In December 2021 Motilal Dey, a 58-year-old confectioner from Kolkata, was taken to hospital after he complained of recurring fever, abdominal pain and black stools. He was diagnosed with second-stage liver cirrhosis, a condition wherein liver tissues become scarred due to damage.
Dey blames his consumption of excessive alcohol and oily food and skipping meals for the disease. “Doctors told me that cirrhosis of the liver isn’t curable, but the damage can be controlled by following a healthy lifestyle,” he says.
Dey, who has followed a healthy, low-sodium diet since his diagnosis, has seen his health improve in the past year.
Importance of the liver
“The liver is the largest organ in our body,” says Dr Sandeep Satsangi, clinical head of hepatology and transplant hepatology at Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru. “It performs many metabolic functions such as detoxification, making bile and maintaining blood sugar levels. So, if the liver gets affected, several other vital functions of the body also can be impaired.”
Dr Tarakeshwari M, consultant gastroenterologist at Apollo Clinics, Chennai, says lifestyle changes can help to protect the liver.
Ways to keep the liver healthy
1. Healthy eating
“Consuming extra oil and calories can lead to fat accumulation which, in turn, can trigger liver swelling and ultimately cause liver damage,” says Dr Satsangi.
According to Dr Ravi Kiran SK, hepatologist and liver transplant physician, Narayana Health, Bengaluru, liver health depends upon diet and exercise.
“Following a diet of low carbs, less sodium and adequate fat is always good for liver health,” he says. “People with an underlying liver issue should have a protein-rich diet [at least 1mg protein per day]. Increasing usage of packaged fat and sugary foods accelerates fatty liver disease which, in turn, is the major cause of liver transplantation.”
2. Add antioxidants to your diet
“Lime and ginger can be good detox agents since lime contains vitamin C and ginger has gingerols, both of which are antioxidants,” says Tanima Ghosh Mondal, a clinical dietician with Five Point Hospital, Kolkata.
According to a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2015, antioxidants such as green tea extract and tomato juice can help in keeping the liver healthy.
3. Hygiene first
“Unhygienic food or water can cause waterborne viral infections like hepatitis A and E, which damage the liver,” says Dr Satsangi. “In some cases, it can lead to acute liver failure where the person may require liver transplantation.”
4. Say no to alcohol
“The most common cause of liver damage is consuming excessive alcohol — since alcohol releases toxic chemicals such as acetaldehyde that can harm liver tissues,” says Dr Sharat Reddy Putta, chief liver transplant physician, KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad, Telangana.
“Alcohol consumption can lead to liver fibrosis [scarring of the liver], which can induce liver cirrhosis and liver cancer as well. Binge drinking on occasions can also cause severe swelling in the liver [alcoholic hepatitis].”
5. Stay hydrated
“The liver requires a good amount of fluid to maintain adequate function,” says Dr Satsangi. “Good hydration helps the liver to remove toxins and keeps the body toxin-free.”
6. Maintain fitness
“Regular exercise improves insulin resistance and reduces fat,” says Dr Putta. “Thus, it is helpful in reducing fatty liver disease and keeping the liver healthy.”
7. Avoid illicit drugs and take medicines carefully
“A person who already has underlying liver disease is more prone to further liver damage,” says Dr Kiran. “Before taking medicines, they need to be more careful about the dosage.”
According to Dr Putta, “Illicit drugs such as morphine and intravenous drugs can cause severe liver damage, hence they must be avoided.”
The doctors who spoke to Happiest Health said that drug-induced hepatitis can be caused by a variety of drugs. However, its spectrum is wider than known since many people self-medicate and don’t get tested.
According to doctors, paracetamol is the most common chemical that causes drug-induced hepatitis. But an overdose of paracetamol (more than 4gm) can be harmful. The overuse of anti-tuberculosis and anti-epileptic drugs, oral contraceptives, lipid-lowering drugs and antibiotics can also harm the liver.
8. Control body weight
“If a person is overweight and has liver problems, reducing the body weight can be a game changer,” says Dr Kiran. “Body mass index should be below 23 for a healthy liver.”
9. Stay careful and vaccinated
According to Dr Kiran, vaccination against hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses helps in protecting the liver against infection. He also suggests regular check-ups for those who live with people infected with hepatitis B and C.
10. Health check-up
“If the liver is getting damaged, then people usually develop jaundice and other symptoms like internal bleeding, which they can find out by a blood test,” says Dr Putta.
According to Dr Tarakeshwari, high pigmentation of urine and recurring right abdominal pain should never be ignored.
And people above 40 years should go for regular check-ups even if they don’t have any symptoms, according to Dr Putta.
