Did you know that the liver is about the size of a rugby ball and is the largest organ in the body? It is also hugely important to our overall health and has hundreds of functions.
Some of the key roles our livers perform for our bodies are: aiding digestion, fighting infection and regulating blood sugar levels. As you can see, the liver is hugely important and you will reap rewards if you take good care of yours. Shockingly, many of us don't
TOXIN BAN
The liver filters all of the toxins in our bodies, so the more toxins you put into your body, the more your liver has to filter these potentially harmful poisons. Therefore, if you want to look after your liver you need to limit the amount of toxins you ingest.
Some common items you may use every day contain toxins. These include cigarettes, cleaning products, aerosol sprays and beauty products, such as makeup or shampoo.
To limit the amount of toxins you put into your body, opt for organic products. It is also a good idea to stop smoking and, where possible, try not to use these toxin-filled products in enclosed spaces.
TIME FOR TEA
Although controversial, milk thistle has been used to help people with liver disease and many believe that it works wonders.
Milk thistle seeds can be drunk as a tea, and if you want to keep your liver healthy this hot drink may help you, especially if you have liver damage as a result of drinking alcohol or other toxins.
The active ingredient in milk thistle that is believed to help the liver is silymarin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Silymarin is also an antioxidant.
However, before you dash out to buy a big stock of milk thistle tea, it is worth noting that studies have been contradictory and although some show milk thistle benefits the liver, others conclude that it does not.
DETOX FOODS
In the same way that some foods can harm the liver, there are also foods that can help make our livers healthier and stronger. One such food is the artichoke. Adding globe artichoke to some of your meals will help keep your liver healthy because it is renowned for its ability to stimulate and improve liver functions.
Similarly, eating beetroot will help your liver, because beetroot helps support liver detoxification. You could always add a small beetroot salad as a side-dish to your meal.
Some research has also found that drinking green tea can help keep your liver healthy, as it may protect it from liver diseases, such as fatty liver disease. Again, studies are not conclusive about the benefits of green tea.
CUT BACK
Shockingly, it is thought that a quarter of adults drink too much alcohol and that we drink so much we put our health at risk. If you worry you are drinking to the point where you may damage your liver, be aware of how many alcohol units you should be consuming. In addition to this, if you want to look after your liver make sure you have two alcohol-free days during the week.
These "rest days" are essential for keeping your liver healthy because they allow the liver to repair the damage you have done by drinking excessively. Also, it is advised that if you exceed the recommended daily limit of alcohol you should not drink for at least 48 hours afterwards. Again, this will give your liver a chance to recover and repair itself.
GET MOVING
Interestingly, exercise will help you look after your liver. One type of liver disease that is affecting more and more people is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This is caused by fat building up in the liver, scarring and damaging it.
One of the simplest ways to avoid NAFLD, or to help limit the disease's progress, is to exercise regularly.
If you have not exercised in some time, then the prospect of getting into shape can be daunting. First work out whether you are fit enough to train.
Once you know you are fit enough to exercise, think about what you would enjoy doing. Finding something you will stick to is the key to increasing your fitness. You should then aim to be active for 30 minutes a day and do a mix of cardiovascular and strength training exercises.
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