During this holiday season, many will indulge in more alcohol than usual. In addition to all of the Christmas and New Years' celebrations, economic hardships are giving Americans the blues and yet another excuse to take a drink. But, before you do, ask yourself the following questions: Am I struggling with my weight? Do I suffer from irregular "eliminations"? How much alcohol do I ingest weekly? Do I consistently indulge in a high fat and sugar-laden diet? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you are endangering your liver.

What Does My Liver Do?

The liver is the body's largest gland weighing in at 3 pounds. Its contribution to the digestive process is bile production. Bile is the yellow-green fluid comprised of minerals, cholesterol, neutral fats, phospholipids, bile pigments, and bile acids--most of which is bodily wastes filtered from the blood. The liver is key to metabolism. Heavy drinking stresses the liver. Alcoholism often produces an enlarged and fatty liver due to the excess calories that alcohol provides (which makes fat-burning for fuel unnecessary) as well as the extra fatty acids converted from acetaldehyde. (According to Kenneth S. Saladin in Anatomy and Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function 2007)

How Do Alcohol and My Poor Diet Affect My Health?

If your diet is loaded with trans fats and processed sugar, your liver becomes inflamed and your blood sugar levels spike damaging vital tissues. ( You on a Diet, Roizen and Oz, 2006 ) Your overstressed liver cannot metabolize fats and remove toxins from your body properly. Thus, if you are sick, then you get sicker, and if you are fat, then you get fatter.

What Can I Do To Fix the Problem?

1) Don't Drink Alcohol.
2) Clean up Your Diet.
3) See Your Doctor for Evaluation: Get a plan based on your health condition.
4) Drink More Water.
5) Exercise.
6) Drink a Tea That Contains Burdock, Dandelion, and Milk Thistle. I recommend Waiora Herbal Detox Tea. This tea contains all three herbs which serve to detoxify, protect, and improve the health of your liver.

Start today and your New Year's resolution will be to CONTINUE to get fit, get healthy, and lose weight!

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