Lifestyle Modifications For A Healthy Liver

A healthy liver is essential for a healthy life. Simple lifestyle modifications can go a long way in helping your liver to work well and recover from illness Liver plays a key role in body’s digestive system. Everything you eat or drink, including medicine, passes through liver. The liver is a vital organ and not something you can live without. Liver is the second-largest organ in our body (the skin is the largest). It filters chemicals like drugs and alcohol from the blood; regulates hormones and blood sugar levels; stores energy from the nutrients and makes blood proteins, bile and several enzymes that the body needs. There’s nothing complicated about keeping the liver in a good shape. It’s all about a healthy lifestyle. Taking care of liver is far more about avoiding what’s bad than it is about eating or drinking things that are particularly nourishing to the liver. It's important to make some lifestyle modifications for a healthy liver. to keep your liver healthy and to avoid having to get liver disease treatments later on. Care for Your Liver Don't over-do alcohol. Alcohol can damage liver cells, lead to swelling or scarring that becomes cirrhosis, which may prove fatal. Moderate alcohol use is defined as having up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. Eat a healthy diet and do regular exercise. A condition called Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) also may lead to cirrhosis. It develops in those who are overweight, have diabetes, or have high levels of fat in their blood. It can be avoided through weight loss if you’re overweight, getting regular exercise and eating a balanced diet. Regulate use of medicines (or combinations of medicines) that harm the liver. Cholesterol drugs and the painkiller acetaminophen can be toxic to the liver if too much is taken over time or at once. Certain combinations of drugs can be toxic to the liver. Talk to doctor about what medicines shouldn’t be combined with each other or alcohol. Be aware of hepatitis. Hepatitis is a virus that causes the liver to become inflamed. There are several different types. Hepatitis A is transmitted by water or food. It usually gets better on its own. Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through blood and body fluids. If untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. Hand washing and avoiding places that don't seem clean can prevent hepatitis A. To prevent hepatitis B and C, don't share items like toothbrushes, razors, or needles, limit the number of sex partners you have, and always use latex condoms if you have more than one partner. There are vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Don’t breathe in toxins. Cleaning products, aerosol products, insecticides, chemicals and additives in cigarettes contain toxins that can damage liver cells. Avoid direct contact with them, and don’t smoke. Be careful with herbs and dietary supplements. Herbal remedies, herbal combinations and dietary supplements aren't subject to the same approval process as medication and some may harm the liver. A few that have caused liver problems are cascara, chaparral, comfrey, kava and ephedra. Drink coffee. Research shows that drinking coffee can lower your risk of getting liver disease. To keep liver healthy, follow a healthy lifestyle and keep a close eye on medicines. The liver can be a very forgiving organ, but it has its limits.