Your Liver, Your Life!

Nov 3, 2011 by admin

Your liver is an important internal organ but it is alarming to learn that the majority of people have no idea what it does and how to keep it healthy. So let’s have a look at the important functions of the liver and then talk about a few things you can do to keep it functioning at its best.

What Does My Liver Actually Do?

Good question. It basically keeps you alive! The main purpose of the 3kg internal organ known as your liver, is to convert glucose into a carbohydrate (and then back to glucose if necessary). What it does is regulates your blood sugar levels, as well as filtering your digestive system by removing amino acids from your body. It is a very important part of your body. In fact approximately 30,000 people each year, die due to liver failure – just in the United States alone!

What About Your Liver & Alcohol?

Now most people associate liver failure with excessive alcohol consumption, and this is a major problem. Your liver is responsible for the conversion of alcohol into something that can be excreted from your body, and if alcohol builds up inside your body then it can destroy your cells and organs. This is why prolonged excessive alcohol consumption is a major cause of liver failure around the world. But it is not the only cause…

The Fatty Liver Epidemic

It is fair to say that obesity is definitely a worrying epidemic around the world. With as many as 65% of Americans being classified as overweight and this figure not set to decrease any time soon, another liver condition is quickly rising in popularity. Fatty liver, is when your liver starts to build fat deposit on your liver cells – destroying healthy cells in the process. And it is said to affect as many as 75% of obese people!

How To Protect Your Liver

Hopefully by now you understand how important your liver is, so you might be interested in learning a few tips that will help it function at its best:

Watch Your Food Intake Your diet should not focus solely on what you shouldn’t eat, but also adding foods that will be beneficial. While you will want to be removing fatty, greasy and processed foods from your diet, also start to add foods that contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Limit Your Alcohol Consumption Research shows that prolonged, excessive alcohol consumption has a very direct and negative affect on your liver, so it is important to moderate your alcohol intake. This doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy a couple of wines or beers at a party – it means give your body a chance your repair itself. Don’t constantly bombard your liver with so much alcohol that it can’t process it anymore. Hen games that involve drinking vast quantities of alcohol should be avoided.
Stop Smoking Most people associate smoking with lung damage, but your liver is the organ that processes toxins. Cigarettes are jam packed with highly toxic chemicals and obviously are going to have a negative impact on your livers health.

This is a basic overview of your liver, why it is important and how you can make positive changes to keep it healthy. If you think you have any problems with your liver or any other part of your body then you should consult your local doctor for a diagnosis.