In addition to excessive alcohol consumption, there are other behaviours that might impair our liver, some of which may surprise you. Doctors identified four such tendencies.
Bad diet
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a fairly prevalent diagnosis. Dr. Alison Edwards adds that this can sometimes result in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure, all of which are potentially fatal.
It is linked to diabetes and insulin resistance, but the good news is that by properly monitoring our food, we can frequently halt its progression if we discover it early. Too much refined sugar can cause liver damage, so restrict your use of fizzy drinks, candies, and processed meals.
“Detox” drinks
The majority of what we can do to help the liver keep the body healthy is to consume nutritious, whole foods and avoid untested detox drinks. While most may not do major harm to our livers, Dr. Edwards adds that they are just unnecessary.
Not enough sleep
There is evidence that OSA (obstructive sleep apnoea) can induce nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr. Michael Breus, a psychologist who specialises in sleep research and education, believes this is linked to increased insulin resistance or lipid imbalances (such as LDL and HDL cholesterol) and triglycerides.
If a patient with OSA also has metabolic syndrome and obesity, this can worsen NAFLD. According to Dr. Breus, a lack of sleep can develop insulin resistance, which leads to liver damage.
Ignoring and disregarding the instructions on the product packages
It is critical to read labels for over-the-counter medications. Dr. Edwards finds that certain over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements, such as vitamin A, certain green tea extracts, and others advertised as nutritional aids, can impair the liver if not used as directed.