How to look after your liver

A properly functioning liver is necessary for our mere survival. The liver helps keep toxins out of the body and allows it to absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. Therefore, it is vital to take steps to keep your liver functioning properly and do what you can to avoid liver disease or liver failure. Here are a few things you should do to maintain a healthy liver. Keep your weight in control Being obese or even over weight can cause you to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It is important to manage your weight by watching what you eat and getting plenty of exercise. Talk to your doctor about your risks of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the options you have to reduce your risks. Being overweight can have a negative effect on your liver health. Maintain a regular health routine to keep your weight in the required parameters. Take necessary vaccines There are various diseases that affect the liver. Vaccines are currently available for hepatitis A and B. These vaccines are available to most people, but they are especially important for people with suppressed immune systems. Taking these on time and whenever asked to by the doctor helps maintain a healthy liver and also keeps you away from life threatening diseases. Know your medication Some medications, such as acetaminophen, can reach toxic levels in your liver if they are not taken properly or are taken if you consume alcohol. The Cleveland Clinic reports that overdosing on acetaminophen is the most prevalent cause of acute liver failure. Follow directions on drug labels. Consult your doctor before taking prescription medications or nonprescription medications together. Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking medication. Skip that drink Keep your alcohol intake to a minimum by drinking no more than one alcoholic beverage a day if you are a woman and two drinks per day if you are a man. To maximize liver health, you should stop drinking alcohol entirely. Over time, alcohol can cause cirrhosis of the liver, and the only way to correct the problem may be a liver transplant. Alcohol, even when consumed in moderate amounts, can have a negative effect on the health of your liver. Practice safe sex Engaging in safe sex will reduce your risk of contracting hepatitis B and hepatitis C. When you are infected with the hepatitis B virus the virus travels in your blood to your liver. Once inside your liver, the virus enters healthy liver cells and becomes part of the cell. It also multiplies, making new copies of itself that then spread the virus to more liver cells. Use condoms when engaging in sexual acts, including oral sex. Avoid inhaling toxins The liver removes toxins from your body. Therefore exposing yourself to toxins can decrease your liver function. To protect your liver it is important to avoid putting insecticides or other toxic chemical directly on your skin; harmful chemical sprays should be used only in well-ventilated areas and with proper protection by a face mask.