
How Does Cold Weather Affect Your Liver
Have you noticed how winter temperatures have a direct impact on your health? While the common cold and flu are the leading cause of illness, internal organs such as your liver can be significantly affected by cold weather. Read on to discover how cold weather can impact your liver health.
Temperature and Liver Function
Did you know that your liver plays a significant role in thermoregulation? This vital process ensures your body maintains its balanced internal temperature. Even though your body ensures flexibility, when exposed to heat and cold, extreme changes in your core temperature might negatively affect how you function.
For instance, if your temperature drops below 35 degrees, you can be at risk of hypothermia, which might lead to fatal consequences such as brain damage or cardiac arrest. On the other hand, a temperature above 40 degrees may result in a heat stroke, leading to brain damage. Your liver is constantly active, breaking down nutrients, producing proteins, flushing toxins, and generating heat.
Additionally, it releases stored glucose to prevent hypothermia and increase the body’s temperature. When exposed to cold air in winter, your liver works overtime to keep you warm. Its metabolic activities are about maintaining body temperature regulation and producing proteins that help fight infections, ensuring your body’s natural defence.
Winter and Your Liver Health
The change in weather may impact different aspects of your health. Your liver, a necessary player in your overall well-being, is no exception. As the largest internal organ, it constantly works to maintain several processes. When winter temperatures continue to drop, your liver is under pressure to ensure thermoregulation.
Moreover, cold temperatures can increase the likelihood of illness. A weakened immune system and vulnerability to illness might lead to infections. Your liver produces bile to help remove toxins in your blood and boost your immune system’s defence against infection-causing bacteria and viruses.
How to Support Your Liver Health
Eat a Balanced Diet
Your diet influences your liver health. Certain foods and beverages can help keep your liver in good shape by enhancing liver enzymes, reducing fat buildup, and decreasing inflammation that can cause oxidative stress or liver cell damage. You should substitute high-calorie carbohydrates, refined sugars, and raw fish with lots of fibre, dairy, and leafy green vegetables.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Did you know that liver disease is mainly caused by inflammation, known as alcoholic hepatitis? Consuming high amounts of alcoholic beverages can increase fat buildup, which is responsible for swelling and scarring that affects your liver’s function of breaking down harmful substances. Cutting down or avoiding alcohol can help reverse and prevent further liver damage to improve chances of survival.
Avoid Toxins
Research suggests that constant exposure to toxic substances found in certain medications, vitamin supplements, chemicals and solvents can lead to liver inflammation. When your liver tries to break down toxins, byproducts are created that might cause severe and irreversible harm. You should take precautions when you handle hazardous chemicals and speak to your doctor about guidelines for using prescribed medications and vitamin supplements.
Practice Good Hygiene
In winter, you are at a higher risk of the cold, flu and related respiratory illnesses, as viruses are quickly passed on when you’re in enclosed spaces. Additionally, the cold air provides excellent conditions that accelerate the spread of infection-causing viruses. Practising good hygiene habits, such as washing your hands regularly and avoiding contact with sick people, can help reduce the potential risk to your liver health.
Stay Hydrated
Your liver relies on staying hydrated to flush out toxins and improve digestion. Consuming adequate water can help promote proper liver health and ensure other bodily processes are maintained. If water consumption is challenging, consider adding fruits to give it a fresh twist.
Improve Physical Activity
Spending lots of time indoors to avoid the cold weather can lead to a lack of physical activity. However, regular exercise is ideal to reduce liver fat, prevent inflammation and boost your immune system. Staying active can also help with weight management and avoiding oxidative stress complications for improved health.
Managing liver-related symptoms in winter is important, especially if you have a weakened immune system, which can compromise your physical health. Lower temperatures and exposure to infection-causing viruses can increase the possibility of liver complications, so taking care of yourself and maintaining healthy habits can help prevent illness. Affinity Health offers a reliable and affordable Combined Plan to cover your everyday healthcare needs and the costs of hospitalisation should you need it.
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