8 Dangerous Habits That Can Damage Your Liver

Liver fitness is something that we often overlook especially on this side of the world, when we have to compromise with our lifestyle and food habits, and this piece draws the attention of people to it.

Diagram showing the Human Liver

THE LIVER

The liver is one of the most vital organs of the body. It plays a crucial role in numerous physiological processes including digestion, metabolism and blood detoxification. Since the liver plays a role In detoxifying your body, anything that reaches inside your body will have an effect on the liver's health.

The liver  has many other functions in the body, including making proteins and blood clotting factors, manufacturing triglycerides and cholesterol, glycogen synthesis, and bile production.

ANATOMY

The liver is a large organ that sits on the right hand side of the belly.
The liver is the body's largest internal organ.

Many different disease processes can occur in the liver, including infections such as hepatitis, cirrhosis (scarring), cancers, and damage by medications or toxins.
Generally liver damage will not be presented all of a sudden. It will proceed gradually and the symptoms will be presented only in the later stages of the damage. Usually, it will become too late by the time you diagnose a liver disease.

KEEPING THE LIVER HEALTHY

There are some ways to keep your liver healthy.

• Always follow a healthy and balanced diet and get regular exercise. 
• Keep an eye on your body weight. 
• Excess alcohol consumption can damage your liver cells leading to a condition called liver cirrhosis. 
• Some medicines and toxins can also hurt your liver. 
• Avoid cigarette smoking and try to get sound sleep daily.

SYMPTOMS OF DAMAGE

The following are common symptoms of liver damage or liver disease

• Loss of appetite
• Jaundice 
• Nausea
• Bleeding
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting, etc.

HABITS THAT DAMAGES THE LIVER

Bad habits can affect the ability of the liver to repair itself. Here are some habits that can damage your liver.

1. ALCOHOLISM  

Excess alcohol intake reduces the ability of the liver to remove toxins from the body. It will make the liver to focus mainly on converting alcohol to a less toxic form and will lead to inflammation and fatty liver disease.

2. OVER MEDICATION

Consumption of drugs in excess can gradually harm your liver and will lead to severe liver failure. High doses of acetaminophen, which is commonly available without prescription can cause liver damage when taken continuously for several days.

3. SMOKING

The chemicals present in cigarette reach the liver and cause oxidative stress producing free radicals that damage liver cells. It will also cause fibrosis, a process in which the liver develops excess scar-like tissues.

4. UNHEALTHY DIET 

Avoid fatty foods and include fruits and vegetables in your diet. They are a good source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and selenium, which keep your liver healthy. Processed foods contain additives and artificial sweeteners.

5. SLEEPLESSNESS

Our body usually goes into a repair and detoxification mode when we are sleeping. Lack of sleep can cause oxidative stress to the liver. So try to get sound sleep of minimum eight hours a day.

6. OBESITY AND POOR NUTRITION

Your eating habits can affect your liver health directly. Eating too many wrong foods causes fats to build up in the liver. Accumulation of fats can lead to inflammation and liver damage.

7. OVERDOSE OF  NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

Even nutritional supplements and certain herbs are harmful for the liver in excess amount. An overdose of vitamin A can lead to liver damage.

8. NOT TAKING VACCINATION

Hepatitis is one of the major diseases that affects the liver. If you are not taking vaccination for Hepatitis, you are risking your liver health.


These are the dangerous habits that can damage your liver. And I hope you've learnt some basics about the human liver, we'd love to hear your thoughts, Have any contributions or corrections then use the comment section below.