Sitting just under your lower rib cage on the right side, weighing about 3 ½ pounds, is your body’s largest and heaviest internal organ—say hello to your liver!
Your liver performs essential functions for digesting food and getting rid of toxic substances. You can thank it for filtering out alcohol and harmful chemicals, absorbing nutrients and storing energy for when you need it.
“Whatever you eat, drink and breathe goes into your bloodstream and gets filtered by your liver,” said Jennifer Chuang, Ph.D., a senior research scientist for Nutrilite™ products.
That includes everything from french fries to alcohol to cigarette smoke to harsh cleaning sprays—your liver tackles it all while breaking down and absorbing fats, metabolizing carbohydrates, managing bile levels and helping your body absorb and store nutrients, Chuang said.
For something working so hard, shouldn’t you do what you can to take care of it? We’ve got you covered with some tips to support your liver health.
When you’re trying to eat healthy, the list of foods you should avoid in excess is lengthy. A good place to start is cutting down on trans fats and saturated fats. This means fried foods, white bread, sweets, fatty meat, cheese, whole milk and a whole lot more.
So what’s left on the menu? Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy products, fish and lean cuts of meat, like chicken and turkey breast.
Filling up on the latter instead of the former will help keep you at a healthy weight, which is key to avoiding the risk of developing liver problems.
Research shows that exercising regularly is a great way to reduce liver fat, which also helps you stay out of the danger zone for liver problems.
So make sure to get out there and get moving. Experts recommend 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes of high intensity exercise every week.
Drinking a lot of alcohol can damage or destroy your liver cells, increasing the risk of liver problems. Your liver also has to work extra hard when you overindulge on drinks like coffee or sugary sodas.
Your best beverage choice is simply water. It helps cleanse the system of toxins. Sixty-four ounces a day is recommended.
This advice works with just about any situation. When it comes to your liver, smoking can damage or destroy your liver cells, increasing the risk for all sorts of liver problems.
Choose your cleaning products carefully, as some include chemicals that can damage your liver. If you’re using an aerosol spray, keep the room well ventilated to prevent inhaling the substance. Consider an air treatment system.
When spraying insecticides, fungicides, paint and other toxic chemicals, make sure you wear a mask, gloves and long sleeves.
Make sure to follow doctor’s instructions when it comes to medicine, whether it’s over-the-counter or prescription.
Consult your physician if you’re taking more than one medication and watch out for possible negative interactions with alcohol or other substances. Some combinations can be extra harmful for your liver.
Milk thistle is a botanical that provides antioxidant protection and supports healthy liver function. Nutrilite Liver Support includes milk thistle in a formula that supports your normal metabolic activity.† It also includes liver-supporting benefits from dandelion root, turmeric and acerola cherry.†
If you think you’re at risk for liver problems, make sure to get annual physicals. Your doctor can be on the lookout for warning signs. It’s also a good idea for your overall optimal health.
Now you’re armed with the information you need to help your liver do its job. Get out there and show it some love! And click here to learn more about Nutrilite Liver Support.
†This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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