Have you ever given this some thought, the functions of the different organs in our bodies? It occurred to me how little we know about them, especially when it comes to what we consume daily.
For the purpose of this piece, we’ll unpack the foods that do not promote a happy, healthy liver.
It’s one of those unseen organs that quietly put in extra hours to keep us healthy. Your liver is working hard to filter, break down, store, and protect itself every time you eat, drink, take medication, or even breathe in environmental toxins. It functions similarly to your body’s operating system’s unsung hero.
However, like any other system, it has limitations. The foods we reach for out of habit or convenience, such as highly processed snacks and sugary drinks, can gradually degrade the liver’s functionality.
The Cleveland Clinic describes the human liver as “an organ and gland in the human body. It’s spongy, wedge-shaped, reddish-brown in colour and about the size of a football. The size varies based on how tall you are and how much you weigh. The liver is an essential organ, performing hundreds of functions necessary to sustain life. It’s also a gland because it makes proteins and hormones that other parts of the body need.”
The American Liver Foundation recommends maintaining liver function through diet, moderate alcohol intake, avoiding illicit substances, careful medication mixing, protection against airborne chemicals, travel vaccinations, safe sex practices, and avoiding exposure to blood and germs. These measures help prevent liver damage and fatty liver disease.
Also see: You’re not eating ‘just protein’ – here’s what it’s doing
