Things That Can Damage Your Liver

​The liver is the body’s largest solid organ.  The average adult liver weighs around 3 pounds and is about the size of a football.  The liver is crucial to the body’s metabolic functions and immune system.  Without a functioning liver, a person cannot survive.

Things That Can Damage Your Liver
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

The liver is the body’s largest solid organ.  This organ lies in the right upper portion of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm.  The average adult liver weighs around 3 pounds and is about the size of a football.  The liver is crucial to the body’s metabolic functions and immune system.  Without a functioning liver, a person cannot survive.
Many things can cause damage to your liver that you should be aware of, such as: 

• Extra Pounds - extra fat can build up in your liver cells and lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).  As a result, your liver may swell.  Over time, it can harden and cause scar liver tissue (cirrhosis).  You are more likely to get NAFLD if overweight or obese, middle-aged, or have diabetes.  You can turn things around through diet and exercise, stopping the disease.
  
  
• Soft Drinks - people who drink a lot of soft drinks are more likely to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).  Studies do not prove that the drinks were the cause, but if you drink many sodas, this could be a good reason to stop.
  
  
• Sugar - too much sugar is not just bad for your teeth.  It harms your liver too.  The organ uses one type of sugar (fructose) to make fat.  Too much-refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup cause a fatty buildup leading to liver disease.  Sugar could be as damaging to the liver as alcohol, even if you are not overweight.  It is a great reason to limit foods with added sugars, such as soda, pastries, and candy.
  
  
• Too Much Vitamin A From Supplements - the body needs vitamin A, and it must be derived from plants such as fresh fruits and vegetables, especially red, orange, and yellow.  But if you take supplements with high doses of vitamin A, that can be a problem for your liver.  Always ask your doctor before you take any extra vitamin A.  You probably do not need it.
  
  
• Acetaminophen - if you have a sore back, headache, or a cold, and reach out for a pain reliever, make sure you take the right amount!  If you accidentally take too much of anything that has acetaminophen, for instance, a pill for your headache and something else for your cold, and both have acetaminophen in it,  it may damage your liver.  Check the dosage and how much is OK to take in one day.  Stick to those limits, and you should be fine.
  
  
• Trans Fats - are artificial fat in some packaged foods and baked goods (listed as “partially hydrogenated” ingredients on the package).  A diet rich in trans fats makes you more likely to gain weight.  Bad for your liver.  Always check the ingredients list.  Even if it says “0” grams of trans fat, it may still have a small amount.
  
  
• Mistakes Happen - a doctor or nurse can get nicked by a needle they have applied on a patient or people injecting illegal drugs sharing a needle.  The needle is not the problem, but it is what is on it.  Hepatitis C spreads through blood. 
  
  
• Less Alcohol Than You May Think - you probably already know that drinking too much is bad for your liver.  But you might not realize that “too much” can happen without your being an alcoholic or addicted to alcohol.  It is easy to drink more than you think.  Many glasses can contain more than one standard serving, which is 5 ounces of wine (that’s a little more than half a cup), 12 ounces of regular beer, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.  If you drink, keep it moderate.  One drink a day for women and up to 2 per day for men.
  
  
• Avoid From Fatty Foods - french fries and burgers are a poor choice to keep your liver healthy.  Eating foods high in saturated fat makes it harder for your liver to do its job.  Over time, it may lead to inflammation, which causes scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis.  So, next time you are in the drive-thru line, think about ordering a healthier option.