How To Keep Your Liver Healthy And Well Functioning? Experts Share Tips

The liver is an incredibly vital organ that plays a role in over 500 essential functions for maintaining overall health. These functions include protein synthesis, glycogen storage, detoxification, bile production, blood clotting, and immune factor production to fight infections.

Maintaining a healthy liver is crucial for overall well-being. However, many people are not aware of how to keep their liver healthy. It’s time to change that by implementing these tips for optimal liver function.

According to Dr. Sanjiv Saigon, a leading expert in liver transplant and biliary sciences, maintaining a healthy weight is essential to prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is becoming increasingly common. Simple fatty liver can progress to liver inflammation, shrinkage, and even cancer. A combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise is key to maintaining a healthy weight.

Dr. Nitin Aherrao, a gastroenterology consultant, emphasizes the importance of avoiding unreliable alternative medicines and potential liver-damaging drugs. He also notes that factors such as alcohol, fat deposition, viral infections, herbal medicines, genetic diseases, and uncontrolled diabetes can damage the liver.

To detect ongoing liver damage, basic tests like liver function tests and abdominal sonography are crucial. Liver damage can lead to inflammation, fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis if left untreated.

Here are 8 essential pieces of advice for a healthy liver:

1. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
2. Maintain a regular exercise routine and a healthy active lifestyle.
3. Follow a balanced diet.
4. Maintain an ideal body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-22.9 kg/m2.
5. Get screened for Hepatitis B and C.
6. Get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B.
7. Avoid over-the-counter alternative medicines containing heavy metals.
8. Quit smoking completely.

Make sure to follow these tips for optimal liver function.