8 Ways to Lighten the Load on your Liver

Last week, medical researchers announced that they created the basis for a functioning human liver from liver buds created in a lab. This was a tremendous scientific breakthrough. However, duplicating these results in humans may take many years. In the interim, it’s important to try to keep your liver healthy by reducing or eliminating the many assaults on your liver that can cause illness and disease. Here are some ways to do that:

1. Alcohol:  Alcohol damages the liver and drinking alcohol in excess, can cause Cirrhosis of the Liver, which can be deadly. Most medical experts say that women should limit their alcohol intake to no more than one per day; men, no more than two per day (and better yet, don’t drink alcohol at all). 
2. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: An unhealthy diet can be one of the culprits in the development of, “Fatty Liver.” Maintain a normal weight for your height and frame and consume a healthy diet by limiting saturated fats and junk foods. Try to maintain normal cholesterol and triglyceride levels. A diet that consists of whole grains, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and omega 3 fatty acids, can help to improve your overall health and help keep your liver happier too.
3. Viral Hepatitis: The three main types of Viral Hepatitis are, A, B and C. The good news is that there are vaccines to help prevent Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
4. You can become infected with Hepatitis A by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by having close contact with someone that has it. To read more about Hepatitis A and the Hepatitis A Vaccine, click here.
5. Hepatitis B infections are spread by having contact with infected blood or body fluids, dirty (contaminated) needles and other objects used by someone who has the disease. To read about Hepatitis B Vaccine, click here.
6. The bad news: There is no cure and no vaccine for Hepatitis C. You can get Hepatitis C from exposure to infected blood, body fluids, contaminated needles and other objects used by someone with the disease.  
7. Know your medicines and their side effects: Some medications can damage your liver even when taken as directed. Other times, a combination of medications can be more toxic to the liver by producing a synergistic effect (the two combined are more damaging then just one).
8. Other liver diseases can be inherited or genetic such as (but not limited to): Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and Wilson Disease. Knowing your family history can be helpful when it comes to your health. Having an awareness of family tendencies towards certain diseases can help place them on your radar, so you can be on the lookout for them.

Some chronic conditions listed above and other diseases can raise your risk for developing Liver Cancer. For more on Liver Cancer, click here. Labs can be performed on a routine basis to monitor the health of your liver. Talk to your healthcare provider about which labs and/or other diagnostic tests are right for you to help you monitor the health of your liver. 

7 Tips to Prevent Super Bowl Sabotage - Don’t Let the Party Blow Your Diet

While is fun to meet with family and friends at Super Bowl parties, it’s easy to completely blow your diet while doing so.  While no one can eat perfectly every day; (remember the 90/10 rule or 80/20…) try to aim for eating properly at least 80 % of the time, 90 % is even better.  Here are seven tips to help you stay on track at any party:

1. Don’t go famished: Eat a healthy snack an hour or two before you go, such as a piece of lean cheese like mozzarella and some whole wheat crackers.
2. Drink plenty of water at the party to help keep you full to prevent overeating and keep you hydrated so you don’t over indulge on alcohol and soda pop.
3. Limit your alcohol intake: Alcohol is loaded with empty (non-nutritious) calories and will impair your judgment which can lead to overeating.
4. Limit your soda intake: Soda is loaded with empty calories too and both diet and regular usually contain unhealthy ingredients.
5. Fill up on fresh veggies such as carrot and celery sticks, zucchini and squash slices and broccoli flowers. You can offer to bring these if they’re not on the menu.
6. Look for hummus, Greek yogurt dips and salsa and opt for these on your plate to dip your veggies in or whole wheat crackers.
7. Don’t load up on high fat foods such as mayo based dips and salads, fried chicken wings and chips.

Listen to Your Body Cues then Act on Them

An important part of maintaining good health is to learn about your body and how your system reacts to the variety of things it encounters and experiences every day such as foods and beverages you consume, medicines you take, exercise you participate in and sleep habits. Once you have an awareness of what works for you and what does not; you can adapt your habits to what works and makes you feel at your best each day for optimum functioning.

You also want to consider the assaults on your body each day ranging from unhealthy habits you may have such as smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, over eating, skipping breakfast or meals, sleep deprivation and from situations you are not responsible for such as exposure to second hand smoke, work related exposures and concerns regarding chemicals or unhealthy air.

Here are three examples:

Skipping breakfast: Most people feel lightheaded when they skip breakfast.  (It also sets you up for overeating later in the day).  For some, skipping breakfast makes them actually faint due to low blood sugar. Fainting episodes can be extremely frightening for the person fainting as well as those around him or her.  It is also dangerous if the fall causes you to hit your head, for example, setting you up for a major traumatic injury. (More on the various causes of fainting in another post).

The bottom line: Don’t skip breakfast. If you know you oversleep and can’t eat, at least drink a glass of milk which provides protein and carbohydrate. Also have on hand either near your door, in your backpack or car, some high quality granola or protein bars to eat (after you drink some milk, eat some cheese or Greek yogurt). These bars can easily be eaten on the run and help you avoid a severe drop in blood sugar levels.

Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach: Doing this can cause stomach irritation and acid reflux, as well as a high blood alcohol level which is dangerous and unsafe for yourself and others.

Bottom line: Don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Eat first, or slowly take in your spirits with food. If you’re going to drink alcohol, drink in moderation and never drink and drive any type of vehicle, even if you have one drink.

Medications: If you’re on a medicine and suspect is does not agree with you or is causing reactions; allergic ones such as breathing problems, swelling of the face and, or throat, hives, or other reactions such as heart palpitations, anxiety, dizziness, or, anything you are concerned about:

Bottom line: *For any life threatening reactions such as, but not limited to,  problems breathing, swelling of the face and throat, or any other symptoms that are causing severe pain or problems, call 911 immediately. If you feel your symptoms are not life threatening, contact your doctor to discuss with him or her, the possibility of a lower dose or changing to another medication.