After skin, the liver is the second largest organ in our body. It plays a very important role in the processes of digestion and elimination of toxins from the body. It performs about 500 different tasks and functions. The main of which is, of course, blood filtration (volume is approximately 1 liter per minute during its normal operation).
In the process of filtering, the liver cleanses the blood of various substances, such as hormones, toxins, drugs, chemicals, microbes, etc. Keeping your liver healthy is an important task for every person who cares about the quality of his life.
Liver Diseases
According to statistics, about 500 million people worldwide suffer from chronic viral hepatitis and almost a million of them die every year from liver failure or liver cancer. However, you can prevent death simply by eating a sparing diet that helps this organ function and ensures its performance.
For example, one of the leading causes of liver failure is excessive consumption of alcohol. But a person can prevent such a condition by taking preventive measures in time. For example, he or she can get addiction treatment from a rehab center.
Even if you are unable to pay for the rehab, several insurances such as Tricare cover some part of rehabilitation. However, Tricare rehabilitation is available in different plans, providing different coverage. You can also make use of other state-funded facilities and overcome addiction. It is clear from this example that through proper care, a person can keep his liver healthy.
Symptoms of Liver Problems
Here are some major symptoms that indicate liver problems:
- Jaundice, blemishes, red nose, pimples, acne, and other skin conditions. Digestive problems, increased gas formation, nausea, chills in the first hours of digestion, a feeling of dry mouth.
- Stool problems, constipation or diarrhea, unusually colored stools, intestinal cramps, bloating, anal itching, parasites, anemia, demineralization, diabetes mellitus, obesity, excessive thinness, appendicitis, and sleep problems.
- Cloudy urine, pain under the ribs on the right side, headaches, cirrhosis of the liver, abscesses, stones in the gallbladder and liver, visual or hearing impairment, swelling of the legs, sclerosis, rheumatism, glandular imbalance, and painful menstruation.
- Male infertility or impotence, emotional instability, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, bleeding, and cancer.
It is very important to cleanse the liver from time to time and facilitate its work. This is due to the large number and complexity of the tasks that this organ performs. In addition, there are infectious diseases that affect the liver. But, as always, there is a solution, and it consists in consuming the right foods.
Natural Remedies to Help Keep Your Liver Healthy
In this section, we would like to talk about how important it is to take care of your health and liver health in particular. It is not very difficult, everything is based on a healthy diet, preventive measures (to prevent the development of hepatitis), and the rejection of alcoholic beverages. Apart from this measure, you can follow the below mentioned natural remedies to keep your liver healthy:
1. Boldo Plant
It is even called the “liver plant” as it is known for its beneficial properties for this organ. Boldo promotes the regeneration of liver cells and provides them with the necessary care. The plant contains a substance called Boldin. It is an alkaloid that stimulates the production of bile, the secretion of uric acid, and gastric juice. It also facilitates the work of the liver by making it more efficient.
Boldo is a powerful antioxidant with fungicidal and anti-inflammatory effects. It can be consumed in the form of an infusion by brewing the leaves of the plant, as well as in the form of tablets that you can buy at pharmacies.
Boldo is best taken after lunch or dinner to help with digestion and liver function. In addition, the liver works more actively in the evening. This means that taking this remedy at night will help to remove toxins from the body more effectively.
2. Garlic
Garlic is without a doubt one of the best natural foods to cleanse the liver naturally and help keep it healthy. It activates the enzymes responsible for removing toxic substances from the body, while selenium and allicin, also present in garlic, keep the liver clean.
Therefore, include garlic in your daily diet, it is not at all difficult to do this. This is because it goes well with various dishes, and the effect of such a healthy habit will be obvious and will not take long.
3. Whole Grains
Brown rice and other whole grains contain large amounts of B vitamins. These, in turn, help the liver work: they improve fat metabolism and unload the liver. Therefore, try to avoid the consumption of refined flour products, it is better to replace them with whole-grain alternatives. But be careful and do not completely abandon flour or you will experience weakness in the body. In such a case, waking up dizzy and other health problems will become prominent.
4. Cruciferous Vegetables
This type of vegetable is also a powerful liver detoxifier. The thing is that vegetables contain substances that can neutralize certain toxins, such as nitrosamines. Another useful substance of cruciferous plants is glucosinolates. They help the liver produce the enzymes needed for its cleansing (detoxification process). The cruciferous family includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower.
5. Fruit Antioxidants
According to scientific studies, the fruits listed below have the highest amount of antioxidants in their composition:
- Plum
- Raisin
- Blueberry
- Blackberry
- Strawberry
- Raspberries
- Orange
- Grapefruit
- Melon
- Apple
- Pear
Antioxidants help protect the liver from free radical damage that is naturally generated during detoxification. So be sure to include them in your diet to keep your liver healthy.
Take Away
Sometimes our liver malfunctions, this is due to the large number and complexity of the tasks that it performs. However, there is a way to help it by consuming certain foods and herbal infusions that promote detoxification.
In the article above, we mentioned the symptoms of liver diseases. However, you can prevent such diseases by following some home remedies and dietary changes. We are hopeful that this article will help you know how important it is to keep your liver healthy.
