The liver is an amazing organ that works to remove toxins from the body. Located in the upper right portion of the torso, it is made up of four lobes. Each of those includes eight sections, which contain many subsections called lobules. Additionally, the liver is the only human organ that can regenerate. Despite its extraordinary capabilities, it often gets overlooked when it comes to efforts to maintain overall wellness.
What Are the Essential Functions of the Liver?
Your liver is a superb multi-tasker. It works diligently to filter all of your blood and remove dangerous substances.
Detoxification is its primary role, but it is not all the liver does. It is also responsible for the following essential functions:
- Producing of bile to break down fats
- Converting glycogen to glucose as needed
- Regulating blood clotting
- Storing essential vitamins
- Assisting with infection resistance by filtering out bacteria
- Producing albumen to regulate blood flow
What Are Some Ways To Effectively Support a Healthy Liver?
Eat a Balanced Diet
Much of what your liver does every day revolves around food in one way or another. For example, it stores certain vitamins from foods so that you have them available later on. It also produces the bile needed to break down some fatty foods. This is why eating a balanced diet can play a critical role in supporting a healthy liver.
Aim for foods that contain nutrients that support the body’s natural detoxification process. Curcumin, biotin, and choline are several excellent examples. They are available in many foods, such as eggs, broccoli, and nuts. Consider adding a liver health supplement to support liver function.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
Water is the ideal fluid for a healthy body. When you drink adequate amounts, it equips your liver to flush toxins and waste from the blood. Individual water needs can vary. If you are unsure whether you are drinking enough, use a hydration calculator to get a better idea of how much fluid you need each day.
Limit Alcohol Intake
While you want to focus on drinking fluids, alcohol does not count in that total. For one thing, it can be dehydrating. It also makes your liver work harder than other drinks because it must filter the alcohol out of your blood. Ideally, you’ll skip all alcohol; however, if you must have a drink now and then, try to limit yourself in amounts and frequency.
Take Medication as Prescribed
Medications can be particularly tough on the liver, which must also filter them. However, that does not mean you should skip them. Instead, take prescriptions and over-the-counter medications as directed by your healthcare provider. Additionally, be sure to ask about possible interactions between medications if you take more than one type.
What About Liver Detoxes?
With all of those jobs it’s no wonder that some people get concerned about detoxifying the liver. However, you should first look into whether detoxes are necessary. The answer to this largely depends on what you mean by “detox.” The truth is that a quick detoxification process using juice cleanses or a special solution is not really possible. It is contrary to how the organ works.
A healthy liver will automatically work to keep itself clean and operating at peak efficiency. After all, that’s its primary function. Unfortunately, some things can interfere with this process. For example, certain foods, drinks, and medications are difficult to break down. As a result, they may put undue stress on the liver. Luckily, there are ways that you can gradually detoxify the body to support healthy liver function.
Your liver works hard around the clock to detoxify your blood and process foods, drinks, and medications. Support its efforts by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of fluids, and limiting alcohol intake.
