Stand Up...for your liver
The liver is a good sport. It doesn’t complain when you make fun of it, abuse it or ignore it.
But that doesn’t mean that it deserves to be a punch line.
If you got to know your liver, you might learn to respect
it for the over the 500 functions it performs to
make life possible day in and day out.
My liver is evil...
So here’s the straight truth behind the jokes.
I wish I could trade
my heart for a liver...
...so I could drink
more and care less.
...it must be punished
The truth is the liver is
more superhero than
villain. Although with the
amount of abuse the average liver
takes, you could understand why it might hold a
grudge. It’s not an organ that you want to pick a fight
with though and here’s why. Without a fully-functioning
liver:
•
•
•
The liver may be your best drinking
buddy but that doesn’t mean it wants to
be. It’s its job to process any alcohol
you drink but that’s only one of over
500 functions it performs for your body.
So if you overload it with alcohol, it will
have to work overtime and doing this
on a regular basis can damage your
liver cells, build up fat in your liver and
may eventually build up permanent
scarring (cirrhosis).
If you have liver disease, are taking
medication or are pregnant, you should
avoid alcohol completely. If you are
otherwise healthy, you should aim for
moderation. Alcohol consumption
should be limited to no more than one
to two drinks per day.
•
•
•
you could bleed to death from a simple cut (the liver
helps your blood clot)
you would be tired all the time (the liver stores and
manages energy for the body)
you couldn’t think clearly (the liver rids the body of
toxins that would otherwise back up into your brain)
you would have no sex drive (the liver controls
hormones too)
you would get every virus and infection going
around and wouldn’t be able to take anything to
treat it (the liver fights infection and processes most
medications)
you could die (when the liver stops working, so
does your body)
The liver can also fall victim to more than 100 different liver diseases. Some, like hepatitis A, B and C,
can be prevented, or at least avoided. Others are
the result of genetics, toxins, obesity, viruses or
unknown causes.
Through research, we want to find ways to prevent,
treat and cure all liver diseases. But we need your
help to do it. Stand up for your liver by visiting
www.liver.ca to find out how you can donate,
volunteer or support the Canadian Liver Foundation.
Your liver will be grateful!
Friday is the
beginning...
...of my liver’s
work week
Lucky for us,
the liver is
working hard
24 hours a day, 7 days
a week. In fact, it will keep on
working without showing any signs of
distress even if up to 70% of it is damaged by disease. By the time it does
complain – by showing symptoms like
jaundice, fatigue, pain in the abdomen,
nausea – it may be damaged beyond
repair. To keep an eye on your liver, you
should ask your doctor for a liver test as
part of your annual physical.
1. Change your perception
about the liver and liver
disease.
2. Change your lifestyle to
help prevent liver
disease.
3. Change the future for
the 1 in 10 Canadians
with liver disease.
To learn more about the
CLF’s March for Change,
visit www.liver.ca
Sometimes I drink
water...
...just to surprise
my liver.
March is Liver Health
Month and the Canadian
Liver Foundation has
launched a ‘March for
Change’ campaign with
three calls to action for all
Canadians:
Drinking water isn’t the only nice thing you can do for your
liver. And alcohol isn’t the only thing that can hurt it. Here’s a
few examples;
What helps
What hurts
•
eating high-fibre, low fat foods
•
high salt, high calorie, fat laden foods
•
exercise
•
being a couch potato
•
drinking lots of water
•
•
reading labels on medications and
consulting with your doctor or
pharmacist before taking
prescription, over-the-counter or
herbal medications
drinking sugar-laden pop and fruit
drinks and alcohol
•
mixing medications, herbal remedies
and vitamins without asking questions
first
•
using highly toxic cleaners in enclosed
areas without good ventilation
•
Unsafe sex, sharing needles, razors
or toothbrushes or getting a tattoo or
piercing with unsterilized tools
•
•
using organic cleaners and making
sure there’s fresh airflow into your
home
practicing safe sex