Liver Health 101: Protecting Your Body’s Unsung Hero

Your Liver: The Unsung Hero and How to Keep It Healthy

Roughly the size and shape of a football, your liver sits in your upper right abdomen, just above the stomach and right kidney. This powerhouse organ performs over 500 vital functions, including:

Filtering toxins, alcohol, and medications from your blood
Producing bile to break down fats in the small intestine
Storing vitamins, minerals, and glucose for energy and overall health

Remarkably, the liver can repair and regenerate itself when damaged—but even this resilient organ has limits. Many liver problems are “silent,” showing symptoms only in advanced stages.

Common—and surprising—causes of liver damage include:

Alcohol: Even small amounts (as little as 4 oz) can scar the liver over time, potentially leading to cirrhosis. Water is a safer alternative to help flush toxins.
Painkillers: Overuse of common over-the-counter medicines like paracetamol, acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can harm the liver. Always follow recommended dosages.
Supplements: High doses of certain vitamins, such as vitamin A, can damage the liver. It’s safer to get nutrients from foods like salmon, leafy greens, and colorful vegetables.
Obesity: Excess weight can cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, increasing the risk of diabetes and other health issues. Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and aim for a healthy weight.
Smoking: The toxic chemicals in cigarettes and vapes overwork the liver and increase the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Quitting is essential for liver health.