Your liver is a vital organ that you can’t live without. It weighs about 3 pounds, filters all of your blood each day, and when healthy is the only organ capable of regenerating. In addition, the liver performs nearly 500 functions, including regulating your cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, many people have failing livers and, thus, are one of the thousands waiting for a liver transplant.
![liver]()
The good news is a machine has been developed that can keep human livers alive for seven days, rather than 24 hours as is the case now. The machine also seems to help improve the quality of the livers, according to Technology Review.
A machine like this, that can keep livers alive for a week, could allow many more people to get transplants, the report said. There are about 17,000 Americans waiting for a liver right now, with an average waiting time of almost a year.
While this new machine may save many lives, no one wants to get on the waiting list for a liver transplant. You can avoid a future transplant altogether by taking care of your liver now.
For example, fatty liver disease is caused by excess fat in your liver. Your liver normally contains some fat, but when greater than 10% of the weight of the liver is fat, it's called fatty liver. There are two main types: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Even more interesting, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide is linked to a more severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH.
Many are aware of Roundup’s well-publicized potential to cause cancer, but most likely few know about its link to NAFLD and NASH.
People with NASH have significantly higher residues of glyphosate in their urine and are at increased risk of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and higher mortality. As more and more glyphosate has entered our food and water supplies, NAFLD rates have risen.
However, avoidance of glyphosates is no easy task since Roundup is routinely sprayed on agricultural fields, parks and school properties, residential yards and in commercial landscaping and, as a result, has leached into the soil, water, food and air. But, by reading labels carefully and basically avoiding processed foods, you can choose products that are not contaminated by this herbicide — and thus go a long way toward preserving not just your liver, but your health in general.
The bottom line is your liver is working hard to maintain your good health, so return the favor by protecting it with good food choices and the following strategies:
|
Optimizing your omega-3 to omega-6 ratio —Omega-3 fat may be found in wild caught Alaskan salmon, herring, mackerel and anchovies, or consider using a high quality krill oil supplement if you don't eat these fatty fish on a regular basis. Reduce or eliminate processed foods and vegetable oils for cooking.
|
|
Giving blood —If you are male or a postmenopausal woman, giving blood twice a year helps lower your iron level and protect your liver from damage.
|
|
Exercising —Exercise helps burn triglycerides for fuel and may help reduce liver fat.
|
|
Take N-acetylcysteine (NAC) —This powerful antioxidant is used in the treatment of chronic fatty liver diseases.
|
|
Avoid medications —Nearly 50% of all drugs on the market are metabolized by just one enzyme in the liver, including OTC medications such as Tylenol and cold and pain remedies. Over 1,000 OTC drugs and herbal medicines have been associated with drug-induced liver injury.
|
|
Avoid alcohol if you have NAFLD or NASH —Drink alcoholic beverages responsibly; however, if you already suffer from NAFLD or NASH, alcohol may increase your risk of cirrhosis and destroy your liver cells.
|
|
Optimize your gut —Up to 75% of those who suffer from chronic liver disease also have a microbiome imbalance in their gut. Taking probiotics or, better yet, eating fermented foods can help balance your microbiome.
|