Importance of a healthy liver

The liver is a key organ in your body's self-defense system, its plays a major role in metabolism and has a number of functions in the body, including glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, hormone production, and detoxification into forms which the body can safely eliminate. The liver is also the largest gland in the human body.
How toxins entered your body?
In today's world of processed foods and pollution, toxic substances exist everywhere. They are in the food you eat, the water you drink (from fertilizers, chemicals and other additives such as colorings and preservatives), and the air you breathe (from automobile emissions, pesticides and industrial pollutants). Some quantity of the body's own compounds must be detoxified as well.

What happens in impaired liver detoxification?
An unhealthy liver does not detoxify substances as rapidly or as completely as a healthy liver. Slower detoxification results in more toxic substances circulating in the body. Unchanged or partially changed toxins are not easily eliminated and instead pass from the liver in to the body. Finally, the toxins are stored in fatty body tissue, including the brain and central nervous scheme cells. Stored toxins may be slowly released in to the blood, contributing to lots of chronic illnesses.

If the liver becomes inflamed or infected, its ability to perform these functions may be impaired. Liver disease & infections are caused by a variety of conditions including viral infections, bacterial invasion, & chemical or physical changes within the body. The most common cause of liver damage is malnutrition, that which occurs with alcoholism.

Symptoms of liver disease may be acute, occurring suddenly, or chronic, developing slowly over a long period of time. Chronic liver disease is much more common than acute. The rates of chronic liver disease for men are one time higher than for women. Liver disease may range from mild to severe depending on the type of disease present.

What can be done to minimize the damage done to liver?
Some of the liver diseases can be prevented with vaccines. For example such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B, while other cannot prevented.

Other ways to decrease the risk of infectious liver disease include:
• practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands well after using the restroom or changing diapers
• avoiding drinking or using tap water when traveling internationally
• avoiding illegal drug use, especially sharing injection equipment
• avoiding the sharing of personal hygiene items, such as razors or nail clippers
• avoiding toxic substances and excess alcohol consumption
• using medications only as directed

• eating a well balanced diet following the food guide pyramid

By Ang.E.H
Click here to find out more on how you can maintain a healthy liver:
http://tinyurl.com/pvyywe