The liver, according to Ayurveda, is the seat of pitta dosha. Different types of enzymes carry out metabolism and digestion in the body. These are referred to as ‘agni’ and ‘pitta’. The liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself. It is sometimes known as the “engine of the body.” A healthy liver plays several vital roles in digestion, metabolism, and detoxification.
Did you know that some factors and items can prove to be extremely detrimental and toxic to the liver? Alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes are the most common ones. Extremely spicy food also plays a large part in decreasing liver health, so if you love your spice, do tone it down a little. Emotions such as rage and hatred, chemicals in pre-packaged meals or medications are important factors, too. Even ‘vata’ and ‘kapha’ kinds of liver imbalances tend to worsen pitta and cause toxic build-up in it, thus impairing its function. Keep an eye out for these sorts of imbalances and treat them early on, to naturally help maintain the liver’s health.
Read these few tips and practices on how to maintain a healthy liver.
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Ayurveda and The Liver
The liver is on the right side of the abdomen and helps in digestion by producing bile. It digests and absorbs nutrients; regulates the number of fats, sugars, and proteins in the blood, and detoxifies the body. It is also responsible for a person’s metabolism. This organ regulates certain hormones and breaks down drugs and alcohol, making it the ultimate powerhouse of the body.
In Ayurveda, the liver is known by different names like Yakrit, Jyoti Asthana, Takima and Kalakhana among others. It is said to be the Pitta-Sthana or the seat of Pitta dosha.
OTHER FACTORS THAT IMPACT LIVER HEALTH
Many diet and lifestyle factors aggravate the pitta and through association, the liver. These include unhealthy food habits, consuming meats and oily food, excessive alcohol, and drug consumption. Lack of sleep, pollution, obesity, metabolic diseases, and irrational usage of prescribed medication are other factors worth noting.
Because the liver has varied functions, it is prone to many disorders. Ayurveda does not separate emotions and the body and considers both to be dependent on one another. So if you do not process your feelings of anger, hatred, envy, or jealousy wel, your body may be susceptible to liver disease. You may have felt yourself feeling sluggish, anxious and more when you aren’t in a happy mood.
Some of these diseases that your liver is prone to include fatty liver, liver abscess, Hepatitis A, B, C D and E (Jaundice). Follow these simple practices to keep your liver fit and healthy.
Fasting
This is an effective way to get the load off your liver and allow it to detoxify itself. When you fast, it improves the liver’s ability to function optimally. When it comes to the liver, Ayurveda emphasizes on prevention rather than cure. So periodic detoxifications through the panchakarma will help you prevent liver disease by revitalizing organs and enhancing their functionality.
A Healthy Diet For A Healthy Liver
The liver is tied to the pitta, and hence, one must adopt a pitta-pacifying diet. This helps the liver filter and eliminate toxins from the food you consume. Enjoy cooling fruits and vegetables and incorporate these into your daily diet. When you maintain a healthy, balanced diet, you take care of a large part of your liver health. Make it a point. to consume at least 8 glasses of water every day. This will help your liver flush out toxins from the body.
How about trying a liver stimulating tonic? Simply add the juice of half a lime in a glass of warm water, stir well and drink it first thing in the morning to flush your liver with the antioxidants it needs for optimal functionality.
Exercise for you helthy liver
Exercising regularly will not only helps your mental and physical wellbeing, but it also burns triglycerides which get stored in the liver and cause liver diseases. Maintaining a healthy weight can keep you from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by obesity. Practising yoga is also a great way to destress and calm the mind and help regulate the emotional hot seat like the liver.
Regulate Your Sleep Cycle
While sleeping, it has been found that liver detoxification usually occurs between the hours of 11 pm to 3 am. Honouring your natural body clock can give your body the time it needs to rejuvenate, thus enhancing its performance during the day.
Avoid Risks
Make sure you wash your hands with soap and warm water to keep germs that can cause liver diseases away. This should be done before and after eating, after visiting public places. You should also wash your hands when you come into contact with commonly touched surfaces (like stairway railings, pressing elevator buttons, etc). Avoid drinking alcohol, and if you must, drink in moderation. The liver is strained while breaking down alcohol, decreasing its ability to function optimally in the short term, and causing fatty liver in the long term. While using cleaning products, use masks, gloves, and goggles to avoid touching or absorbing any of these toxins. Most importantly, it is crucial to use only the best ayurvedic products for liver health, such as those by Amrutam. This will ensure the continued health and fitness of your liver and the rest of your body.
