he liver is the main site of detoxification processes in the body and has hundreds of critical jobs. Our environment and lifestyle choices greatly affect how well and efficiently the liver carries out its work. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is one of the biggest drivers to preventing liver disease down the line (and it’s also currently the first line of treatment for many liver diseases).
Let’s dive into the simple, safe, and effective daily habits that improve liver function and enhance overall health.
What is the liver’s role in health?
Some of the liver’s array of responsibilities1 include:
- Filtering and cleansing toxins from the blood
- Converting those toxins into waste
- Metabolizes nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fat), alcohol, and medications
- Storing nutrients (glycogen, vitamins, minerals)
- Building proteins
- Producing bile 2(a fluid that helps digestion)
In a healthy body, these processes run relatively smoothly. But over time, putting too much strain on your liver can have detrimental and whole-body implications.
While there are genetic (hemochromatosis), autoimmune, and viral (hepatitis A, B, and C) liver conditions, behavioral factors like a poor diet, smoking, lack of physical activity, and heavy alcohol use can all lead up to fat buildup in the liver (steatosis).
But the fatty liver is preventable.
Some of the liver’s array of responsibilities1 include:
- Filtering and cleansing toxins from the blood
- Converting those toxins into waste
- Metabolizes nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fat), alcohol, and medications
- Storing nutrients (glycogen, vitamins, minerals)
- Building proteins
- Producing bile 2(a fluid that helps digestion)
In a healthy body, these processes run relatively smoothly. But over time, putting too much strain on your liver can have detrimental and whole-body implications.
While there are genetic (hemochromatosis), autoimmune, and viral (hepatitis A, B, and C) liver conditions, behavioral factors like a poor diet, smoking, lack of physical activity, and heavy alcohol use can all lead up to fat buildup in the liver (steatosis).
But fatty liver is preventable.
10 ways to improve liver function
Improving liver health means making choices that lower the likelihood of fatty liver (aka making metabolically healthy choices), limiting your exposure to toxins, and supporting the liver’s natural detoxification pathways.
And there are so many great ways to support your liver that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine:
1.
Eat fibrous foods
Research shows that eating a diet rich in fiber is linked to a lower risk of developing (nonalcoholic) fatty liver3. Fiber promotes a healthy weight and balanced energy levels, whereas excess energy (or calories) is the main driver of fat buildup in liver cells.
Registered dietitian Rachel Muzzy, M.S., R.D., also encourages her clients to incorporate more fiber into their diet to support the liver as “fiber can help bind and carry out waste and toxins.”
High-fiber foods she recommends people add to their daily diet include beans, potatoes, avocados, berries, apples, bananas, oats, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
2.
Limit alcohol intake
The body treats alcohol as a toxin, and it’s the liver’s job to neutralize the threat. And while it can do that, prolonged, excessive alcohol intake wears the liver down and is the cause of alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Guidelines around drinking4 in the United States encourage people to not exceed moderate alcohol consumption, defined as two drinks a day or less for men and one drink a day or less for women. But less is considered better—especially for liver health.
And women may be more sensitive. A 2020 study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that consumption of even one drink a day for women increased the risk of cirrhosis 5(chronic liver damage) compared to long-term alcohol abstainers. And this relationship was not noted among men.
So if you’ve been sober-curious, now may be a good time to start for the sake of your liver (and there are so many tasty nonalcoholic beverages to choose from!).
3.
Manage stress
“Chronic stress negatively impacts liver function,” says Muzzy. Under stressful conditions6—whether that’s physical or emotional—immune function is interrupted and can lead to inflammation of the liver. In addition, hormone shifts interfere with blood flow to the liver, damaging cells.
“Practicing deep breathing, mindfulness, meditation, as well as exercising regularly can help,” notes Muzzy. “But also reducing sources of stress where possible and scheduling downtime and rest are beneficial.”
4.
Improve sleep
Yes, sleep and your liver are actually connected. A 2021 study of young Korean adults found that not sleeping enough is a risk factor7 for fatty liver.
“Your liver does a lot of work while you sleep, so improving sleep and sleep quality is a great way to support your liver,” emphasizes Muzzy. “Some ways to get better sleep include developing a calming bedtime routine, going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time daily, and minimizing screens at least an hour before bed.”
5.
Choose healthy fats
Eating fat does not automatically translate to storing fat in the liver. The type of fat (as well as overall calorie intake) is what matters.
Registered dietitian and health coach Jessica Cording, M.S, R.D., CDN, INHC, says, “I’m always steering patients and clients to extra-virgin olive oil and avocado oil in their everyday cooking.”
Olive oil is known for its ability to raise levels of HDL cholesterol8—aka the good cholesterol that promotes the removal of bad cholesterol from the bloodstream—and lower levels of triglycerides.
For people that do have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, eating more olive oil lowers triglyceride levels9 in the liver—improving the overall state of the condition. Here are a few of the best healthy olive oils to choose from.
6.
Minimize the use of plastics
Another way to support the liver is by minimizing the use of plastics whenever possible.
“Plastics are a source of chemicals that the body has a hard time removing,” says Muzzy. “Microplastics can enter the body and accumulate in the liver—amongst other organs—and cause damage and increase inflammation.”
So, how can you do this in a world filled with plastic? Muzzy recommends, “Swapping plastic containers for glass and avoiding heating in plastic containers, as it allows more microplastics to leech into your food or beverage (such as microwaved food or plastic coffee lids).”
7.
Avoid smoking
This one is probably not a shocker, but it’s still worth reiterating. Cigarettes are, “a major source of toxins and chemicals that your liver has to process,” says Muzzy. Smoking cigarettes 10has been linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
The ingestion of nicotine may be a contributing factor, and research is showing that vaping and e-cigarette use (products that also contain nicotine) likely also have harmful effects on the liver.
8.
Understand that some medications & supplements impact liver health
The liver processes all medications that you take. Your health care provider can answer specific questions and review the risk/benefit of a medication before you start taking it.
Some common medications linked to liver injury or complications include long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs11 (NSAIDs), antibiotics, and birth control pills12.
“Overdoing certain supplements can also harm the liver,” warns Cording. Just because supplement ingredients are seen as natural in comparison to medications, they still have strong physiological effects on the body.
Whereas some supplements (especially in high doses for extended periods) can put a strain on the liver13, some supplements—like milk thistle, glutathione, vitamin C, and selenium (here are our favorites)—support liver health and natural detoxification processes.
9.
Stay hydrated
Simply drinking enough water can help the liver out. “Dehydration makes it harder for all organs to function, including the liver,” says Cording.
Most people should aim to drink about half of their body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water a day. So someone who is 150 pounds, should try to drink about 75 ounces or nine cups of water daily.
10.
Prioritize physical activity
Increasing physical activity is linked to improved metabolic health14, bone density15, and longevity, and is essential for warding off chronic diseases like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. An inactive lifestyle (on its own and paired with a poor diet) is a contributing factor to fatty liver.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends adults engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week.
