Introduction: Changes in lifestyle have become one of the biggest challenges in our lives. Unhealthy rhythms in diet, sleep and activities bring about this challenge through various diseases such as fatty liver, type 2 diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders. The liver gets affected at the earliest and most easily of all. 

Functions of the liver: The liver serves as the body’s metabolic factory where substances are created and destroyed. It is the organ in which all the creation and disintegration of living substances takes place. The liver cell secretes bile which gets stored in the gall bladder, gets concentrated and helps in digestion of the fat.  

Liver and its rhythmical processes: Liver plays an important role in the building up process (anabolism) and breaking down process (catabolism). The two opposite metabolic processes of anabolism and catabolism are part of life processes that involve various biochemical reactions and time rhythms. 

Anabolism is synthesis and building up of stores like glycogen and catabolism is breaking down of substances such as glucose. The process of digestion takes the support of the day hormones like cortisol and digestive juices like bile and various enzymes to break down the digested food into its final products during the day. With the sunset, this biological clock gets ready to turn its shift towards building up of the stores. 

Liver is supported if digestive process is facilitated through this diurnal cycle called the circadian rhythm. There is a rhythmical assimilation and secretion process within the liver that is linked with the rhythm of day and night. We assimilate between 3 ‘o clock in the afternoon to 3’o clock in the morning when more and more glycogen, which is a complex form of sugar, is taken up in the liver. The moment morning dawns, this assimilating process is turned into the opposite. The bile is increasingly produced until the middle of the day and then towards the early afternoon, the assimilation occurs again. 

 Tips to have a healthy liver between 20-40 years of age

This is the period when we make our choice of profession. Outer world meets the inner world and we see our belief system and conditioned habits are questioned and threatened. Constant stress sets in with a fear of failure and coping for success. This stress exhausts the adrenal gland which secretes the stress hormones which results in increase in the blood sugar levels. The pancreas responds to this increased blood sugar level with its hormone, insulin. The liver that stands in between is constantly going through a tug of war between these regulations of blood sugar levels between the two organs. Liver, if supported through the timely meals to deal with its assimilation process, helps in storing up the sugars and assists the process of blood sugar regulation. If not supported, which means eating meals at erratic times such as late dinner, then the liver starts holding up the sugars and converts them as fat and holds within as fatty liver.

Eating meals at the right time is very important. Even if one is involved in a shift duty, sticking to the dinner time closer to sunset will help support the liver.

Discarding junk food and fast food from one’s diet will strengthen the liver to combat the internal stress.

Tips for a healthy liver between 40-60 years:  

        ·      Adequate protein from the right source such as complex carbohydrate and low glycaemic index food along with fat through                                          oils seeds help in the process of digestion thereby the liver in its cycle.

• For all age groups, as a rule of thumb, always have early dinner.

• Avoid consumption of alcohol.

• Keep a watch over the drugs taken regularly for any cardiac conditions or any other comorbid conditions. Most of the drugs move through the liver for detoxification as a process of metabolism.

Tips for a healthy liver above 60 years:

The digestive system starts functioning optimally with the process of ageing. 

Avoiding heavy proteins particularly during dinner will help in alleviating the strain in the digestive process, thereby on the liver.

Conclusion

Liver is the most abused organ. Just 10 % of the liver cells are enough for life process to be regulated through liver. Let us be more mindful in regulating our diet and respect this organ that works through discriminatory process.