5 Ways You Can Support Proper Liver Function
The liver plays a vital role in your body’s overall health and well-being. It is responsible for supporting numerous essential bodily functions, such as digestion, bodily waste removal, protein synthesis, hormone production, natural detoxification processes, and the storage of energy and essential vitamins and minerals. To keep your liver in tip-top shape and to promote a healthy and thriving body, you need to live a lifestyle that safeguards this vital organ.
Table of Contents
1. Stay Hydrated
Water supports many bodily processes that affect liver health. Staying hydrated promotes circulation throughout the entire body, helping your body eliminate toxins and waste products.
Additionally, water helps break down food and carries nutrients to the liver and other organs. By promoting healthy digestion, water also prevents constipation and waste buildup, which supports a healthy liver.
To keep the body well hydrated, you need to drink sufficient water throughout the day. The common guideline is that you should drink about 8 cups, or 64 ounces, of water each day. However, your individual needs may differ, depending on your age, activity level, weight, climate, and other factors. Your urine is clear or pale yellow, this is often a good indicator that your body is well hydrated.
2. Consider Taking Liver Supplements
Many liver support supplements contain herbal ingredients, antioxidants, and other nutrients that optimize liver functions, such as natural detoxification processes, metabolizing certain nutrients, promoting healthy liver function, producing bile, and maintaining healthy levels of blood lipids and fats.
Some key ingredients in these supplements include:
- Olivol
- Green Tea Extract
- Curcumin
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid
- Choline
3. Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet is key for maintaining a healthy liver. Many foods that contain antioxidants reduce inflammation and protect liver cells, including:
- Many berries, especially blueberries and cranberries, contain the antioxidant anthocyanins
- Coffee contains glutathione
- Grapefruit contains naringenin and naringin
- Green tea contains catechin
- Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cabbage, contain glucosinolates
Additionally, foods that are high in fiber can support healthy digestion and prevent constipation.
To promote a functional liver, eat plenty of nutritious fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Alternatively, it’s best to avoid processed foods that contain additives, preservatives, and other toxins. You should also limit your consumption of saturated and trans fats, which are found in high-fat dairy products, processed foods, fried food, and high-fat meats.
4. Limit Alcohol and Drug Consumption
Alcohol and certain drugs can cause liver inflammation, damage, and even failure. While your liver can naturally repair and regenerate from mild damage caused by harmful substances, chronic use can overwhelm your liver’s capacity to repair itself.
When your liver breaks down alcohol it creates acetaldehyde, a highly reactive byproduct and carcinogenic that damages liver cells. Additionally, prescription or illicit drugs can cause hepatotoxicity, which damages the liver and can cause fatigue, jaundice, urine and stool changes, and abdominal pain.
5. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess body weight and stomach fat can contribute to the development of a common condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Approximately 24% of adults in the U.S. have NAFLD. People with this type of liver disease have excess fat buildup on the liver that is not caused by heavy alcohol consumption. However, losing weight through lifestyle modifications, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, can optimize NAFLD and overall liver health.
Take a Proactive Step Toward Safeguarding Your Liver Health
Your liver is a vital organ. Without it, your body would be unable to support natural liver cleansing, help with the excretion of metabolic wastes, and enhance general wellbeing. Fortunately, many of the steps you should take to promote a healthy liver are the same strategies that support every area of your health. By living a health-focused lifestyle, being intentional about what you put in your body, and seeking medical guidance when needed, you can help your liver function at its best.