and symptoms to look for.”
He also emphasises: “For a full diagnosis of liver disease, please see your doctor. Have them do tests to figure that out, but this will give you some good clues on a potential problem with your liver.”
The first warning sign of a potential liver issue is the presence of small brown and red dots on your calves. According to Dr Berg, these dots often have a slight shine to them and typically appear on the lower half of your leg, reports Surrey Live.
“This indicates poor circulation. It could also be diabetes, but you see this a lot in people with liver problems,” he explained. “The legs and feet give a lot of great information about the overall health of the person because the heart has to send blood all the way down to your feet and then back through the vascular system.
“Usually, if there’s a liver problem or a heart problem, there’s gonna be a vascular problem, and you’re gonna see it in this part of your body a lot because of the poor circulation that’s occurring.”
The second sign that should be easy to spot is the appearance of spider veins, known as spider nevus. Dr Berg says: “We usually see this in cirrhosis and what’s happening to the liver is you’re building up a lot of estrogen.
If your liver is not functioning correctly, too much estrogen can accumulate. “Too much estrogen can affect the vascular system, so you can see varicose veins and spider veins, and you can see them in the lower legs,” he added.
The third sign to look out for is cracked heels. Dr Berg elaborated: “If your heels are cracked, this is usually a vitamin B3 deficiency or an omega 3 fatty acid deficiency.”
Persistent or severe cracked heels might suggest liver issues. The liver plays a crucial role in detoxifying the body, managing metabolism, and maintaining proper circulation. When compromised, toxins may build up, leading to skin conditions like dry and cracked heels.
The liver’s role in producing bile is crucial for absorbing fatty acids, including vitamins A and E. If your liver struggles to produce bile, you might experience itching at the bottom of your feet.
Dr Berg highlighted: “Itching on the bottom of your foot indicates a backup of fluids into the liver,” adding that a congested liver could lead to a buildup of histamines. The health expert also cautioned that while pain or inflammation in the bottom of the foot may resemble plantar fasciitis, it could also signal a liver issue.
Symptoms of liver disease can range from mild discomfort to intense pain, with possible swelling in the feet and ankles, neuropathy, and arthritis. Dr Bergs noted: “You can also have hot feet and bad odour when your liver can’t detoxify correctly, so toxins are leaking out through your skin.
“Usually if someone’s liver is bad, it means their diet is bad, and their body is full of toxins. Chances are, if your liver is bad so too are your kidneys and colon.”
He also mentioned pitting edema as a common liver symptom, which occurs when blood doesn’t flow properly through the liver, causing edema in the lower legs. Dr Berg explained: “Pitting edema is where you press your finger into the lower leg and it leaves a dent and it just stays there.” This simple test should take only a moment to perform.
The expert has warned that toenail fungus could indicate liver issues, as it often causes nails to change colour and shape. “People with liver problems often have more fungus in and on their bodies due to an imbalance of their gut microflora.”
Toenail fungus can lead to brittle, discoloured, or unusually thick nails. He further noted: “You may also experience dandruff and psoriasis. Your nail beds may also turn white.”
Dr Berg concluded his advice by stating: “Common causes of liver problems include medications, sugar (especially high fructose corn syrup), cooked foods, too few vegetables, excessive alcohol, and excessive protein. A healthy ketogenic diet combined with intermittent fasting is best for a healthy liver.”
According to the NHS, there are various types of liver disease, each with different potential causes. Maintaining a healthy weight and not exceeding recommended alcohol limits can help prevent some liver diseases.
The conditions and their possible causes include:
- Alcohol-related liver disease: Regularly drinking too much alcohol.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Being very overweight (obese) – this may cause fat to build up in the liver.
- Hepatitis: Catching a viral infection or regularly drinking too much alcohol.
- Haemochromatosis: A gene that runs in families and may be passed from parents to children.
- Primary biliary cholangitis: May be caused by a problem with the immune system.
Treatment for liver disease depends on the type you have and how severe it is. Healthy lifestyle changes can help with some types of liver disease. For example, alcohol-related liver disease may improve if you stop drinking alcohol.
Some types of liver disease (such as certain types of hepatitis) may need to be treated with medicine. If you have severe liver damage and scarring (cirrhosis), you may need a liver transplant.