When people think about healthy ageing, they often focus on the heart, brain or muscles. But one organ quietly works behind the scenes every minute of every day to keep your entire body functioning well—your liver.
Your liver performs more than 500 essential functions, from processing nutrients and producing energy to supporting hormone balance and protecting your cells from oxidative stress.
As we age, looking after our liver becomes increasingly important—not because it suddenly starts to fail, but because a healthy liver supports many of the systems that help us maintain our healthspan.
Let's explore why this remarkable organ deserves a place in your healthy ageing strategy.
Why does the liver matter as we age?
Think of your liver as your body's busiest processing centre. Everything you eat, drink and absorb eventually passes through your liver.
Its job is to:
- Help process nutrients from food
- Support energy metabolism
- Help regulate cholesterol production
- Produce bile for healthy digestion
- Store important vitamins and minerals
- Support hormone metabolism
- Neutralise and remove waste products
- Produce antioxidants that help protect cells
As we age, our liver continues to perform these vital tasks, but modern lifestyles—including processed foods, alcohol, environmental pollutants and chronic stress—can increase the demands placed on it. Supporting liver health isn't just about one organ. It helps support your body's overall resilience.
Your liver and healthy ageing are closely connected
Scientists now understand that healthy ageing depends on how well our cells continue functioning over time. The liver influences many of the biological systems involved in healthy ageing, including:
Healthy energy production
Your liver helps regulate how your body stores and uses energy. It plays an important role in glucose metabolism, glycogen storage and supplying fuel to your cells between meals. A healthy liver helps support consistent energy production throughout the day.
Cellular protection
Every day, our cells naturally produce free radicals as part of normal metabolism. The liver helps maintain antioxidant defences that protect cells from oxidative stress. This is important because oxidative stress is thought to contribute to many of the biological changes associated with ageing.
Mitochondrial health
Every liver cell contains thousands of mitochondria—the tiny powerhouses responsible for producing cellular energy. Healthy mitochondria support healthy liver function, while a healthy liver helps maintain efficient energy production throughout the body. It's a two-way relationship.
Healthy metabolism
The liver helps regulate carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. Maintaining healthy metabolic function becomes increasingly important as we age, supporting healthy blood sugar balance, cardiovascular wellbeing and overall vitality.
How liver health affects energy, skin and hormones
One reason liver health is so important is because its effects are felt throughout the entire body.
Energy
If your liver isn't efficiently processing nutrients and supporting metabolism, your cells may struggle to produce energy as effectively. This doesn't mean the liver is always the cause of low energy, but it highlights how closely these systems work together.
Skin
Healthy skin starts from within. The liver plays a role in nutrient metabolism, antioxidant production and supporting the body's natural elimination processes. Looking after your liver complements other healthy skin strategies such as good nutrition, hydration and antioxidant support.
Hormones
The liver helps process and metabolise hormones once they have completed their role. Supporting healthy liver function helps maintain the body's natural hormone balance as part of overall wellbeing.
What are the signs your liver may need support?
Unlike many organs, the liver rarely causes symptoms in its early stages because it has an incredible capacity to keep functioning. Rather than looking for specific "liver symptoms," it's more helpful to think about whether your lifestyle is placing increased demands on your liver.
You may wish to pay extra attention to liver health if you:
- Regularly consume alcohol
- Eat a diet high in processed foods
- Have a busy, stressful lifestyle
- Are exposed to environmental pollutants
- Are over 40 and focusing on healthy ageing
- Simply want to support your body's natural metabolic processes
Remember, many common symptoms can have multiple causes. If you have ongoing fatigue or concerns about your liver, speak with your healthcare professional.
Is milk thistle good for the liver?
Milk thistle is one of the world's best-known herbs for supporting liver health. Its active compounds, collectively known as silymarin, have been widely researched for their antioxidant properties and their ability to support healthy liver function.
Traditionally, milk thistle has been used to:
- Support liver health
- Support the liver's natural detoxification processes
- Provide antioxidant protection
- Support healthy digestive function
Because of its long history of use and growing body of research, milk thistle remains one of the most popular ingredients in liver support supplements worldwide.
Why PQQ is an exciting addition for healthy ageing
While milk thistle supports the liver itself, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) brings another dimension to healthy ageing. PQQ has attracted scientific interest because it supports mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the tiny structures inside every cell that produce energy. As we age, mitochondrial function naturally declines, making energy production less efficient. By supporting healthy mitochondrial function, PQQ complements milk thistle beautifully, combining traditional liver support with modern longevity science.
What makes Advanced Liver Support+ different?
Good Health Advanced Liver Support+ combines two complementary ingredients.
Scientifically researched Milk Thistle
Provides concentrated milk thistle equivalent to 36.75 g of dried seed, delivering flavanolignans calculated as 420 mg silybin, traditionally used to support liver health and the liver's natural detoxification processes.
Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ)
Provides 20 mg PQQ, a researched ingredient that supports:
- Mitochondrial function
- Cellular energy production
- Antioxidant protection
- Healthy ageing
Together they provide support not only for liver health but also for cellular wellbeing.
Can supplements improve liver function?
A healthy lifestyle remains the foundation of liver health.
This includes:
- Eating plenty of vegetables and fibre
- Limiting alcohol
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Exercising regularly
- Staying hydrated
Targeted supplements can then help support healthy liver function as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
The goal isn't to "cleanse" the liver. It's to support the liver as it performs its natural functions every single day.
Can berberine also support liver health?
Interestingly, yes. Although berberine is best known for supporting healthy glucose metabolism, researchers are increasingly interested in the relationship between metabolic health and liver health.
Healthy carbohydrate metabolism, healthy lipid metabolism and cardiovascular health all influence the liver. This is why berberine and liver support supplements can complement each other within a healthy ageing programme, with each supporting different aspects of metabolic wellbeing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best supplement for liver health?
There is no single "best" supplement. Milk thistle remains one of the most widely used herbs for supporting healthy liver function, while ingredients such as PQQ provide additional support for mitochondrial health and healthy ageing.
Is milk thistle safe to take every day?
Milk thistle has a long history of traditional use and is generally well tolerated when taken as directed. Always follow the dosage instructions on the label.
Can liver health affect energy?
Yes. The liver plays a central role in energy metabolism, helping process nutrients and regulate how the body stores and uses energy.
Does the liver affect healthy ageing?
Absolutely. Healthy liver function supports metabolism, antioxidant protection, hormone balance and cellular energy production—all important factors in maintaining healthspan.
Supporting your liver for a healthier future
Your liver rarely gets the recognition it deserves. Yet every day it works tirelessly to process nutrients, support metabolism, protect your cells and help maintain your body's natural balance.
Looking after your liver isn't just about supporting one organ. It's about supporting one of the body's most important foundations for healthy ageing.
Combined with a nutritious diet, regular movement, quality sleep and targeted nutritional support, caring for your liver today may help you enjoy better health for years to come.
