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World liver day is observed every 19 April, to spread awareness about liver-related diseases. The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body, with the exception of the brain. It is a key player in your body’s digestive system. Everything you eat or drink, including medicine, passes through the liver. You cannot survive without a liver. It is an organ that can be easily damaged if you don’t take good care of it.
The liver works hard, performing hundreds of complex functions, including:
- Fighting infections and illness
- Regulating blood sugar
- Removing toxic substances from the body
- Controlling cholesterol levels
- Helping blood to clot (thicken)
- Releasing bile (A liquid that breaks down fats and aids in digestion)
Liver disease doesn’t usually cause any obvious signs or symptoms until it is fairly advanced and the liver is damaged. At this stage, possible symptoms are loss of appetite, weight loss and jaundice.
Tips for Liver Cleansing
- Eat garlic, grapefruit, carrot, green leafy vegetables, apple and walnuts
- Use olive oil
- Take lemon and lime juice and green tea
- Prefer alternative grains (Quinoa, Millet and Buckwheat)
- Add cruciferous vegetables (Cabbage, Broccoli and Cauliflower)
- Use turmeric in food
To keep your liver healthy, follow a healthy lifestyle
Eat a healthy and balanced diet and exercise regularly to keep your liver healthy.
- Eat foods from all the food groups: grains, protein, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and fats
- Eat foods that have a lot of fiber such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads, rice and cereals
Say NO to Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs: Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs can damage or destroy liver cells. Even don’t be target of passive smoking.
Consult your doctor before starting any medication: When medicines are taken incorrectly or in the wrong combination, the liver can be damaged easily.
Take care with toxic chemicals: Chemicals such as aerosol and cleaning products and insecticides produce toxic substances that can injure liver cells.
Maintain your weight: Obesity can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Prevent hepatitis to protect your liver
Hepatitis is a term used to describe inflammation (swelling) of the liver. It can be caused due to viral infection or when liver is exposed to harmful substances such as alcohol. Hepatitis may occur with limited or no symptoms but often leads to jaundice, anorexia (poor appetite) and malaise. Hepatitis is of 2 types: acute and chronic.
Get vaccinated. Get vaccinated against hepatitis. There are vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
National Viral Hepatitis Control Program: On 28th July 2018, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India launched National Viral Hepatitis Control Program. This program aims to prevent and control viral hepatitis in India in order to achieve Sustainable Developmental Goal 3.3 by 2030.
