Ways to love your liver
abdomen which has been linked with increased risk of liver disease. Try to avoid excessive use of medications such as statins, corticosteroids and antifungal drugs as they can harm the liver. If this isn’t an option, your liver enzymes should be tested at regular intervals to make sure the drugs aren’t harming the organ.
Be cautious with herbal and dietary supplements too. Herbs that are toxic to the liver if taken in high doses include black cohosh (often used to reduce hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms) green tea extract (when taken in high doses for weight loss) and germander (found in some weight-loss products).
Everyday vitamins can be toxic to the liver if taken excessively. Chronic overconsumption of vitamin A can be damaging, potentially leading to scarring. If your weight is in the healthy range (with a body mass index below 25) you’re in the right place as far as your liver is concerned. If you are overweight, slimming can help protect your liver.
The Mediterranean diet is believed to be one of the healthiest eating plans. It consists of a high intake of fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, healthy fats (especially from nuts, seeds and olive oil), fish and seafood and moderate amounts of wine and dairy products.
This diet is the perfect approach for reversing metabolic syndrome and liver conditions because it lacks pro-inflammatory foods such as simple sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar-sweetened drinks, refined carbohydrates and most saturated fats and trans fats. Most of us don’t think about proper handwashing and other hygienic habits in terms of our liver health but we ought to because it helps to avoid viruses such as hepatitis A that can harm the liver.
Hepatitis A is very contagious, you can catch it from eating contaminated food or from handling a doorknob or lift button that was recently touched by someone who carries the virus, then rubbing your eyes or nose. The lesson here is to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently (lathering up like a surgeon for at least 20 seconds) and always carry an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. We don’t really know whether smoking increases the risk of fatty liver disease or accelerates the progression of the condition but we do know that chemicals from smoking are among the greatest toxins you can introduce to the body. So kicking the habit will benefit you in numerous ways.
Smoking increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes – the most common causes of death in people with fatty liver disease.
Extracted from Skinny Liver by Kristin Kirkpatrick and Dr Ibrahim Hanouneh, published by Vermilion (£14.99). To order call The Express Bookshop on 01872 562310, send a cheque/PO payable to Express Bookshop to Express Bookshop, PO Box 200, Falmouth, TR11 4WJ or order online at expressbookshop.co.uk. UK delivery is free.