You don’t want to have an epiphany one day, realizing what you should have done to take care of your liver. If yours becomes excessively damaged, it’s nearly impossible to get one for a transplant in time to save your life.
With that serious news in mind, here’s what you need to look out for if you choose to take supplements to assist your liver’s health:
- Be Wary of Iron Supplementation
Iron supplementation can be extremely healthy for your body. But you have to take the right amount.
If you take too much, you can experience liver scarring, which leads to cirrhosis, which can be fatal. You could also develop liver cancer. This is because your body has no way of eliminating excess iron. So, it just accumulates in your organs and tissues, and especially your liver.
You should generally only take iron supplements if your doctor recommends it.
- Be Careful with High-Dose Supplements of Any Kind
Generally, if you eat a varied diet of fruits and vegetables, your liver will remain healthy the rest of your life. But, since everyone’s different, sometimes you may have a deficiency of a certain vitamin or mineral.
Generally, avoid high dosages of any particular supplement. And if you’re not sure, make a list of everything you take (or want to take), and have a discussion with your doctor.
- Large Vitamin A Doses
Your body stores around 50-80% of all your vitamin A in your liver. Too much vitamin A stored in your liver causes damage. If you drink a large amount of alcohol, have high cholesterol, or severe protein nutrition, then your body can handle even less vitamin A. Typically, you should consume about 3,000 mcg in any one day. That’s for adults…and the amount is lower for teens and children.
- Salt
Okay…so salt’s not typically thought of as a supplement. But it is a common preservative found in great abundance in American society.
You should aim for a max of 2,300 milligrams daily. On the good side, salt prevents dehydration, helps nerve impulses transmit properly, and helps your cells function in a normal way.
Too much salt leads to high blood pressure, which can contribute to fatty liver disease. So keep your daily intake near 2,300 milligrams and avoid high-sodium processed foods.
Your liver needs some help from you. And now you have a basic plan for giving your liver the help it needs.