Tips To Improve Liver Health

The liver is a multifunctional organ responsible for detoxifying deadly substances, protein and carbohydrate metabolizing, vitamin A synthesis, bile production, and sequestration of erythrocytes. It can be found in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity and is the largest internal organ.

Excessive alcohol intake is the number one culprit in liver diseases. A person may suffer liver damage and not experience any symptom because the organ does not have pain receptors.

To avoid liver damage, you must adapt behavioral and lifestyle changes. Here are some tips on how to improve liver health.

Avoid alcohol
The liver is the only organ that can produce enzymes that can effectively oxidize alcohol. Unfortunately, the liver can only produce enough enzymes to process one drink every hour. The excess alcohol will circulate in your system, affecting every organ in the body.

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will overwork the liver, compromising its capacity to metabolize fatty acids. Heavy drinkers can suffer from permanent liver cell damage and it can lose its ability to metabolize fatty acids leading to a fatty liver. Totally avoiding alcohol can be impossible for some people. However, you should take steps to limit your alcohol intake and allow your liver to recover from damage.

Keep your liver stress-free as much as possible
Prescription drugs can cause liver damage. Always consult  your doctor if you have questions regarding your medication and never self medicate. A damaged liver cannot metabolize medication and absorb nutrients.

Limit your coffee intake. The general rule is to cut down on your consumption of caffeinated beverages to as little as possible. You should also consume at least 2.5 liters of water every day.

Smoking should also be avoided, it causes liver damage as it breaks down 80% of nicotine down to cotinine.

Eating raw seafood can also harm the liver because of harmful bacteria. The liver can be overworked as it strives to eliminate bacteria from your system through its bile secretion. Unfortunately, bacteria will not be totally eliminated which can cause bacterial overload over time. This can cause liver scars and can lead to cirrhosis.

Promote a healthy liver
A healthy diet is essential to help strengthen and rebuild your liver cells. The liver requires vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to detoxify your system. A healthy liver can break down toxic substances and convert them into less harmful free radicals. However, if there is an excessive build up of free radicals, damage to your organs can occur.

Health experts advice us to include lots of fruits and vegetables in our diet. Choose foods high in vitamins C and E, phytochemicals, and selenium. Lycopene, which can be found in cooked tomatoes, is a powerful antioxidant that protects the liver. Vitamin B complex from dietary sources such as dried beans, peas, eggs, green leafy vegetables, and lean meat also help improve liver function.

Medical Insurance plans often disqualify or rate persons applying for a health insurance plan due to liver diseases