Your Guide To Keeping Your Liver Healthy And Fighting Fit All Through The Year

The liver is considered one of the most essential and complex organs of the human body. It contributes to areas such as metabolism, immunity, and digestion. It is responsible for the synthesis of various proteins and drives the detoxification process in the body. So you bet it's important to keep your live fighting fit. On World Liver Day which is celebrated on April 19, that's what we would like to share awareness on.

Your liver is responsible for healthy bodily functioning

Functions of the liver

• Producing essential proteins and cholesterol

• Storing of minerals, iron and vitamin A

• Destroying old red blood cells

• Breaking down and metabolizing alcohol and medications

What happens when your liver doesn't function properly?

Damaged liver symptoms include frequent allergies, malnutrition, poor appetite, fatigue, irregular digestion, skin discoloration, acid reflux and heartburns. Unhealthy eating habits like consuming junk foods, fried foods, sugary foods and alcohol makes the liver overworked and overloaded. A liver detox can help in alleviating many of these problems.

Detox drinks that will help in the smooth functioning of the liver 

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Follow this guide to maintain a healthy liver:

• Turmeric is the wonder spice that helps in detoxification of the liver. It helps in boosting enzymes which can flush out dietary toxins from the body. Consume half a teaspoon of turmeric with a dash of pepper in a glass of warm water first thing in the morning.

• Avoid table sugar and other added sugars. Added sugars inhibit your body's ability to produce certain enzymes needed in the detoxification process and cause a surge of blood glucose and a large release of insulin. Keep your daily sugar intake at 20-30 grams or lower.

• Processed foods are packed with preservatives, synthetic ingredients and chemicals that can burden your system, making it progressively harder to function properly. Eliminate processed foods like breakfast cereals, frozen foods and bacon from your diet.

• Certain medicines contain chemicals that are harmful for the liver when consumed over a long period of time.

• Drinking alcohol puts a heavy detoxification burden on your body, especially your liver.

• In a glass of warm water and add the juice of half a lemon to it. Mix it well and drink it in the morning.

• Have 10 to 12 glasses of warm water daily.

• Dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, mustard greens, bitter gourd contain cleansing compounds that help in detoxifying the liver naturally.

• Green tea is loaded with plant-based antioxidants which help in eliminating liver fat accumulation. Start consuming 2-3 cups of green tea every day to reduce the risk of fatty liver disease.

Dr. Mickey Mehta is a leading holistic health guru and has been a life coach to billionaires, Bollywood stars and supermodels. He is an author of two bestselling books and has an honorary double doctorate in Holistic Health & Life Sciences.

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