How to Promote Your Liver Vitality
“Lose you liver, and you lose your life”
– Dr. K. Bartholomew
The liver is one of the most amazing organs in our body. It is a fascinating organ as it performs hundreds of vital functions in the body including digestion, metabolism, and detoxification. Maintaining liver vitality is essential in keeping the body healthy.
Numerous factors may lead to liver damage such as viruses, exposure to toxins, intake of alcohol, and even metabolic conditions like obesity and diabetes, which are increasingly becoming more common.
The signs and symptoms suggestive of liver disease include:
- Afternoon fatigue
- Unexplained itching
- Nausea
- Poor appetite
- Right upper quadrant abdominal pain
- Abdominal enlargement
- Intestinal bleeding
Many patients without symptoms are also being diagnosed with liver disease due to findings of abnormally high liver enzyme levels on a routine blood test.
Here are some ways to protect your liver:
- Proper diet and regular exercise: Regular exercise with a proper diet low in refined carbohydrates and fat and high in fiber have been proven to prevent the development of many diseases, including that of the liver. Current recommendations call for 150 minutes of exercise per week which can be accomplished through 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on weekdays and a single set of strength training on major muscle groups about 12 to 15 repetitions on weekends.
- Refrain from alcohol: Limit your alcohol intake to not more than 1 serving a day for women and 2 serving a day for men. But choosing not to drink alcohol at all would be best for your liver.
- Practice safe sex: Being loyal to your partner or using protective barriers such as a condom can prevent you from getting hepatitis B, C, and D, viral infections known to affect the liver.
- Be picky on the needles: The practice of tattooing and body piercing is an art but, keep in mind that cleanliness in choosing the needle will protect you from blood-borne diseases that are toxic to the liver.
- Be careful with your medications: Take your medications properly by reading the drug information leaflet and consulting your doctor especially if you are taking multiple medications together.
- Get a vaccine against hepatitis: Prevention is better than cure; protect your liver against the damaging effect of hepatitis by taking the vaccine.
- Consider supplements formulated with Silybin-Phosphatidylcholine complex: Silybin is a compound from the milk thistle plant recognized for its multiple liver protecting benefits. Phosphatidylcholine is a natural component of the body’s cell membranes which could support the repair of injured liver cells. By combining silybin with phosphatidylcholine, the absorption of silybin into the body is further increased, thus allowing enhanced delivery of its benefits to the liver.
To know more about how to promote your liver health and vitality, it is best to consult your doctor.
References:
Edward R. Laskowski, M. D. (2021, September 22). How much exercise do you really need? Mayo Clinic. Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20057916
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, April 8). Liver disease. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/symptoms-causes/syc-20374502
Silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex. Monograph. Altern Med Rev. 2009;14(4): 385-390.