Your liver is one of your largest internal organs, weighing in at about 3 lbs. Your liver has a number of different jobs such as using the cholesterol in your blood, removing toxins from your body in the form of bile, storing energy, regulating blood sugar and making clotting factors, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital. There are many things that can cause damage to your liver ranging from environmental toxins to over the counter medications, but with knowledge you can take steps to avoid damaging your liver.
Step 1
Get your vaccines. There are currently vaccinations available for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Getting these vaccines will help significantly reduce your likelihood of getting one of these forms of hepatitis, which can result in damage to your liver.
Step 2
Avoid taking illegal drugs. These drugs themselves can compromise the health of your liver. Also, if drugs are taken intravenously your risk of contracting hepatitis C increases and hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis of your liver.
Step 3
Use condoms when having sex. Having unprotected sex can increase your chance of contracting hepatitis C.
Step 4
Follow your doctor's recommendations or the product label when taking prescription or over the counter medication. According to Brigham and Women's Hospital, some cholesterol medications and acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, can cause damage to your liver when taken more often or at higher doses than recommended. Avoid taking medication with alcohol because doing this can cause further liver damage.
Step 5
Limit your alcohol intake. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can lead to liver problems. Alcohol is a toxin that can cause scaring in your liver and if the damage becomes too severe it can result in liver failure. Drink no more than 2 glasses of alcohol per day if you are a man and 1 glass per day if you are a woman. If liver damage has been detected by your doctor it is best to stop drinking alcohol all together because this will allow your liver cells to begin repairing themselves.
Step 6
Avoid exposure to pollutants. According to Hepatitis Foundation International, air borne chemicals, such as paint thinners, bug sprays, and chemicals that get on your skin are transported to your liver to be detoxified, but in undiluted concentrations these can cause damage to your liver. Do not spray chemicals directly on your skin. Use gloves, masks and other protective gear when dealing with chemicals. Immediately wash off any chemicals that come in contact with your skin.
Step 7
Eat a low fat healthy diet. Diets that are made up of primarily high fat foods can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which can result in cirrhosis of your liver. Stick to plant-based foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes. Eat high fat meats and dairy products in limited amounts.
Step 8
Stop smoking. Smoking cigarettes causes you to inhale numerous different toxins that have to be removed by your liver. The high amount of toxins from cigarette smoke can do damage to your liver, among other things.
Step 9
Exercise regularly. Fitting regular exercise into your routine will help you maintain and achieve a healthy weight, which will lower your risks of developing fatty deposits in your liver.
