The key for the reboot is allowing it to rest.
The liver is busy. It spends its time detoxing your body from harmful substances. It helps with digestion and even stores energy to keep you moving all day.
That’s a heavy workload, and it’s always turned on. But certain behavior can take a lot out of your liver and even lead to long-term damage.
Excessive alcohol and sugar consumption, in particular, can lead to liver damage, impaired function, and potentially put your life at risk.
The thing is, your liver can withstand a lot before the trouble shows up. I’m talking years or even decades of repeated abuse. But it also has the power to heal itself if you give it some time off.
If you want to give your liver some time to repair itself to protect it from damage and keep you healthier, here is what to do:
- Drink in moderation or abstain. Moderate alcohol consumption is two drinks per day for men and one for women. The standard drink size is as follows:
- 12 ounces (oz) of beer at 5 percent alcohol content
- 8 oz of malt liquor at 7 percent alcohol
- 5 oz of wine at 12 percent alcohol
- 1.5 ounces of liquor at 40 percent alcohol
- Monitor your medication and supplement intake
- Manage weight
- Stay active
- Eat a healthy diet that includes fiber and limits processed foods, refined carbs, and sugary snacks and beverages
Your liver has the power to regenerate, but you need to give this powerful organ some support. Do your best to take care of your liver so it can take care of you.