Easy ways to keep liver healthy

Liver is one of the most important organs in our body that helps in detoxification. It performs more than 500 functions. It turns fat soluble toxins into water soluble toxins that our body flushes out easily and regulates hormones. Some easy ways to keeping the liver healthy are as follows:

1. Healthy diet: Go for a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. They are essential to detoxify the liver. Make sure to consume them through food and supplements. Your diet should be high in fruits and vegetables which have high nutritional value. Broccoli, carrots, cabbage, beet, onion, garlic, collard grass and other leafy vegetables are foods which help in detoxification of the liver. Eat plenty of mineral rich food, including calcium, potassium, manganese, sodium, iron, copper, zinc and others. Avoid alcohol, margarine, processed food, artificial food additives, preservatives and colors. Consume refined sugar and synthetic sweeteners as less as you can.

2. Regular exercise: Liver is the main fat digesting organ of the body. Every molecule of fat you eat passes through your liver. Workout controls your weight which aids in prevention of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). So do not over burden your liver to make it sluggish.

3. Go herbal: There are some herbs which support in detoxification of liver. Organic turmeric, milk thistle, dandelion roots, chicory root, greater celandine, peppermint, and organic yellow dock root can be used for making the liver healthier. Also consume green tea daily.

4. Increase intake of lemon water: Water detoxifies our body naturally. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily - that is a common advice by doctors and nutritionists alike. Add lemon juice to your glass of water as lemon contains citric acid that helps the liver to produce 'Bile'  which inturn is used by our body to excrete toxins.

5. Manage your medication: Consult your physician prior to any medication. Restrict yourself from consuming pain killers. Taking regular doses of painkillers can lead to drug induced liver disease and failure.

6. Drink coffee: It is a beverage commonly consumed worldwide. A study revealed that filtered coffee is more beneficial than boiled coffee, It states that drinking more coffee helps in reducing liver damage that is caused by over indulging in food and alcohol. It is said that the risk of developing 'cirrhosis', a disease which kills one million people every year worldwide, may be reduced by consumption of coffee. Researchers estimated one cup a day lowers the risk of 'cirrhosis' by 22 per cent, but it declined 57 per cent for three cups.