6 tips for a healthy liver

tips for a healthy liverYou know all the healthy lifestyle habits necessary to keep your heart healthy, lower your blood pressure, keep your brain sharp, your digestion moving smoothly, and to keep your bones and muscles strong, but do you know what to do to keep your liver healthy? The liver is a very important organ that is involved with over 500 functions, yet many of us ignore it.

There are numerous threats to the liver, but many of us don’t take the time to learn how to keep our liver healthy. You may not know this, but a lot of health problems actually stem from the liver, so a healthy liver may be the secret to overall good health.

Advertisement

So, why not start caring for your liver instead of just treating arising problems.

Below you will find six useful and easy tips that can go a long way in improving your liver health.

6 tips for a healthy liver

Eat healthily. This is a no-brainer—good health begins with proper nutrition. Just as you can eat to improve your heart, you can also eat to improve your liver.

Diet affects the liver because eventually, everything we take in makes its way through the liver. The liver is responsible for removing toxins and metabolizing substances so that the body can use them. Therefore, you don’t want to eat bad food that can make your liver sick. Instead, opt for healthy food choices, avoid saturated and trans-fat, reduce your alcohol intake, and stock up on vegetables.

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a big threat to the liver. This is because alcohol is very hard for your liver to break down. This can increase the risk of damage to the liver, which can deteriorate it over time.

Quit smoking. If you’re a smoker, there is another reason to quit: It can harm your liver. Toxins in cigarette smoke can travel to the liver, and if you already have a liver problem, smoking can worsen your condition.

Exercise regularly. Yes, your liver can also benefit from regular exercise just like all your other organs. This is because fat can accumulate around the liver, leading to disease. Therefore, regular exercise helps your burn off fat. Furthermore, exercise is a stress reliever and stress is another enemy of the liver.

Advertisement

Pencil in relaxation time. As mentioned, stress is an enemy of the liver. Taking the time to unwind and relax can help you recharge overall.

Speak to your doctor about supplements and medications. Supplements and medications both end up passing through the liver and many of these aren’t safe for your liver. Prior to beginning any supplement or medication, always speak to your doctor whether or not it is safe.

Liver disease is a very serious health threat and if not caught early enough can ultimately lead to liver failure or even death. By adhering to these simple lifestyle changes, you can have greater success in maintaining a healthy liver.


Advertisement

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11244162
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.510270635/pdf
http://www.academia.edu/20076665/Five-year_survival_predictive_factors_in_patients_with_excessive_alcohol_intake_and_cirrhosis._Effect_of_alcoholic_hepatitis_smoking_and_abstinence

Related Reading:

6 Foods for a clean and healthy liver

Is your liver healthy? Watch out for these six symptoms

Advertisement