Keeping your liver in good shape isn’t difficult at all. Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Head of Liver Transplant at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, believes it’s all about living a healthy lifestyle.

Given below are ways in which you can keep your liver healthy.

 

Avoid or limit alcohol intake.

Do not overindulge in alcohol since it can harm liver cells and cause swelling or scarring, leading to cirrhosis, which could be fatal.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise helps keep your liver healthy. It lowers liver stress, boosts energy, and helps to prevent obesity, which is a risk factor for liver disease.

Eat a balanced diet

Fatty liver disease is caused by the increased level of fat in the blood and high cholesterol levels. It is necessary to minimize trans fats, hydrogenated fats, and saturated fats in your food.

Dairy products, deep-fried foods, and red meats all contain saturated fats. At the same time, processed foods contain trans and hydrogenated fats.

Excess dietary fat is stored in the liver, which can lead to fatty liver disease. Increase your intake of high-fiber foods, including whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. For proteins, consume white meat, fish, nuts, and beans while limiting red meat.

Keep an eye on your weight

Obesity is a crucial risk factor for fatty liver disease, especially abdominal or central obesity. A healthy weight can be attained and maintained with a well-balanced diet and exercise. At present, fatty liver disease is one of the most common liver diseases. Weight-loss programs can assist in the reduction of liver fat and maintain a healthy weight.

Be careful of certain medications.

Some cholesterol medications might produce liver problems as a side effect. If you take too much acetaminophen, it can harm your liver. You may be taking more acetaminophen than you think. It is in hundreds of medications, including medicine for colds and prescription pain relievers.

Be wary of weight-loss supplements and fad diets.

Toxins and chemicals found in weight-loss medicines purchased without a prescription may be detrimental to the liver.

Diets that cause your weight to fluctuate rapidly put your liver under a lot of strain. Any diet that promises drastic weight loss in a short time should be avoided as they are frequently deficient in critical nutrients and are unhealthy for your liver and harmful.

Keep your distance from toxins

Chemicals in some cleaning products, aerosols, and insecticides can harm your liver. Keep a safe distance from them.

Use traditional medicine and treatments with care

Heavy metals or unknown toxins are found in several of these over-the-counter traditional medications and cures. They can cause liver toxicity or put your liver under stress, causing it to malfunction. Traditional medicine overuse can cause liver inflammation, which can lead to irreparable liver damage or failure. If you have an issue, please visit a liver specialist in Mumbai.

Get vaccinated

The best approach to lower your risk of liver disease is to get vaccinated. Vaccines against the hepatitis A and B viruses are available. However, there is no vaccine for the hepatitis C virus.

Do not share personal hygiene items.

It would be best if you did not share razors, toothbrushes, and nail cutters since they can carry minute amounts of blood or other body fluids that could infect you.

As you may have noticed, you can avoid many health problems by making simple lifestyle changes. It is especially true when it comes to the liver. Incorporate these activities into your daily routine and notice the difference they make in your body.

View our recent Case Study

A 59-year-old male named Mr Swamy, a decompensated cirrhosis patient suffering from ascites, fluid overload, infections, and coagulopathy, consulted Dr Gaurav Gupta for a liver transplant. Mr Swamy was unable to breathe due to fluid overload when he arrived at the OPD. He weighed 120 kgs, and the majority of his excess weight was due to fluid overload.

Mrs. Swamy, the patient’s wife, agreed to donate a portion of her liver to him. Mr Swamy had a fever, cough, and trouble breathing during the early investigation and was COVID positive. He was admitted to the hospital for two weeks to recover from the same. To read more about the case, click here.

The relationship between liver function and cholesterol is far more complex than we realize. High blood cholesterol increases the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and liver disorders increase the risk of high cholesterol, a vicious cycle that we must prevent.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may develop into cirrhosis with complications such as variceal bleeding, encephalopathy, and liver failure. In such cases, you should get proper treatment from an experienced liver specialist in Mumbai.

Although everyone’s blood contains some cholesterol, high levels can cause a build-up of fat in the liver and damage it.

Let’s understand what cholesterol is?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is necessary for the body’s optimal functioning. The liver regulates cholesterol levels in the body in two ways:

• First, by producing cholesterol and delivering it to cells that require it throughout the body.
• Second, by eliminating cholesterol by converting it to bile salts, which the body can expel in bile and faeces.

Bile production may be reduced if your liver is injured or not functioning correctly, leading to higher cholesterol levels.

Types of cholesterol

Proteins carry two forms of cholesterol in your bloodstream.

LDL cholesterol

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is a kind of cholesterol that is found in the bloodstream. As it contributes to fatty build-up in arteries, LDL cholesterol is referred to as “bad” cholesterol. It causes arterial narrowing, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease (PAD).

HDL cholesterol

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is also known as “good cholesterol” as a healthy amount of HDL cholesterol may protect against heart attack and stroke.

LDL (bad) cholesterol is carried away from the arteries by HDL and returned to the liver, broken down, and expelled from the body. However, HDL cholesterol does not entirely remove LDL cholesterol. HDL carries only one-third to one-fourth of blood cholesterol.

Triglycerides

The most common form of fat in the body is triglycerides. They store surplus energy from what you eat. A high triglyceride level combined with high LDL (bad) cholesterol or low HDL (good) cholesterol is connected to fatty build-ups within the artery walls, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

What is considered optimal cholesterol levels?

It is difficult to detect high cholesterol without a blood test because it usually has no symptoms. For healthy adults, total cholesterol levels should be less than 5mmol/L.

What effect does cholesterol have on the liver?

If your diet is rich in cholesterol, it might cause fat to form around your liver. This condition can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which can cause long-term liver damage.

NAFLD can increase the chance of developing health problems such as diabetes or stroke. It is often feasible to prevent the problem from worsening if it is discovered and treated early on. There are ways to minimize the amount of fat in the liver.

How to lower cholesterol?

If you have high cholesterol and are concerned about your liver, there are several things you can do to lower your risks and safeguard your liver. These steps are as follows:

• Exercising regularly
• Consuming fewer saturated and trans fats, such as cheese, butter, meat, cakes, sausages, pies.
• Increasing your fiber intake
• Reducing your carbohydrate intake
• Keeping a healthy weight

 

According to research, the Mediterranean diet is beneficial to the liver. It is low in red meat and dairy and high in whole grains, seeds, nuts, beans, olive oil, fruits, and vegetables.

If diet and exercise aren’t enough to lower your cholesterol and you have liver disease, your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication.

If you have high cholesterol and suspect your liver is at risk, consult a liver specialist in Mumbai to know about ways to reduce your risks.

The liver is the body’s largest internal organ, weighing nearly 1.5 kg and performing over 200 tasks. The majority of individuals are unaware of how important it is to their overall health. The liver performs many important tasks, including:

• Blood purification
• Produces bile to control the metabolism
• Detoxifies
• Provides defence against parasites
• Stores glycogen and changes it into energy, stores fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, and synthesis protein
• Produces cholesterol which is essential since it is the source of our steroid hormones. It governs our nerve function, brain function, and hormone transportation.

Liver health is vital for the proper functioning of our bodies. Dr. Gaurav Gupta, a liver transplant surgeon in Mumbai, recommends a healthy lifestyle and being aware of any early signs of a liver problem that can be tackled in the initial stage.

How do toxins enter our bodies?

Here are a few things that could add to our toxic load:

Processed and non-organic food Unsafe drinking water Coffee Alcohol Stress Air pollution

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs Cosmetic products Cleaning products for the home Non-stick pans Plastics

 

The kidneys, lungs, skin, digestive tract, and liver are all detoxifying organs and can remove harmful toxins from our bodies. The difficulty arises when the load exceeds its capacity. It is when we start to feel the effects of toxicity.

Sometimes they cause irreparable damage to the liver leading to liver failure. The best solution for this is a liver transplant in Mumbai. For details, visit a liver specialist.

 

What are the first symptoms of liver disease?

Here are some of the most prevalent signs and symptoms of poor liver function and detoxification:

Hormonal Imbalance

• Acute menopausal symptoms
• Intolerance to hormone replacement therapy
• Overproduction of estrogen
• PMS
• Mood swings

Immune dysfunction

• Chronic tiredness
• Skin rashes and allergies
• Sensitivity to chemicals
• Frequent sickness

Blood sugar problems

• Type2 diabetes
• Sugar cravings
• Low energy
• Hypoglycemia
• Getting up in the middle of the night

Digestive issues

• Caffeine and alcohol sensitivity
• Fat intolerance
• Constipation and bloating
• Acid reflux
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Gallbladder stones

Nervous system

• Frequent headaches
• Depression
• Foggy brain
• Irritability and anger

Abnormal fat metabolism

• High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and low levels of good cholesterol (HDL).
• Obesity
• Fatty liver
• High levels of triglycerides

Cirrhosis which is permanent scarring of the liver, and the rise in liver disease are topics that we regularly hear about. With the correct blood work and tests for indicators, we can detect liver disease. The problem is that by the time these tests are suggested, a lot of liver damage has already occurred.

How frequently do you hear about the common symptoms of liver fatigue, which a toxic or stressful lifestyle can cause? Well, we can rejuvenate the liver by cleansing the body, providing it with the correct dietary supplies, and avoiding harmful environmental pollutants.

You can restore the functions of your liver to total health. Foods and herbs that help liver regeneration and detoxification can be utilized to significantly improve the symptoms of a slowdown liver and provide long-term healing benefits.

It is essential to be aware in order to prevent damage before it occurs. It is highly recommended to seek medical help if you suffer from any of the above symptoms.

Fortunately, there are treatments and procedures available to manage this issue. In case of liver failure, you can contact Dr. Gaurav Gupta for one of the best liver transplant in Mumbai.