Everything we do and take in somehow affects our liver. Our liver performs over 500 functions that work to keep us healthy overall. But what do we do when the liver gets sick?
Your best defense against a sick liver is to adhere to a healthy lifestyle as much as possible. It’s really that simple. Here are some easy to do tips that can promote a healthy liver.
Tips for a healthy liver
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Eat well: The majority of things we ingest find their way to our liver. This is because it’s your liver’s job to remove toxins and metabolize substances so that your body can use them. If your diet isn’t the greatest, you could be contributing to a sick liver and sick body overall.
A well-balanced diet is highly recommended for this reason. This means balancing your fruits and vegetables, grains, meats, and dairy to ensure your body receives the proper nutrients it needs. You will also want to cut out trans and saturated fats along with processed foods, sugars, and alcohol.
It’s important that you eat healthy so you don’t put on excess weight. When you put on weight, you are at an increased risk of fatty liver disease, which can lead to serious complications overtime as well.
Avoid alcohol: We touched upon this briefly in the tip above, but it’s so important that you monitor your alcohol intake that it deserves its own section. Alcohol is your liver’s number one enemy because it is so difficult for it to break down and process. Even a small amount of alcohol is enough to cause damage to your liver.
Quit smoking: If you smoke, you probably have 100 reasons to quit. Here is reason 101: It’s bad for your liver. Smoking increases the risk of many forms of cancers, including liver cancer. Smoking is also associated with cirrhosis of the liver, which is irreversible.
Exercise: Exercise is recommended for several different reasons. For starters, it helps you maintain a healthy weight. Second, it ensures other organs like the heart and brain stay healthy. Furthermore, it can relieve stress, which brings us to our next point…
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Reduce stress: Stress is your body’s number one enemy because it works silently. Without you even realizing it, cortisol—the stress hormone—is released into the body, slowly attacking the organs and reducing organ and system function. Finding healthy ways to reduce stress is another aspect of keeping your liver healthy.
Talk to your doctor about medications and supplements: Even if something says it’s all-natural, it may be difficult for your liver to break down. Before starting any medications or supplements, speak to your doctor about it.
Related: What causes liver pain?
