Liver is one of body’s largest and most important organs, performing over 500 function that include the most important to cleansing you blood, eliminating toxins, transforming nutrition into energy and string vitamins and minerals. To keep it fit and healthy, you have to be aware of what food or drink do you eat or not.
- Drinking too much alcohol: We are all aware of that drinking too much alcohol can damage your liver. Liver is a robust organ and can usually cope with small amount of alcohol but in certain amount. When alcohol reaches the liver, it produces a toxic enzyme called acetaldehyde which can damage liver cells and cause permanent scarring, as well as harm to the brain and stomach lining.
- Not Drinking too much enough Water: We all have heard that you’re supposed to drink at least eight or nine glasses of water a day. While it might seem like a lot, our bodies are composed of approximately 65 percent of the stuff—meaning we need all the H2O we can get. Dehydration can have a direct effect on our liver’s ability to properly detoxify our body. So as the liver loses hydration, it also loses its organ reserve, or what it uses to take care of the rest of the body. The general rule is to consume roughly half your ideal body weight in ounces of water daily from a clean water source.
- Coffee and herbal tea is another good option for the liver, but leave the sugar out of the coffee, and concentrate on proper nutrition. In Recent study, the scientist has found that coffee and herbal tea intake of 3 or more cups in a day lowers the amount of liver scarring.
- Smoking Cigarettes: Although cigarette smoke does not have a direct effect on liver function. Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of both liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. The toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke can cause inflammation and eventual cirrhosis.
- Being Overweight Being overweight can have serious effects on several parts of your body, including your liver. Although your liver usually has a small amount of fat in it, too much can result in a condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Not taking Healthy Diet: Keep in mind that an unhealthy diet can contribute to liver damage. If you eat too much high-calorie greasy, fatty, or sugary food, you'll gain weight and fat will begin to build up in your liver. A "fatty liver" can contribute to developing cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver. To help your body better process food and function at its best, you also need to make sure you drink plenty of fluids.
There are several misconceptions when it comes to the liver.
These include:
Misconception 1: It takes excessive alcohol to damage the liver. Actually, alcohol is harmful no matter the amount.
Misconception 2: Alcoholics are the only ones susceptible to liver disease. Not true. There are many other causes to liver disease.
Misconception 3: Fatty liver only happens in fat people. Again not true. Thin people can also have a fatty liver.
Misconception 4: The liver has regenerative properties and will always rebuild itself. False. The liver, though it is resilient, is like any other organ, has a lifespan. This lifespan can be shortened with abuse and poor lifestyle.
To really love your liver, You should undergo a complete liver health check up if your liver is not
functioning normally.
