Liver health awareness, part 2: tips for detoxing

Liver detox
Our liver has over 500 vital roles, mainly for digesting foods: breaking own fats, storing vitamins, and producing bile for energy gain and toxin removal. During festive seasons, frequent binge-snacking makes it work really hard to process everything! An overload of carbs and proteins entering our bodies, when not detoxified, may increase fatty acids in our liver – provoking obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Staying up late also contributes to a 24% increased risk of fat deposition in our liver.

Although alcohol livens up our nights, excessive consumption puts our liver in danger – it increases the risk of cirrhosis, an irreversible state of liver inflammation.
However, non-drinkers who overeat are also at risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It has been affecting up to a high of 40% of adults in Singapore.

Some liver detox tips to help you out:

1. Water aids digestion and flushes out extra pollutants.
2. Antioxidant-rich superfoods like lemon or ginger help boost your immune system.
3. Tradition medicines and remedies are not elixirs! Some contain heavy metals or unknown toxins, which can increase liver toxicity. Consult your doctor before consuming. Over-supplementation can cause liver inflammation, leading to irreversible liver damage or even failure.
4. Reduce smoking or stop entirely! Not only can it cause liver cancer, it also enhances the toxic effects some medication (e.g. paracetamol) have on the liver.
5. Sweat it out! Built a 150-minute exercise routine in a week to prevent obesity, a cause of liver disease. Kick-start this habit with a small step, like brisk walking!