How Can You Maintain A Healthy Liver And Proper Functioning? Experts Offer Advice

With approximately 500 tasks that are crucial to preserving our body’s health, the liver serves as the greatest metabolic factory in our body. Among them, the most important ones are protein synthesis, glycogen storage, drug and toxin detoxification, bile production, creation of blood-clotting proteins, and generation of immunological components required to combat infections.

Our whole health is critically dependent on having a functioning liver. However, we often neglect the organ since we are unsure of how to maintain it secure and healthy. The time has come to alter this perspective, therefore we have provided some advice on how to properly care for your liver.

“Obesity or overweight can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is now the leading cause of liver problems in our society,” says Dr. Sanjiv Saigal, Principal Director & Head, Liver Transplant and Biliary Sciences, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endoscopy, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket. Simple fatty liver may develop into steatohepatitis (liver inflammation), cirrhosis (liver shrinkage), and possibly liver cancer over time. We must keep our weight in check by engaging in both regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Alternative medications are often obtained from questionable sources and can lack scientific and clinical support. Additionally, a variety of medications, including opioids, anti-tuberculosis medications, and anti-epileptic medications, may harm the liver. These drugs must be used under a doctor’s supervision, he noted.

The liver is a fundamental organ of the human body and is essential for many metabolic processes, according to Dr. Nitin Aherrao, Consultant, Gastroenterology, P D Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Khar. In addition to storing vitamins and minerals, removing toxins from the body, producing bile for digestion, and storing sugar. Alcohol, fatty liver, different viruses (Hepatitis B, C), different herbal alternative medications, hereditary illnesses including autoimmune liver disease and Wilson disease, uncontrolled diabetes, and lipid problems are just a few of the things that may harm the liver.

“Unfortunately, ongoing liver damage may not exhibit any symptoms for many years,” he said. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the liver for damage using simple procedures such liver function testing and abdominal sonography. Internal liver scarring (fibrosis) and swelling (inflammation) may result from ongoing liver injury. Cirrhosis of the liver, which may result in irreversible liver damage, can develop if further advancement is not stopped.

The following 8 bits of advice will help you maintain a healthy liver:

Don’t drink too much alcohol.
A regular workout routine and an active, healthy lifestyle.
a healthy diet.
maintaining the 18.5-22.9 kg/m2 range for optimum body mass index (BMI).
Obtain a Hepatitis B and C screening.
Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are readily accessible, so get protected.
Over-the-counter alternative medications should be avoided since they contain heavy metals that might harm the liver.
Put an end to your smoking.