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1 SMC Nutrition for Healthy LiverWhat is your new year's resolution for 2022?

To start the year right, have a healthy lifestyle! One way to do this is to follow Kumainment #10 which says “Batoni kanunay ang lagsik nga lawas. Likayi ang ilimnong makahubog; ayaw panigarilyo.” (“Be physically active, make healthy food choices, manage stress, avoid alcoholic beverages and do not smoke to help prevent lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases.”) So, if you’re looking for a sign to stop drinking alcohol (and other vices), this is it.

According to Republic Act No. 10526, signed by former President Benigno S. Aquino III, every January we celebrate "Liver Cancer and Viral Hepatitis Awareness and Prevention Month." The act aims to promote awareness and prevention for liver cancer and viral hepatitis.

The major function of the liver is detoxification. It is the largest organ in the human body and performs over 500 functions, including digestion of proteins, mineral storage, bile production, and blood filtration. When substances like toxins enter the body and pass into the bloodstream, they are carried to the liver. Such toxins may include household dust, outdoor air pollution, chemicals in the water supply, hormones injected into animal meats, artificial elements in processed meals, or toxic substances in makeup, lotions, and shampoos, among others. More specifically, the liver specifies what must be neutralized and destroyed, as well as what must be permitted to flow through for the body to get nutrients. When the liver is tasked with a large toxic load, it is possible to overwhelm its. Not only the glutathione, one of the most powerful antioxidants that your body produces, run low, but other liver functions may also suffer.

If liver function slows down, it may affect the body's regular functions. Liver illness and damage can be caused by infections, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, obesity, or heredity. Many people with liver disease do not look or feel sick, even though damage is already happening to the liver. At a certain point in the progression of liver disease, damage such as hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer can become irreversible and lead to liver failure, liver cancer, or worst, death.

As we celebrate Liver Cancer and Viral Hepatitis Awareness and Prevention Month, there are several things you can do to keep your liver healthy and lower your risk of liver disease, although treatment depends on the cause and the specific symptoms. Therapy urgency varies depending on whether the liver failure is acute or chronic, but the treatment principles remain the same.

  • People should limit their consumption of sodium (in salt and other foods) to less than 2,000 mg a day to prevent fluid from accumulating in the abdomen.
  • Individuals with liver disease should avoid alcohol completely because it can worsen liver damage. Women cannot drink more than one standard drink, while men are limited to two standard drinks. One alcohol equivalent or standard drink is as follows: 1 regular beer (330ml), a single measure of spirits (30ml), a medium-sized glass of wine (120 ml), or a measure of aperitif (60 ml), according to the World Health Organization.
  • Eat 1/2 plate of vegetables every meal.
  • Consume foods that are high in fiber, such as avocado, beans, broccoli, whole grains, and fruits.
  • Eat more at breakfast than at night dinner.
  • Limit high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods. Reduce your intake of fried foods, including fast food restaurant meals.
  • Shellfish such as oysters and clams should never be eaten raw or undercooked. Raw foods can cause bacteria to survive which may cause food poisoning or can lead to infection by the Hepatitis E virus.
  • Drink lots of fluids, including water and fruit juices such as apple juice.
  • Burn calories. Move your body daily, exercise and aim for your ideal weight.
  • Be careful about using medicine. Always talk with your health care provider about the medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter products such as pain relievers.

The liver is necessary for survival; there is currently no way to compensate for the absence of liver function in the long term, although new liver dialysis techniques can be used in the short term.

May this year encourage you to become healthy and active for a better life and a healthier liver (NO I Vazamija Therese A. Villasi, RND).

 

References:

Liver Health. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/liver-health

Ramos, V. (2019, June). How to Improve Liver Health Naturally. IHerb. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://uk.iherb.com/blog/how-to-improve-liver-health-naturally/777?gclid=Cj0KCQiA_c-OBhDFARIsAIFg3ezmLipEVxddGLn7GmEXxhav4sKVNEDDLBNCqiVY3ctvi3qjjS_E_ooaAsvfEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

The Progression of Liver Disease. (n.d.). American Liver Foundation. Retrieved June 5, 2022, from https://liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/the-progression-of-liver-disease/

Tholey, D. (2021, February). Liver Failure. MSD Manual Consumer Version. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/liver-and-gallbladder-disorders/manifestations-of-liver-disease/liver-failure

W.H.O. (n.d.-b). Alcohol. World Health Organization. Retrieved January 11, 2022, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/alcohol#tab=tab_1