5 Ways To Look After Your Liver

Your liver performs over 500 essential tasks including helping with detoxification, protein synthesis, and the production of chemicals that help to digest food. Liver disease is one of the worlds most fatal health issues and has soared in recent years by nearly 400% with scientists estimating that it could overtake heart disease as the leading cause of death in certain parts of the world within 2 years. 

So what could you be doing to better look after your liver?

Drink less alcohol
Alcohol consumption is one of the biggest enemies of the liver. When you consume alcohol your liver goes into overdrive trying to purify your blood, alcohol can also cause a build-up of fat on the liver which can lead to a decrease in its ability to perform its essential functions. It’s vital to remain within the government guidelines for alcohol consumption and to try and have at least 3 no alcohol days throughout the week to allow your liver to recover. Another thing to consider is the strength of what you are drinking, your liver can only clear between 8 mg- 10 mg of alcohol from your blood per hours and so it’s best to stick to lighter alcohol options which can be more easily metabolised.

Stay hydrated
Hydration is essential for a healthy liver and so it’s important to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day and make this one of your healthy habits. Water is, of course, your best choice for hydration but sipping on teas, in particular, green tea has also been found to have a protective effect on the living owing to its high antioxidant properties. Surprisingly coffee is also associated with helping the liver, although not the most hydrating of beverages research by the University of Edinborough found that drinking two cups of coffee a day can reduce liver cancer risks by up to a third.

Eat for your liver
Eating a well balanced and healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables is the key to promoting a healthy liver, however, there are some foods that deliver more bang for their bucks, such as grapefruit, blueberries, beetroot and salmon. Alongside a healthy diet, certain supplements such as chanca piedra, milk thistle and artichoke leaf have also been found to liver health.

Exercise regularly
Obesity is another of the leading diseases which can cause damage to your liver. Good old exercise can not only help to keep you in shape but is also good for your mental wellbeing too. By incorporating 40 minutes of exercise into their routine 3 times a week 82% of one studies participants saw a drop in their liver fat levels over three months. So get moving.

Ditch the detoxes
Your liver is designed to provide the best detox for your body and trying fad diets and detoxes will likely cause you more harm than good in the long run. Many, such as juice diets, work on severe calorie restriction which can then lead to weight gain when the programme is stopped. Ditch the unsustainable diets, eat healthily and let your liver take care of the detoxification.