The liver is definitely one of the most important organs within the body. Apart from being one of the largest organs, it is responsible for performing hundreds of vital bodily functions. Amongst the most important are the cleansing of blood, the removal of toxins, the transforming of nutrients into energy and the preservation of vitamins and minerals. In this article, we will be discussing six ways how you can destroy your liver.
Alcohol
We are starting off with the most obvious first. Consuming alcohol, especially in excess of moderate amounts can significantly damage the liver. For those with a family history of alcoholism and liver related diseases, more caution is advised. So when you thought that those drinking nights will not have any adverse long-term effects, think again!
Not drinking enough water
We are constantly reminded of the importance of drinking water. You would have heard several stating that we are to drink a minimum of two litres of water a day, irrespective of whether it is the summer or winter season. Lack of drinking enough water and hence dehydration, can impact the liver’s ability to detoxify the body. This increases the chances of illnesses.
Smoking
We all know that smoking is bad for you. A study compiled a few years ago illustrated that smoking accounted for almost half of all liver cancers. Smoking causes a certain stress within the body system and can reach the liver and induce damage.
Eating too much
One of the risks of eating too much and being overweight is the fat which may be built around the liver. This can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This underlines the importance of a healthy diet, together with exercise to ensure that your liver enjoys optimal health.
Sugar
Very few would suspect that excess sugar may be correlated to liver disease. The problem is due to the fructose. Whilst most cells in the body can metabolise glucose, it is only the liver that can neutralise fructose. Consuming too much of this substance can overwhelm the liver, leading to irreparable damage.
Sex
Bet this caught your attention! Engaging in unsafe sex with different partners could threaten the wellbeing of your liver. Hepatitis can be transmitted sexually and is a deadly liver disease.
