Parts of Your Body You Need to Look After More

When you exercise and eat healthily, every part of your body improves its function. But sometimes, certain body parts can get left out because of the habits you practice. For example, looking at bright screens all day can damage your eyesight, and an eye-healthy diet can only do so much to stop you from wearing glasses.

While an active and healthy lifestyle benefits your whole body, some organs require special care more than others. Below is a list of those organs and how to care for them:

1. Thyroid Gland

Your thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck. It’s shaped like a butterfly, but you shouldn’t see it bulging from your neck. A bulging thyroid gland is an inflamed one and requires medical attention.

Sadly, thyroid problems are alarmingly common, especially among women. Some experts believe that 30% of women will develop a thyroid problem.

An autoimmune disorder, especially Hashimoto’s Disease or Grave’s Disease, causes most thyroid problems. Hashimoto’s leads to hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid, while Grave’s leads to hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid.

To care for your thyroid glands, consume four to five servings of vegetables and three to four servings of fruits daily. Increase your supply of healthy fats, which come from extra olive oil, avocados, nut butter, and coconut oil, to name a few. Stock up on lean protein and fatty acids; you can get them from salmon, herring, mackerel, and anchovies.

If you suspect that you might have a thyroid problem, research tried-and-true treatments for thyroid symptoms, then consult an endocrinologist. If you’ve been diagnosed with thyroid disease, follow your treatment plan; it may involve avoiding certain foods, like processed foods and seemingly healthy cruciferous vegetables. Uncooked, cruciferous vegetables (bok choy, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.) contain goiter producers with thyroid hormone synthesis.

2. Liver

Heavy drinking may seem excusable if you exercise daily and eat vegetables, but your liver may pay the price of this pastime. Liver disease is one of the most life-threatening diseases to contract.

Aside from moderating your drinking, avoid exposure to toxins from aerosol products, insecticides, chemicals, and additives. Your cleaning products at home may contain those. If you must use them, wear a mask and ensure the room is adequately ventilated.

Good hygiene is also essential. If, for some reason, you got exposed to someone else’s blood, clean up thoroughly and get tested by your doctor for your safety. Avoid sharing your items, such as your toothbrush, razors, and nail clippers. Those contain microscopic amounts of your blood.

Proper hand-washing protects your liver, too, and so do vaccinations. If you haven’t got your hepatitis A and B shots yet, get them as soon as possible. Sadly, there’s no vaccine for hepatitis C. Hence, it’s crucial to maintain optimal liver health.

3. Kidney

Our kidneys are another body part we take for granted. An unhealthy kidney can also lead to life-threatening diseases, which only dialysis or a kidney transplant can cure.

To avoid kidney problems, keep your weight and blood sugar levels. Your blood pressure matters, too. It should stay at 120/80. You may have high blood pressure if it consistently measures above 140/90. Consult your doctor immediately to get back to healthy blood pressure levels.

Drinking plenty of water is one of the simplest ways to care for your kidney. If you’ve had kidney stones in the past, prevent another infection by drinking more than one to two liters of water every day. Be mindful as well if you take NSAIDs or over-the-counter pain medication. Taking them regularly can damage your kidneys. Consult your doctor regarding drug alternatives if you need them for chronic pain.

4. Spinal Cord

If you often deal with back pain, you’ve neglected your spine health. Exercising regularly can help prevent pain, but your spine will still suffer issues if you sit all day afterward because of work.

Get used to a proper posture when sitting. Invest in an ergonomic chair, table, and even a keyboard. Avoid bending your neck too much, which happens when you use your smartphone. Also, ergonomic tools improve your posture during smartphone use, so check that out.

Hydration and sleeping positions affect your spine health, too. Drink plenty of fluids and use supportive pillows and a mattress when you sleep. The exact type of pillow and mattress you need depends on your usual sleeping position. If you are unsure what part you favor, consider purchasing a hybrid mattress, which provides comfort and support for most sleeping positions.

Your healthy lifestyle won’t just benefit your mental health and weight by paying attention to these body parts. You can confidently say that you’re fit from the inside and out. Best of all, you’d reduce your risks for any disease.