The role of the liver is varied and complex. It is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins in the body, and it also acts to detoxify drugs and harmful substances. One of the main functions of the liver is to make bile acids which are necessary for digestion.
As it plays various roles, you need to pay attention to the health care of your liver, but the basic thing is your eating habits. Most of the food we eat is metabolized in the liver, so it is good to avoid foods that are harmful to the liver. Even a healthy diet, including overeating or irregular meals, can stress the liver. Learn about foods and eating habits that can damage your liver.
The basics of liver health care is to eat everything equally, but avoid foods that are bad for the liver｜Source: Getty Image Bank
Unexpected culprit: Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are essential nutrients as the main source of energy. The problem is also overdrinking. Continuing a high carbohydrate diet can lead to obesity and fatty liver. Fatty liver is mainly divided into alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcoholic fatty liver, and the main cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver is carbohydrates.
Excessive intake of carbohydrates raises the blood sugar level in the body and secretes ‘insulin’ to lower it. When insulin is continuously secreted, the amount of free fatty acids entering the hepatocytes increases, ultimately increasing the influx of free fatty acids into the liver. It becomes a condition of ‘fatty liver’.
According to a study by Professor Won Kim’s research team at the Department of Gastroenterology at Boramae Hospital in Seoul, the group that consumed more than 70% of daily calories from carbohydrates had a significantly higher risk of developing fatty liver compared to the group that ate less. carbohydrates.
Liver health sniper ‘alcohol’
Drinking is directly related to liver health. This is because more than 90% of the alcohol we drink is broken down in the liver. Drinking too much can cause steatohepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and even liver cancer. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, around 76% of deaths from alcohol-related diseases in 2020 were caused by alcoholic liver disease.
Some may think ‘it will be fine if you drink a drink to relieve a hangover’, but experts ask you not to blindly believe in it as it has not yet been medically and clinically validated . It contains a small amount of ingredients known to be good for the liver, but it’s good to think of it as a supplement that can help.
‘Healthy juice’ is harmful to health
Healthy juices can also stress the liver. The concentrated juice of various raw materials is quickly absorbed into the body, which can put a load on the liver during the detoxification process. In particular, fruit juice has a high sugar content, which causes a rapid increase in blood sugar and insulin resistance, which increases the risk of fatty liver.
In the same context, medicines can also cause liver problems if overdosed. Vitamin B3 is known to increase the risk of gout or liver toxicity in case of overdose.
“The right eating habits for liver health”
The basics of liver health care are eating everything in a balanced way, enjoying good food and avoiding bad food. First of all, high quality protein foods are recommended. Protein rich in lean meat and fish has the effect of improving liver function by helping to regenerate liver cells. In addition, copper, manganese, vitamin C, etc. are used for liver detoxification, so you should take enough of these vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals are mainly found in green and yellow vegetables.
It is also a good way to supplement ingredients that have been proven as liver remedies for liver cell recovery. A typical example is Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA). UDCA is a non-toxic bile acid, which has the effect of protecting hepatocytes through antioxidant action and preventing hepatocellular damage. UDCA is also characterized by promoting bile production and helping to excrete toxins from the body.
The content of UDCA varies depending on the purpose. As a nutritional supplement, 25 to 50 mg, 150 mg or more must be used under a doctor’s prescription. Clinically, it is prescribed for △ primary biliary cirrhosis △ improving liver function in chronic liver disease △ biliary tract disease due to bile insufficiency.
The liver is the organ of detoxification and excretion. It is important to remember that too much of what is said to be healthy can stress the liver. If the health of the liver is damaged, it is recommended that you take treatment drugs such as UDCA through a specialist’s prescription and strive to improve your lifestyle.
