My ND is having me work on lowering my liver enzyme count. I have an elevated level of them, meaning that my liver is working overtime. She isn't quite sure why. She speculates that it is because my body has been out of whack for a few years since I have struggled with an ED and am trying to get back on track.

What do you think? The only other option there would be is because I am vegan. But I've never heard that vegans tend to have livers working overtime. I eat very healthy foods (no junk at all!), don't drink, smoke... nothing that would be an obvious cause to my poor liver doing massive work. I guess what I'm looking for is some reassurance that it's not my vegan diet and that it will eventually get on track once my body has stabilized in recovery.

Thank you so much for any input!

Actually, iron is stored in the liver, so people who eat more red meat and iron rich foods work their liver a little harder than someone that doesn't. Certain vitamins and natural supplements will tax the liver because the liver filters that stuff. High fat/high sugar foods also work the liver. And above all else, stay away from Tylenol if at all possible, it's effects are toxic on the liver.

Has your doctor done any blood work to check for hepatitis? Elevated enzymes are usually an indication of hepatitis. You could have fatty liver too.

I highly doubt that your elevated enzymes are due to your vegan diet. But your ED could have messed with it, not sure if that would have created elevated enzymes.

Hmmm... I try to avoid the type of food you mentioned above. I don't think I overload on those things. And my doctor didn't test for hepatitis, but she has done a thorough exam and I think she would have noticed if I had other symptoms of it. At least, I think.

Nope. If she didn't test for hepatitis as a part of the exam, I wouldn't consider the exam she gave you thorough. There's a definite reason your enzymes are elevated, and you must find that reason before possible scaring occurs.

Most people that contract hep c don't show symptoms for at least a decade or more. It is very odd that your doctor wouldn't have done the simple blood test that would have checked for it, being that your enzymes are elevated. That's the first thing they did with me when my enzymes were elevated. I would request it be done and maybe get another doctor's opinion, being that this one hasn't thought of doing the test yet. It seems such a first response thing to do, being that hep c is so prevalent in society anymore.

After some simple searching I found these common causes:

* Medications, such as certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cholesterol-lowering medications, antibiotics and anti-seizure medications
* Drinking too much alcohol
* Obesity
* Diabetes
* Elevated triglycerides
* Infection, such as viral hepatitis and mononucleosis
* Autoimmune disorders of the liver and bile ducts, such as autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis
* Metabolic liver disease, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease
* Excessive use of vitamin supplements and certain herbal supplements
* Tumors of the liver or bile ductshttp://www.ohiohealth.com/healthreference/reference/3A450D2D-D097-473D-BFB475243D8B2E89.htm?category=questions
Are you taking any prescription drugs, supplements, or natural health treatments? If so, let your doctor know. Any medications you don't absolutely need you could try stopping to see if the enzymes go down.