15 Tips for Healthy Liver

Good health is what we need! In today's world, lifestyle diseases are becoming more common due to stress and environmental factors, bad eating habits, pollution, etc.

To have robust health, we must safeguard our vital organs. One such organ is the liver. The liver is the largest internal organ and it is located under the lower rib cage on the right side of the stomach. It is known as the "chemical factory" because it produces, metabolises, and excretes many toxic chemicals from the body and is the biggest detoxifier in the human body.

The liver performs over 500 essential functions that can help us stay alive. It provides quick energy when needed, keeps the glucose and cholesterol levels under control, clears toxins from the body, fights off infections, produces critical blood clotting factors, and much more.

There's a common misconception that liver disease mainly affects people who drink too much alcohol (liver cirrhosis). But the fact is that the disease can develop from eating an unhealthy diet, viral infection, or through prolonged exposure to toxins. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, closely associated with obesity and diabetes, is the most widespread form of chronic liver disease.

Let us give our liver the care it needs and lead a healthy life. Here are 15 ways to improve liver health.

• Maintain a healthy weight: Even overweight people are in danger of having a fatty liver that can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Losing weight can play a vital role in helping to reduce liver fat.
• Eat healthy: Foods high in calories, sugars, and saturated fats should be avoided. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads, rice, and cereals are all part of a well-balanced diet. Good fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats included in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and fish contain them. Hepatitis A mainly spreads through contaminated water and food. To be safe, avoid raw or contaminated seafood or shellfish.
• Exercise regularly: Exercising regularly for at least 30 minutes per day, five days a week, helps burn triglycerides for energy. Regular exercises can help reverse fatty liver disease early and improve your liver health.
• Drink plenty of water: Water is the best way to recharge the liver. Keep your body hydrated to avoid toxin attacks on the organ. Dehydration can also make our blood thicker, making it more difficult for the liver to clean and detox. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day on average, and some people with health conditions may need to drink more than the recommended amount.
• Keep chronic conditions managed: Diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol are all significant risk factors for fatty liver disease. Keeping them under control with diet can help to limit and prevent liver damage.
• Limit alcohol use: Watch how much you drink. Women may be more at risk than males, even if they drink less alcohol. Alcohol abuse can cause liver cell damage, destruction, scarring, and liver cirrhosis in both genders. Avoid high alcohol consumption and people drinking at elevated levels should receive guidance to reduce their intake.
• Cut down smoking or stop smoking: Cigarette smoking has been associated with liver cancer and can also enhance the toxic effects of some medications on the liver. The harmful substances in tobacco smoke can cause inflammation and eventual liver cirrhosis.
  Smoking cigarettes for an extended period can lead to chronic liver conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and primary biliary cholangitis. Individuals with chronic hepatitis B or C viral infection are more likely to develop hepatocellular carcinoma if they smoke.
• Avoid these practices: Do not indulge in unprotected or unsafe sex. Hepatitis B infection can quickly spread through sexual contact; therefore, taking precautions like using condoms or avoiding multiple sexual partners is necessary. If you plan to get a body piercing or tattoo, go to the reputed tattoo parlors, wherein strict hygiene standards are maintained.
• Wash your hands: Use sanitizer, soap, and warm water to wash your hands immediately after using the restroom or changing a diaper. Make sure to clean your hands before preparing or eating food and drinks to prevent getting infected by Hepatitis A virus.
• Follow the given directions on all medications: You can harm your liver when you take medications incorrectly or in excess. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is common; therefore, take only prescribed drugs. Always inform the doctor if you use any over-the-counter medicines, supplements, or natural remedies.
• Get available hepatitis vaccinations: Vaccination is a essential part of preventing hepatitis. Vaccines are available for hepatitis-A and hepatitis-B currently. Hepatitis C vaccines are now being developed. Taking liver vaccination can prevent life-threatening diseases and improve quality of life.
• Avoid contaminated needles: You should consult the doctor and seek testing if the skin is penetrated with sharp instruments or needles. The hepatitis infection can be spread by sharing contaminated needles and related equipment, and injecting with just one contaminated needle is sufficient to get infected.
• Get medical support if you are exposed to blood: Consult your doctor immediately if you come into contact with someone else's blood or other blood products, such as through blood transfusions and organ transplants. Blood for transfusion should be checked for proof of infectious disease pathogens, including hepatitis C and B viruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). If you are highly concerned, go to the emergency room of your nearest hospital.
• Don't share personal hygiene items: Never share personal items such as a towel, razors, toothbrushes, and nail clippers because they can carry microscopic levels of blood or other potentially contaminated body fluids which can transmit infection.
• Regular schedule for liver function tests: Include liver function tests on your to-do list regarding yearly check-ups. As one of your vital organs, the liver should be one of your top priorities when it comes to routine diagnostics, especially if you have a family history of liver disease.
  A healthy liver makes a healthy body, but if there are symptoms like yellowish eyes or skin, fatigue, appetite loss, itchy skin, or swelling, it is time to visit the best gastroenterologist near you.

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