Your liver plays a vital role in digestion, nutrient absorption and ridding your body of toxic substances. Liver disease can be inherited, caused by a virus or caused by chemicals like alcohol. People who suffer from liver problems often have a yellowish tinge to their skin and eyes, abdominal pain and swelling, itchy skin, dark-colored urine, pale-colored stool, bloody or tar-colored stool, chronic fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite. Moderating your diet and lifestyle can help keep your liver naturally healthy.
Step 1
Limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day if you are a woman and no more than two drinks a day if you are a man. Alcohol can cause fatty liver and is an overall strain for the body's detoxifying organ. The American Liver Foundation states recent studies suggest that alcohol, tobacco and obesity work together to increase the risk of liver cancer.
Step 2
Eat a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Limit deep-fried and fatty foods. The liver works to detoxify most of what we eat and drink, so proper nutrition is essential to liver health. Eating healthily will also help you maintain a good weight, since obesity can cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, including conditions like hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. Exercise can help keep your weight under control and your body running smoothly as well.
Step 3
Get the hepatitis A and B vaccines, especially if you are at risk of contracting the virus or already have it. Hepatitis, a liver disease that is caused by a virus, can ultimately lead to permanent liver damage, or death.
Step 4
Avoid risky behaviors. Hepatitis can be spread through accidental needle sticks and improper cleanup or spread of blood and other bodily fluids. Do not share needles for intravenous drugs, and use condoms when engaging in sex. Avoid coming in contact with other people's body fluids or blood, such as when sharing razor blades or toothbrushes.
Step 5
Be careful when using aerosol cleansers, insecticides, fungicides, paint and other toxic chemicals. The liver processes much of what we absorb through the skin, including toxins. Exposure to these harmful chemicals can lead to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.
Step 6
Take your medications wisely, because many medications are metabolized through the liver: Do not mix your medications with alcohol, and do not abuse over-the-counter and prescription medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before mixing herbal supplements or other over-the-counter and prescription drugs. The USDA cautions that the herb kava can cause severe liver injury. Large doses of acetaminophen can cause liver failure as well.
Step 7
Try milk thistle, an herb that is believed to have protective effects on the liver as well as improve its function. Milk thistle can be used to treat liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis as well. Side effects are few and include a laxative effect or diarrhea, upset stomach and bloating. There have been limited studies on the use of milk thistle on liver disease in humans, so consult your doctor before beginning with any supplements.
Things You'll Need
- Whole grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Mask
- Gloves
- Long sleeves
- Hat
- Milk thistle
