25th January 2022
Love Your Liver Month
Did you know January is Love Your Liver month – a national awareness campaign devoted to liver health awareness and giving people the key steps needed to keep their liver healthy?
For January 2022, the British Liver Trust is asking people to make a pledge to love their livers; from starting a fitness challenge, to changing your diet or cutting out alcohol, there are loads of different ways to show your liver some love, and it’s not too late to get involved!
Why should you love your liver?
Your liver is one of the largest and most important organs in your body, performing over 300 different functions, such as:
• Fighting infection and disease
• Destroying poisons and drugs (including alcohol)
• Cleaning the blood
• Controlling the amount of cholesterol
• Processing food once it has been digested
And all while also helping some of your other organs do their jobs in order to keep you alive.
In the UK, liver disease is on the rise with the three major preventable causes being alcohol consumption, obesity, and viral hepatitis.
When your liver is damaged it can repair itself but only up to a point. Often, people with liver disease do not have any symptoms, but if the disease progresses it can be too late for treatment. That’s why it’s so important to know the risk factors and to keep your liver happy and healthy for life – before long-lasting damage can occur. Take your first steps towards better liver health today.
What steps can you take to protect your liver?
1. Cut down on alcohol. Drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. Take 3 days off alcohol every week to give your liver a chance to repair itself.
2. Keep to a healthy weight. A healthy liver should contain little or no fat, so eat a healthy balanced diet and be physically active.
3. Protect yourself from viral hepatitis. Get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B as well as testing regularly for all STIs and HIV. Never share personal items like toothbrushes, razors, nail scissors or tweezers.
So be proactive and start loving your liver for a healthier, happier you in 2022.