Liver Health 101

Our liver is our body’s biggest solid organ (in case you didn’t know, skin is the largest organ of the body), as it weighs around three pounds when we are adults.

The liver is the workhorse of our digestive system. It is a powerhouse of an organ and has a role to play in almost every essential task. It is one of the main organs that controls and regulates many bodily processes, and for that reason, liver health should be prioritized.

Additionally, the liver is responsible for producing cholesterol, proteins, and bile to storing minerals, vitamins, and even carbohydrates, which is why in this article, we will take a deeper dive into liver health and how to go about maximizing its functioning.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak to your doctor before changing your diet, training, or supplement regimen. If you feel you have issues with your liver, seek the help of a healthcare professional immediately.

The Importance of the Liver

The liver has a variety of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and cholesterol synthesis. Unfortunately, you cannot live without a liver, which is why you should pay close attention to your liver health. So, if your liver becomes damaged or you go into liver failure, it can lead to death. However, if diagnosed in time, you can go on a transplant list to get a working liver.

This amazing organ helps regulate sugar levels in the blood, produces bile to help digest fats, makes proteins that help form blood cells, and can store vitamins and minerals.

Our liver health is also responsible for removing harmful substances from the body. It neutralizes drugs taken as medications by breaking them down into smaller molecules that can be passed out of the body through urine or stool.

The liver also produces around 800 to 1,000 milliliters of bile every day. This bile is then transported via bile ducts that join and form the common bile duct that flows into the small intestine. The small intestine uses bile to help with fat breakdown and absorption. The extra bile is stored in the gallbladder.

How Can You Preserve and Improve Liver Health?

Here are some tips to help you protect this vital organ and improve liver health:

1. Avoid toxins

Many things can damage your liver over time, including alcohol, drugs, and chemicals. For example, carbon tetrachloride can cause chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis. Arsenic exposure can cause liver cancer.

If you have been exposed to these substances at work or in another environment, make sure your employer has conducted tests that show you’re safe to return to work.

2. Avoid alcohol or drink in moderation

Alcohol abuse can damage liver health, causing inflammation, scarring, and liver cirrhosis — a condition where scar tissue replaces healthy tissue. If you drink alcohol regularly, limit your intake to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

Related Article: Long Weekend? It’s Time to Detox Your System

When it comes to liver health, this is one area where men and women can severely damage the liver without really understanding the consequences of their actions.

3. Consume fresh food and follow a well-balanced diet

You should consume fresh food and follow a well-balanced diet to improve not only your liver health but your overall health as well. Eating too much of certain foods may cause damage to the liver, such as eating too much red meat or drinking alcohol excessively, as mentioned above.

Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables will help you stay healthy in general. You should also avoid eating processed foods as much as possible because they contain chemicals that can harm your body in many ways.

4. Drink coffee

If you’re a coffee lover, this will be music to your ears. Those who drink a few cups of coffee every day may be less likely to suffer from liver diseases such as cancer and liver cirrhosis. It can also help in slowing down these conditions in those who may already have them.

Related Article: 3 Benefits of Using a Coffee-Flavored Pre-Workout

Drinking coffee can be beneficial for your liver because it contains antioxidants that help protect the organ from damage.

5. Exercise regularly

Exercise is one of the best ways to maintain liver health. Your liver is responsible for filtering out toxins, so if you want your liver to stay healthy, you need to make sure it gets enough exercise. If you’re not used to exercising, start slowly with short walks and gradually increase the intensity.

Exercise reduces stress on liver health, increases our energy levels, and helps eliminate obesity — a risk factor for liver disease. Strive for a total of 150 minutes of exercise per week, such as swimming, brisk walking, and resistance training.

6. Eat the rainbow

No, I’m not referring to Skittles (even though they’re delicious). Eating the rainbow is a great way to get a variety of vitamins and minerals through your diet. The different colors of fruits and veggies correspond to different nutrients and health benefits.

Here are some foods that can help improve liver health:

• Green leafy vegetables: Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach are rich in vitamin K, which promotes liver health. They also contain folate and magnesium, which contribute to normal blood clotting.

• Red fruits and veggies: Red foods such as tomatoes, beets, watermelon, and red bell peppers have high levels of lycopene, which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers, such as prostate cancer, while also playing a role in liver health.

• Blue/purple fruits and veggies: Blueberries, grapes, plums, and eggplant contain anthocyanins which have been shown to reduce inflammation in animal studies. Anthocyanins may also protect against liver damage caused by alcohol consumption because they increase glutathione production in the body.

• Orange/yellow fruits and veggies: Carrots, sweet potatoes, and citrus fruits like oranges and tangerines contain beta-carotene, which can help prevent liver damage caused by drinking too much alcohol. When it comes to liver health, you can’t go wrong with consuming healthy fruits and vegetables

7. Check your supplements

One of the most important steps in keeping your liver healthy is checking your supplements. If you have a supplement that contains acetaminophen, stop taking it and speak to your doctor about what you can use in its place. Acetaminophen has been found to potentially cause liver damage and even death when taken in large doses over time. If you want to protect your liver and promote liver health, acetaminophen should be something you avoid.

But if you’re worried about liver health and want to stay on top of its functioning and performance, consider adding a quality liver supplement to your regimen.

Evogen Liver Longer is a premium liver support supplement that helps detox and repair the liver and supports optimized liver health. Liver Longer contains seven powerful ingredients that can help support liver health and is incredibly convenient with its once-a-day dosage. Pick up a bottle today, your liver will thank you!