The liver is the largest and one of the most important organs in the body. It performs hundreds of functions in the body, but the biggest of all its roles is that it processes all the foods and drinks you consume and is decides to use it or eliminate it. The liver is responsible for filtering blood from toxins and converts waste to be eliminated by urine. It creates bile to help digest fats and carbohydrates. With excessive alcohol intake, unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity, liver function can diminish. But these aren’t the only things that will damage your liver.  Here are a few things you may not even know could be doing your liver harm:

1.     Sugar

2.     MSG

3.     Soda

4.     Obesity

5.     Excessive vitamin A

6.     Herbal supplements

7.     Antidepressants

Even if you have done damage to your liver you may not realize it. Some of the most common symptoms of liver damage to look for are the following:

·       Abdominal pain and swelling:  The swelling may appear before the abdominal pain does. The pain is usually felt near the upper abdomen, particularly on the right side and upper middle part of the abdomen.

·       Nausea, weight loss, diarrhea: The nausea associated with liver dysfunction can range from mild to very severe. It can cause a person to become very sick and vomit which usually occurs shortly after eating. Liver dysfunction may also cause diarrhea. The combination of a reduced appetite and diarrhea eventually leads to weight loss. It is also the result of the liver being unable to metabolize and digest nutrients properly.

·       Jaundice: Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin, eyes, and sometimes inside the mouth. It is caused by a buildup of bilirubin inside the body. The liver normally processes and excretes bilirubin in bile. But when the liver isn’t functioning properly, the bilirubin builds up in the body.  When red blood cells are broken down excessively, jaundice can occur.

·       Pale stool or dark urine: When the liver is not working properly, it cannot process bilirubin and excrete it with bile in the digestive tract. As a result, there is usually a discoloration of stool and may appear pale instead. The body may try to make up for this by increasing the amount of bilirubin excreted through the kidneys, which causes the urine to look dark in color.

·       Unexplained Fatigue: The reason for this is unclear. The fatigue is usually persistent and unable to be overcome simply by getting more rest.

·       Itchy Skin: Itchy skin as a result of liver dysfunction may be present without the sign of a rash. It is also usually not present in just one area, but throughout the whole body. Itchy skin may also be the only symptom of liver dysfunction that is present for quite some time until other symptoms appear. 

One of the best things you can do is eat healthy when it comes to your liver. Below is a list of natural foods that can help cleanse the liver: 

·       garlic

·       grapefruit

·       beets and carrots

·       leafy green vegetables

·       green tea

·       avocados

·       apples

·       olive oil

·       lemons and limes

·       walnuts