In case you didn’t know, the liver is one of the most important organs in your body?  Your liver is responsible for cleaning your blood, regulating your supply of body fuel, making body proteins, balancing hormones, and body cholesterol. It absorbs vitamins, minerals, medications and delivers them throughout your body. Your liver is like your body’s engine and the truth is, if it stops or breaks down, so does your body.

Factors that can cause liver disease range from viruses, toxins, genetics, alcohol and unknown factors. An example of a liver disease that affects over 7 million people in Canada is a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This disease is caused by fat accumulation in the liver that is not a result of excessive alcohol consumption. NAFLD is often preventable or can even be reversed if detected before permanent damage to the liver has occurred. However, if left untreated, it can develop into a more advanced form of liver disease. Therefore, there is a huge advantage for you to be aware of your liver health so that potential diseases can be detected early when they are treatable and/or reversible.

To help maintain a well-performing liver, I recommend your limit or moderate the following:

some over-the-counter pain medicine such as Tylenol, alcohol consumption, travelling without taking the appropriate vaccines, tattoos and piercing with unsterilized equipment or contaminated ink. Ask your physician or pharmacist about other medications and therapies you take and how they can affect your liver.

As always, having a balanced diet, while maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly is the key to overall good health.