Causes And Prevention Of Liver Diseases

• The liver plays an important role in many bodily functions from protein production and blood clotting to cholesterol, glucose and iron metabolism.
• The liver is an organ that is located in the upper right hand side of the abdomen, mostly behind the rib cage. The liver of an adult normally weighs close to three pounds and has many functions.

• The liver produces and secretes bile into the intestine where the bile assists with the digestion of dietary fat.
• The liver helps purify the blood by changing potentially harmful chemicals into harmless ones. 
• The liver removes chemicals from the blood (usually changing them into harmless chemicals) and then either secretes them with the bile for elimination in the stool, or secretes them back into the blood where they then are removed by the kidneys and eliminated in the urine.

Illustration of the Liver

Drugs, chemicals and alcohol can cause a wide spectrum of liver injury, such as Hepatitis, Necrosis, Cholestasis, Steatosis, Cirrhosis, Fulminant Heapatitis.

A variety of illnesses can affect the liver.

• Symptoms of liver diseases include weakness and fatigue, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and yellow discoloration of the skin (jaundice).
• The treatment of a particular liver disease depends on its specific cause.

When drugs injure the liver and disrupt its normal function, symptoms, signs, and abnormal blood tests of liver disease develop. 

Prevention Of Liver Problems 

• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men.
• Avoid bad carbohydrates- like refined flour and sugar, white bread, pastries, sodas, and other processed or refined foods. They get converted into triglycerides- the type of fat which gets accumulated into liver.
• Avoid bad carbohydrates- like refined flour and sugar, white bread, pastries, sodas, and other processed or refined foods. They get converted into triglycerides- the type of fat which gets accumulated into liver.
• Avoid risky behaviour. Get help if you use illicit intravenous drugs. Don't share needles used to inject drugs. If you choose to have sex, use condoms. If you choose to have tattoos or body piercings, be picky about cleanliness and safety when it comes to selecting a shop.
• Get vaccinated. If you're at increased risk of contracting hepatitis or if you've already been infected with any form of the hepatitis virus, talk to your doctor about getting the hepatitis B vaccine. A vaccine is also available for hepatitis A.
• Use medications wisely. Only use prescription and non-prescription drugs when you need them and take only the recommended doses. Don't mix medications and alcohol. Talk to your doctor before mixing herbal supplements or prescription or non-prescription drugs. 
• Be sure to use protection (condoms) when having sex
• Avoid contact with other people's blood and body fluids.Hepatitis viruses can be spread by accidental needle sticks or improper clean-up of blood or body fluids. It's also possible to become infected by sharing razor blades or toothbrushes.
• Don't handle any blood or blood products.
• Practice proper hygiene. Since germs are commonly spread by hands, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after you use the bathroom. Also, wash your hands before you touch any food.
• Watch what gets on your skin. When using insecticides and other toxic chemicals, cover your skin with gloves, long sleeves, a hat and a mask.
• Choose a healthy diet. Choose a plant-based diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Limit high-fat foods.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can cause a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which may include fatty liver, hepatitis and cirrhosis.
• Avoid bad fat- these are saturated fats and trans fats. Thus avoid high fat meat like beef, lamb, pork, chicken with skin, whole fat dairy products, butter, cheese, ice cream, lard etc. Cut back on trans-fats by avoiding commercially baked pastries, cookies, muffins, cakes, dough nuts, packaged snacks like crackers and chips, stick margarine, vegetable shortening, fried foods, candy bars etc.
• Use lesser salt and sugar. You may like to start using healthier seasoning like lemon juice or vinegar to cut on salt consumption. Use organic honey as a substitute for refined sugar.

Webmd, RHR