Read This To Learn How To Save your liver from disease

The way many people lavish attention on their skin is quite admirable. They are ready to pay any amount of money for body creams, lotions or oils that promise to rejuvenate, soften or erase signs of ageing.

Ask such people what they know about their liver, or if they are aware of its condition and they will draw a blank stare.

Yet, experts aver that the liver is such a special organ in the body which, if it develops any problem, could lead to death.

Unlike other equally important internal organ such as the lungs, large and small intestines, as well as the kidneys that come in pairs, your liver is a single entity and it is either healthy or you are dead meat!

According to General Practitioner, Dr. Gladys Onwa, the liver is the largest internal organ whose functions are as diverse as they are complex.

She says, “The liver performs over 500 different functions in the body. It helps us to fight infection, neutralises toxins that may find its way into our body and also helps the body to manufacture proteins and hormones.

“Without it, it is impossible to control our blood sugar. It is also the agent that helps the blood to clot when we are injured, effectively saving us from bleeding to death!”

As amazing as this organ is, experts say, the liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself!

According to scientists at the online portal, liver.ca, it is possible for an individual to donate a part of his liver and still survive.

The way it works, they say, is that when a portion of the liver is transplanted, the donor’s liver will regenerate back to its original size, while the transplanted portion will grow to the appropriate size for the recipient. Amazing, isn’t it?

Interestingly, this organ houses about 10 per cent of your blood, from which it pumps about 1.4 litres per minute.

Considering how important your liver is, you need to know what can damage it, and how you can guard against that. The place to start is your dietary habits.

Food and your liver

Onwa says your liver processes virtually everything you eat or drink. Gastroenterologists warn that if you eat too much fast food meals, or if your meals contain too much salt, saturated and trans fats, you are damaging your liver by instalments!

Consultant Nutritionist, Dr. Tobi Lawrence, says even when we eat too much of certain fruits, we can overload on natural sugar as contained in fruit and fruit juices!

He says, “Foods that contain high amounts of fruit sugar, or fructose, such as raisins and juices won’t do your liver any good.

“This is because fructose doesn’t break down in the body the same way other forms of sugar do and too much fructose can lead to abnormal amounts of fat in the blood. It can cause fatty liver and inflammation.”

He counsels us to eat small amounts of fruit, in combination with other food groups to make for healthy balance.

Medications and alcohol

Onwa says that on its own, alcohol is injurious to the liver; and when combined with medications — as some people do — it is double whammy!

The physician says a widely available, over-the-counter painkiller like Panadol could be lethal to the liver if more than eight tablets are taken in a day. But many people just use this drug without a doctor’s supervision!

Onwa says, “When used at therapeutic levels, Paracetamol is usually safe and effective. But when taken in excess, it could result in hepatotoxicity (chemical-driven liver damage).

And this applies to any drug for that matter, she warns.

Weight, liver and diabetes

Ours is a culture that promotes fatness as an evidence of wealth. Yet, physicians warn that being obese can result in developing type-2 diabetes which, if not put under control, could result in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

As scary as it is, fatty liver disease has no symptoms; but experts say you may feel tired a lot or have some discomfort on the right side of your body, just under your ribs.

According to Diabetologist/Medical Director, Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, Dr. Afokoghene Isiavwe, one in three people are thought to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as it affects men and women equally.

Worse still, she notes, most people who develop this disease are between the ages of 40 and 60. She adds that, regrettably, children and teenagers are now developing liver disease more than ever before because of bad dietary habits.

Symptoms of liver damage

Onwa says symptoms vary and they depend on how bad the disease is. She says the patient may not have symptoms in the early stages; but as the disease progresses, s/he may have digestive problems such as pain and swelling in the abdomen, decreased appetite and weight loss, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, dry mouth and increased thirst.

Skin problems, such as yellowness of the skin or eyes (jaundice), may also develop. In some cases, Onwa notes, the skin may be very dark or very pale, accompanied with itching.

If care is not sought, the individual may have problems with thinking, memory, and mood; while s/he may also experience fainting and lightheadedness.

Eat for your liver

Nutritionists say in order to maintain a healthy liver, you should eat smaller meals at a sitting, while you should reduce foods that are high in saturated fats such as meats, cheese, cream, eggs, etc.

Also, reduce your intake of chemicals in food and water; and balance your fruit intake with whole foods.