💚 Love Your Liver – with Dr. Turner & Dr. Sam 💚

Hi everyone! We’re Dr. Leila Turner and Dr. Samantha Kunselman, and we’re so excited to share some insights about one of the body’s most essential – and underappreciated – organs: the liver.

Before we dive in, we’d love to introduce (or reintroduce!) Dr. Sam, our new resident physician here at Living Wellness Medical Center. Over the past 18 months, Dr. Turner has had the pleasure of mentoring Dr. Sam during her clinical training as a medical student. Dr. Sam is thrilled to be joining the Living Wellness team in a new capacity and continuing to learn from Dr. Turner’s wealth of knowledge. 

Dr. Sam earned her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Sonoran University of Health Sciences (formerly SCNM). Her main clinical interests include endocrinology, women’s health, and gastrointestinal health, and she’s especially passionate about helping patients develop body intuition – that natural connection with one’s own body and awareness of how everyday practices shape overall wellness.

We’re both delighted to be working together this year, combining our shared love for naturopathic medicine and our commitment to helping patients achieve balance, vitality, and sustainable health.

When she’s not in the clinic, you might find Dr. Sam at a local coffee shop, sipping a seasonal latte and getting lost in a fantasy novel – because we all know that nurturing joy is part of good medicine, too.

Why the Liver Deserves Your Love 🌱

The liver is one of the body’s hardest-working organs – and it’s often underappreciated! Nearly everything you eat, drink, breathe, or apply to your skin is processed through the liver, which sits underneath the ribs on the right side of your abdomen. 

Think of your liver as your body’s filter, factory, and storage unit all in one:

• Filter: It removes toxins, alcohol, and metabolic waste, while also regulating hormones and blood sugar. It carries out these functions by utilizing Phase I and Phase II detoxification pathways, which transform toxins into substances that your body can safely get rid of. These pathways require various vitamins and minerals, and keeping these pathways supported is key to healthy detox and metabolism.
  
• Factory: It produces cholesterol, bile for optimal digestion, and proteins that support immunity and blood clotting.
  
• Storage: It holds on to essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and sugar for when your body needs them.

What is Fatty Liver Disease? 🦠

One of the most common issues we see affecting liver health today is fatty liver disease — when excess fat accumulates inside liver cells.

At first, it often causes no symptoms. Over time, though, it can lead to fatigue, mild nausea, or a dull ache on the right side of the abdomen. Left unchecked, it may progress through the following stages:

Fatty liver → Fibrosis (scarring) → Cirrhosis (nonfunctional liver) → higher risk of liver cancer

The good news?  🥳Fatty liver and fibrosis are reversible. 🥳
Early detection and targeted care can help restore healthier liver function and prevent long-term damage. 

Could You Be at Risk? 🙋‍♀️

Certain conditions and lifestyle factors can raise your risk for fatty liver disease:

• High cholesterol or triglycerides
• Diabetes or insulin resistance
• High blood pressure
• Alcohol use
• Poor diet or inactivity

Even if you feel fine, routine lab testing can give valuable insights into your liver health. Elevated AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, ferritin, cholesterol, or blood sugar can all point toward strain on your liver.

When multiple markers are elevated, we may recommend a FibroScan for a closer look.

What Is a FibroScan? 🧪

FibroScan is a special type of ultrasound that measures how much fat and fibrosis (scar tissue) is present in your liver.
✅ Non-invasive — no needles, no biopsy 💉
✅ Reduces need for liver biopsy
✅ Leads to earlier diagnosis + better management 🪴

The results of the FibroScan are given in “tiers” of fatty liver and fibrosis. These tiers can be interpreted as normal, mild, moderate, or severe fatty liver disease or liver fibrosis. Your FibroScan results can help guide a personalized treatment plan based on your specific liver health “tier.”

Supporting Your Liver Naturally 🍵

Dr. Turner and I have worked together to create individualized protocols for each “tier” of liver health. Our approach may include:

• Addressing root causes (like blood sugar imbalance, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other lifestyle factors such as exercise and nutrition)
  
• Using antioxidants and anti-inflammatory support to calm liver stress
  
• Incorporating liver protective and restorative herbs (like milk thistle, artichoke, or gotu kola)
  

Our goal is simple — to help you “walk backward” through the tiers of liver damage, so that your liver can function at its full potential again.

Take the Next Step Toward a Healthier Liver 🌞

If you’re curious about your liver health or wondering whether a FibroScan might be right for you, schedule an appointment at Living Wellness Medical Center.

Together, we’ll take a proactive approach to understanding your body, preventing disease, and restoring balance — one healthy organ at a time.

Here’s to loving your liver — and feeling your best from the inside out! 💚