Alcohol and Liver Health: What You Need to Know

Alcohol

13

Jan 2025

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Your liver is one of your body’s hardest-working organs. It cleans your blood, stores energy, and helps with digestion. It is important to keep in mind that certain habits and health problems can make your liver stop working properly. Over time, unhealthy lifestyle choices, poor diet, or certain medical conditions can affect your liver, increasing the risk of disease. Two common liver diseases are Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (ALD). What are they? Let’s break them down!

What Are MASLD and ALD?

  • MASLD: This happens when fat builds up in your liver because of conditions like obesity and diabetes, as well as lack of exercise (though these are not the only contributors). Think of it as your liver getting “too tired” to work well.
  • ALD: This happens when drinking too much alcohol over time damages your liver. It’s like your liver gets “worn out” from overworking to process all that alcohol.

How Does Alcohol Impact Liver Health?

Recent research, including a study involving over 1.1 million U.S. veterans, shows that alcohol can greatly affect the liver, especially for people with MASLD or ALD. Here’s what they found:

  • Small Amounts May Be Ok: For many people, drinking small amounts of alcohol was found to slightly improve some health markers, like cholesterol, but drinking should always be approached with caution (read more here).
  • Consider Your Health Risks: Even moderate drinking can have damaging consequences, especially for individuals with liver conditions or other underlying health concerns.
  • Too Much Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol speeds up liver damage, leading to fibrosis and serious health risks like cirrhosis.
  • Reducing Alcohol Helps: People who cut back on drinking, especially those who drank heavily before, reduced their long-term risk of liver scarring by nearly 40% (read more here).

What Does This Mean for You?

  • If You Don’t Drink: There’s no need to start. Focus on ways to stay healthy, like eating well and staying active.
  • If You Do Drink: Keep it in moderation—no more than one drink per day for women and two for men.
  • If You Have Liver Problems: Talk to your doctor about how alcohol may affect your health and whether you should stop drinking altogether.

Tips for a Healthy Liver

Your liver is your body’s MVP, so treat it well! Here’s how:

  • Eat Healthy: Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins in your meals.
  • Stay Active: Exercise regularly to keep your liver and body in good shape.
  • Limit Alcohol: Even small amounts of alcohol can be risky if you have liver problems.
  • See Your Doctor: Regular check-ups can help you catch potential liver issues early.

Remember, your liver is like your body’s superhero. Treat it well, and it will keep working hard for you! The best thing you can do is make smart, healthy choices every day. Alcohol affects everyone differently, but drinking too much can seriously harm your liver. The good news is that cutting back or quitting can make a big difference. By making healthy choices every day, you can protect your liver and keep it working hard for you!

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