<div><div><em>Being overweight, being fatigued without a reason, getting unexplained rashes or twitches, can all be signs of a compromised liver, says <strong>Rachna Chhachhi</strong></em></div><div> </div><div>We all love living it up, and with the festive season round the corner, living it up will mean different things to different people. From sweets to alcohol to fatty foods to high-carb meals, our night bingeing and day pujas leave one poor organ in our body totally stressed out: the liver. As you all know, the liver’s primary role is to expel toxins from the body. In the scenario where toxins build up, disease comes calling.</div><div> </div><div>Fatty liver, alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer, liver cirrhosis are the main diseases that affect the liver. And these are becoming increasingly common simply because we forget to eat the foods and follow a lifestyle that can help expel toxins from the body. </div><div> </div><div>The liver gets affected by two things: alcohol and fat. When I say fat, it also means excessive carbohydrates. That explains why people have a fatty liver even though they don’t drink alcohol. Being overweight, being fatigued without a reason, getting unexplained rashes or twitches, can all be signs of a compromised liver. The good news is that all these are easily reversible. Here are simple steps to get your liver back on track, even during the festive season. All the advice here is for people who haven’t yet had a liver disorder, but feel there is an overload due to their lifestyles. If you already have liver issues, please consult a nutritionist:</div><div> </div><div><strong>Have one cleansing drink every day.</strong> If you can reach out for hard liquor or high-carb fat food without guilt, then you can definitely consume one detox drink every day. This will ensure that the daily damage gets reversed on a daily basis and doesn’t get accumulated. A smoothie of wheatgrass or celery, with half a pomegranate, half a carrot, one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 20 ml aloe vera juice and 50 ml cranberry juice, when had without straining, ensures the liver gets the fibre to detox, the anti-inflammatory oil to refurbish and the aloe to restore pH balance.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Nutrient up.</strong> The liver needs some basic nutrients to stay healthy, and they get depleted if one leads a liver unfriendly life. So start taking milk thistle, dandelion root teas, glutathione and sulphur-rich vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, mustard greens, kale, to keep the liver healthy.</div><div> </div><div><strong>Reduce the toxins.</strong> Go easy on carbohydrates, fat and alcohol. Up to two small drinks a day is fine, not more. Only 30 per cent of your calories should come from carbs and 10 per cent from fats, out of which 9 per cent should be from good fats like nuts, seeds and cold pressed oils, not cooked oils.</div><div> </div><div>Follow these daily, and you’ll be surprised how fresh and energetic you feel despite late nights and hectic schedules. And that’s because your body is clean and free of toxins. Happy feasting!</div><div> </div><div><strong>Question Of The Fortnight</strong></div><div>Send in your questions to askrachnachhachhi@gmail.com</div><div> </div><div>I’m 30 years old, 68 kgs, almost slim, but not an excercise person. But I want my belly fat to go away. Please advise.</div><div>— Vaibhav Kholia, Mumbai</div><div> </div><div>Dear Vaibhav,</div><div>To get rid of belly fat, you need to eat high-fibre foods, raw foods and good fats. These include a snack of fruits with five almonds, four walnuts mid-morning or early evening; a leafy salad with dinner with one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; and high-fibre grains like oats, bajra, oats and wheat bran. Cut out refined foods, eat an early dinner and include the above. You will see your belly disappearing in two weeks! </div></div><div> </div><div><em>The author is a certified nutritional therapist and WHO certified in nutrition. She is the writer of Restore, a book on how to fight diseases for working professionals. Order your copy from amazon.in</em></div><div> </div><div><div>(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 05-10-2015)</div></div>
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