The lively liver

How to keep this unsung hero healthy

The liver, a small organ in the right upper part of your abdomen, is a filtering factory that cleans up toxins, regulates hormones, fights infections and provides you with energy, as well as more than 500 other functions that keep you alive and in good health.

Keeping your liver healthy involves a lifestyle that includes eating a balanced diet and physical activity. It also means staying away from chemicals that can damage your liver, like excessive alcohol, tobacco products, long-term or overuse of medications that can damage the liver (such as acetaminophen, found in many pain and cough and cold medicines) and prescription medications for arthritis, acne or fungal infections. In fact, some herbal supplements, like ephedra or kava, are linked to liver problems, as are pesticides. Viruses like hepatitis A, B or C, which can be transmitted from unwashed food, unprotected sex, unsterile tattooing, body piercing equipment or needle sharing, can also hurt the liver. (Costco Pharmacy offers vaccines against hepatitis A and B that can protect against getting those diseases.)

If you suspect that you may be having liver problems because of non-specific symptoms like fatigue, nausea, dark urine or yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), simple liver function tests can be performed by your doctor on a periodic basis along with other blood tests like cholesterol levels. While your liver does not require regular cleaning with digestive cleanses, some herbal supplements, like turmeric or milk thistle, could possibly be helpful in keeping your liver healthy, according to some studies.

Armed with the knowledge about caring for this vital organ, take care of your liver and take charge of your health.

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