Liver Health

Overall Description

The liver is the main organ of the body which filters and purifies blood from hazardous emissions. We eat, take medicines, smoke, drink alcohol and don’t think that all this is destroying our livers.

Our liver, among other things, is the most massive internal organ, and weighs about 1.2 – 1.5 kg (for adults). It is about 2% of body weight in adults and about 5% in children. The liver is located in the right upper abdomen, its lower edge is normally located at approximately the last rib (right) and it’s attached to the diaphragm and the abdominal wall by special ligaments.

Liver Disease Causes

First of all, the food we eat can damage our liver. All dyes, preservatives, nitrates, toxins from poorly cooked or spoiled foods, alcohol – all of these remain in our liver and destroy it.

If there is too much fatty food in the diet, many fatty acids are forming in the intestines, and they are deposited in the liver. It disrupts metabolic processes and eventually leads to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. If not to take care of liver recovery on time, the disease can progress to more severe forms that will require significant and costly treatment.

It is particularly important to note that liver’s health is also suffering in case of a strict diet. Sometimes we choose super-intensive and effective diets, which ensure a quick release of extra pounds. In this case we do not think that they can produce in our body not only a strong effect but a big stroke to the liver. During an intensive weight loss, previously accumulated fat breaks down actively and enter bloodstream and the liver. Liver cells can not cope with the large amounts of fat and start accumulating it. As a result of a prolonged extreme diet, the fatty liver disease is developing.

We also should note that an excessive consumption of alcohol is a major cause of liver problems. The liver acts as a filter, and alcohol in large amounts can severely damage it. A safe dose of alcohol for men is no more than 24 g of ethanol per day (60 ml vodka, or 200 ml of wine, or 500 ml beer), for women – two times lower – 12 g of ethanol per day. At the same time alcoholic beverages can’t be consumed every day. However, as a rule, these doses are considerably exceeded by people. Thus, abundant fatty foods and alcohol cause a massive attack on the liver, which leads to the destruction of its cells. Subsequently, an advanced liver disease can lead to cirrhosis.

The next factor is the use of medicines. They are perceived by the body as foreign objects, and the liver is filtering the blood from them. There are drugs that have virtually no effect on the liver, those which are derived through kidneys. Many drugs require constant monitoring of the liver, which is only possible in hospital conditions under supervision of a doctor.

The liver can by affected by toxic substances that are all around us – gasoline fumes, paint, smoke, etc.

You can get infected by eating poorly processed fish or meat which may contain parasites such as liver fluke (opisthorchiasis), clonorchiasis, and others.

Finally, viruses and infections may have a bad influence on the liver. The most common is the hepatitis virus. Hepatitis A has a fecal-oral transmission route and can be entered into the body through food, dirty hands, utensils, etc. It’s also the most favorable kind of hepatitis – it is almost completely curable. Hepatitis B and C are treated with more difficulty. They are transmitted through blood, saliva, semen and genital branches. In most cases, diseases caused by these viruses take a chronic form and slowly destroy liver cells over the life.

Not only the hepatitis viruses affect the liver, but many other viruses, bacteria and infections that cause intoxication.

You should eliminate all these factors to protect your liver. As it is impossible to protect yourself from all the harmful effects, it is important to monitor liver functions and prevent diseases of the liver.

Diagnosis

When the liver is sick, we feel pain or heaviness in the right upper quadrant. Typically, this is a constantly aching pain, getting worse while consuming fatty, spicy or fried food, as well as during physical exercises and during a bumpy ride. Bitterness in the mouth, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, belching also can be observed.

Patients with liver disease complain of weakness, lethargy, fatigue, decreased performance. Women may experience irregular menstrual cycle, men suffer from impotence.

Natural Protection of the Liver Health

Hepatoprotectors are the substances that help protect the liver. These are the medicines that contribute to the restoration of the structure and functions of the liver. The term “hepatoprotector” is derived from the two words – “hepatitis” and “protector”, from Latin it means “protector of the liver.”

However, it is not necessary to take hepatoprotectors in chemical remedies to protect the liver. Natural supplements are a safe and effective way to protect the liver. Supplements consist of only natural ingredients. They have the most extensive and powerful therapeutic and prophylactic activity against the majority of liver diseases.

Natural additives inhibit the proliferation of many types of viruses that cause hepatitis; stimulate regeneration of damaged liver cells; help normalize the functions of biliary system; protect liver cells from oxidative damage and destruction caused by inflammation; stimulate the neutralizing function of the liver.

It is important to constantly promote liver health, and not to think about it only when it needs therapeutic interference. Care of the liver is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. Balanced diet, physical activity, prevention of diseases of the liver represent a guarantee of health, beauty, youth and fulfilling life.