6 Tips for Keeping Your Liver Healthy

Your liver is a hardworking organ responsible for filtering toxins, supporting digestion (by producing bile and breaking down fat), and storing energy (glycogen).

Keep reading if you’re wondering how to keep this powerhouse organ healthy. As experts in managing liver disease, our board-certified gastroenterology team at Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates, LLC, share our top tips for keeping your liver healthy.

1. Clean up your diet

What you eat can help support your liver and help prevent liver damage.  Focus on eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, 100% whole grains, and lean proteins. 

Fiber is good for our liver. That’s because foods rich in fiber, like oats, beans, pears, and leafy greens, help your liver function better. Diets high in fiber help reduce your risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

What you don’t eat is just as important. Limit high-fat, processed, and sugary foods, which can lead to fat buildup in the liver, possibly causing liver damage over time.

2. Avoid alcohol

Alcohol can damage your liver if you drink more than it can process. Over time, too much alcohol can lead to alcohol-related fatty liver disease, inflammation, and liver scarring (cirrhosis). 

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. “Moderate drinking” refers to one drink per day for women and two for men, although less than that is ideal. 

If you already have liver concerns, consider avoiding alcohol altogether.

3. Drink enough water

Staying hydrated is crucial for your physical health, and your liver health is no exception. Drinking enough water helps your liver flush out toxins and function properly. It can also:

• Support nutrient absorption
• Thin your blood, which makes it easier for your liver to filter 
• Reduce liver strain
• Promote liver cell regeneration
• Help maintain electrolyte balance

Men should aim for at least 15 cups of fluid daily, while women usually need about 11, which can come from soup, broth, herbal teas, and fruit. You may need more if you exercise vigorously or if the weather is hot and humid. Try to limit sugary beverages, which can contribute to liver fat accumulation, obesity, and other complications. 

Tip: Use a refillable water bottle and always keep it near you.

4. Exercise regularly 

Regular physical activity supports liver health in three ways. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce fat accumulation in your liver, and improve insulin sensitivity, which helps prevent fatty liver disease.

Aim for at least 150 minutes — that’s five 30-minute sessions — each week. Walking, bike riding, jogging, aerobics classes, hiking, and dancing are all beneficial ways to log your minutes.

5. Be mindful of medication

Some medications, including over-the-counter drugs, can harm your liver if taken in excess or incorrectly. For example, too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can damage your liver, especially when taken long-term.

Even a repeated daily dose of four grams can start to affect your liver levels — specifically serum aminotransferase — in as little as three to seven days.

Always follow the recommended dosages and talk to Dr. Patel if you’re unsure how your medications may affect your liver.

6. Know your liver disease risk factors and get routine liver function tests

Routine liver function tests can help detect any early signs of liver problems, even if you don’t have symptoms. If you’re at risk for liver disease — due to factors like alcohol use, obesity, or a family history of liver issues — ask your Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates provider about regular screenings to monitor your liver health.

Our FibroScan® system, for example, can check for liver stiffness — a sign that you have scarring. Knowing that you have early liver changes can help you make adjustments to slow the progression of liver disease.

Bonus tip: Follow your treatment plan if you have liver disease

If you already have liver disease, follow all elements of your treatment plan, including lifestyle changes and medication. Your treatment plan can help prevent your condition from worsening. For example, you might benefit from antiviral medication if you have hepatitis C.

Questions about your liver health? We can help!

Whether you’re just starting to worry about your liver health or are spotting the signs of liver disease (e.g., pale stools, fatigue, jaundice), our team can help. Our gastroenterology specialists can help determine your risk of liver disease and recommend a screening cadence that’s right for you. 

To schedule an appointment, call us today at 727-372-4500 or use our online portal to request an appointment here in Trinity, Florida.