The long-lasting liver's secret: Live it up with fruit juices.

With one of my close friends losing their battle to alcoholic liver cirrhosis, I realized just how important, yet overlooked liver as an organ is, in our body. We, as human beings make sure to keep up with our exterior looks, worry about maintaining our figure and keeping our body clean. But does it ever occur to us what we are putting inside? Our liver is a crucial organ which plays a huge role in purifying our blood, producing proteins, and storing energy- but with today’s lifestyle, it’s more like storing alcohol. Yes, one of the leading causes of liver cirrhosis or chronic liver disease is alcoholism. It gradually replaces healthy liver cells to cause irreversible scarring, thus preventing the liver from functioning normally. It can also be a leading cause for Hepatitis B and C, which is the inflammation of the liver. Commonly caused by the hepatitis virus, it is transmitted through contact by the blood or other bodily fluids and can even be fatal, causing liver cancer! One must look for symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, fever and an eerie yellowing of the skin. That being said, one might have hepatitis C and not even know it!. The initial infection might be misinterpreted as a common flu. So what should one do? Just by ignoring and saying, “Sorry Liver, its Friday!” definitely isn’t going to make matters better. But I can say this for sure, the health of your liver is in your hands. One of the easiest ways to start is being aware. Awareness wins half the battle. Consult your hepatologist and have a little chat about what this is, and how you can keep yourself and your family in the pink. The hepatologist could also perform a simple liver function test (don’t worry, it’s a simple blood test!) to check the levels of proteins and enzymes in your blood and look for enzymes that you’d find in your body only when your liver is damaged or has a disease. But where can I find all this, you say? A quick visit to hepatologists and with the leading experts in this field who would make this journey painless- just like the needles of the blood test would be. And don’t forget, above all this, maintain a healthy lifestyle. Have a balanced diet and fresh juices to surprise your liver! Ditch. One of those late nights for a change. I’m sure your liver, and your wallet will thank you. Live-r your life the right way, and get checked up today! To know more about your specific condition, please visit an Hematologist in a a trusted hospital close to you.