Liver Health Can Be Improved Through Many Actions

Also known as the powerhouse organ, the liver is the second largest organ in the body, whose primary function is to keep people alive and healthy. It performs several tasks ranging from cleansing blood and metabolizing medications and nutrients to storing carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.

It works very hard and sometimes puts up with injustices such as exposure to toxins and excessive amounts of alcohol. However, similar to a rubber band, it has its stretching limits; it can fail. It is therefore paramount for individuals to improve and maintain their liver health using appropriate actions.

Several actions can improve liver health, including maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding toxins, and using alcohol responsibly.

Common Liver Problems

The main conditions that can affect the liver include:

1. Hepatitis - This is a viral infection that causes liver damage and inflammation inhibiting liver functions. There are different types of the hepatitis virus, including hepatitis A to E, which are primarily spread through contact with bodily fluids and contaminated water or food.
2. Fatty liver disease - Fatty liver disease arises from fat buildup in the liver. It can be caused by heavy alcohol consumption. When left unmanaged, it can bring about liver damage instigating liver failure or cirrhosis.
3. Autoimmune liver conditions - These are conditions that arise when a person's immune system attacks their liver. Such attacks can cause autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis. These three can progress to liver cirrhosis and liver failure.
4. Genetic conditions - Individuals can also inherit genetic liver conditions from one or both of their parents. One of the most common conditions under this category includes hemochromatosis, which results from the accumulation of iron in the liver.

Actions That Harm Liver Health

There are quite a few actions that harm liver health or increase the risk of liver conditions. These include the following:

1. Alcohol consumption - Alcohol has the potential to cause liver disease, whether in excessive or minute quantities. When consumed in large amounts, it can lead to fat buildup in the liver leading to alcoholic fatty liver diseases.
2. Excessive consumption of sugars - Not only is too much sugar harmful to the brain, but also the liver. The liver uses sugar (fructose) to produce fat. When individuals consume too much refined sugar, they cause abnormal fat production leading to fat buildup and eventually fatty liver disease. One common source of refined sugar is sugar-laden sodas. Studies have shown that consuming excessive amounts of these beverages increases individuals’ risk of acquiring fatty liver disease.
3. Smoking - Smoking causes enormous oxidative stress that forces the liver to cleanse the blood. This phenomenon releases harmful compounds in the body, which can lead to the onset of liver cancer.
4. Practicing unsafe sex - Practicing unsafe sex can lead to the acquisition of the hepatitis virus. This means that unsafe sex, especially with multiple partners, increases the risk of liver damage.

Actions to Improve Liver Health

There’s plenty of good things that can be done to help improve your liver health, or at worst, prevent causing active damage to it. Some of these actions include: 

1. Avoiding weight gain - Individuals can improve their liver health by maintaining their body mass index (BMI) within the normal range through regular exercise and well-balanced diets. This will reduce the risk of acquiring non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
2. Using alcohol responsibly - Alcohol can cause liver scarring and inflammation and eventually liver damage. Individuals can talk to their doctors about the appropriate amount for them. Likewise, they can search for the recommended quantities. The U.S government's guidelines highlight that women should drink at most one drink and men, not more than two.
3. Following directions on all prescribed drugs - Too much consumption of particular drugs, especially the some over the counter painkillers, can harm the liver. People need to take medications as prescribed and inform their doctors about any herbal remedies, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements that they use. Also, they should never mix any medication with alcohol, even if they're taken separately.
4. Avoiding toxins and chemicals - Toxins found in additives, aerosol products, household chemicals, and some cleaning products can cause injury to liver cells. Individuals should handle toxins with care. For instance, when they use an aerosol such as an insecticide, they should wear a mask.
5. Maintain a physically active lifestyle - Maintaining a physically active lifestyle is beneficial to an individuals' overall health (helps maintain a healthy weight) and inhibits the development of liver diseases. Exercises or physically taxing activities help burn triglycerides and thereby reduce liver fat.

Everyone is responsible for their good health and should take the necessary actions as described above to prevent liver damage.