Our liver is an important organ in our body. Its primary function is to filter the blood coming from our digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of our body. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs – and while doing so – it secretes bile that ends up back in the intestines.
And although our liver is important – we do tend to give it some neglect. What we are putting into our bodies can actually damage our liver. But the good news is that most liver concerns can be treated and even reversed.
So if you really want a healthy body, it is crucial that you love your liver. Here are four bad habits you need to eliminate from your life to keep your liver in good condition.
Too much self-medication
The liver’s job is to detoxify your body, so it is an organ that can come under aggressive assault from medications. Be careful when taking over-the-counter medication and avoid prolonged use of anything that has not been prescribed by your doctor. There are many over-the-counter pain meds that could be wreaking havoc on your liver. Be diligent when treating pain. Do your research and read the leaflet accompanying any medication to be aware of the possible negative impacts on your liver.
Use natural remedies to protect your liver from drug damage, and consult your doctor about persistent or chronic conditions, rather than self-medicating.
Alcohol abuse
Drinking too much alcohol can cause major damage to your liver. Indeed, regular and excessive consumption of alcohol negatively impacts the liver’s ability to detoxify the body. In the long run, alcohol can cause irreversible damage to the liver, resulting in cirrhosis, which in turn increases the risk of liver cancer and liver failure, both of which can be fatal. And if the liver cannot function properly due to cirrhosis, other potentially serious health issues are likely to develop.
Smoking
Another bad habit that you need to ditch is smoking. Smoking causes an increase in the level of free radicals in the body, and the toxic chemicals in cigarettes can cause chronic inflammation of the liver as well as increasing the risk of liver cancer. Smoking also interferes with the liver’s ability to process drugs and alcohol. So if you love your liver, quit smoking now, before it’s too late.
Lack of sleep
If you want to keep your body — and particularly your liver – in good condition, it is important that you get enough sleep. During sleep, the body repairs and renews its cells, so lack of sleep will interfere with that. In turn, if the liver cannot repair and renew itself as you sleep, it can’t function properly when you’re awake. So make sure you get the rest that your body needs to keep your liver healthy.
The liver is a vital organ and you must take proper care of it if you want to live a long and healthy life. Ditch these bad lifestyle habits and your liver will serve you well and keep you healthy.
