Harvard doctor reveals two simple habits for a healthier liver
Liver health
is finally in the spotlight, and honestly, it's about time. For the longest stretch, people only paid attention to their liver when binge-drinking or during a serious doctor's visit involving hepatitis. But now? From fatty liver concerns to detox advice and enzyme level checks, the liver is suddenly front and center—and for good reason.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD) is on the rise, quietly becoming a global health issue. The kicker? You don't need to touch alcohol to have liver problems anymore. Unhealthy eating habits, excess sugar, a sedentary lifestyle, and stress are enough to mess it up. What's worse—most people don't even know their liver's struggling until things are already serious.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Saurabh Sethi (@doctor.sethi)
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency
Planet Spark
Learn More
Undo
And let's not forget—your liver does way more than process alcohol. It's your body's detox champion, filtering toxins from medications, pollutants, processed food, and more. If your liver is under strain, your whole body feels it. From breakouts and hormone issues to fatigue—your liver may be behind the scenes of it all.
Thanks to the wellness wave and growing focus on holistic health, people are now looking beyond visible muscles or calorie counts. They want to feel good from the inside out—and a healthy liver is key to that.
Live Events
What Dr. Saurabh Sethi has to say
Popular on social media for his health insights,
Dr. Saurabh Sethi
recently explained how liver disease develops—starting from fatty liver, progressing to inflammation, and ultimately, cirrhosis if ignored. In his video, he highlighted two key strategies for maintaining liver health:
Cutting back on alcohol
Improving metabolic health
Let's break them down.
Your liver is a powerhouse, but it needs help
Your liver is like the hardest-working employee in your body—it detoxes, stores energy, breaks down fats, and keeps your internal systems running smoothly. But today's lifestyle—marked by sugary snacks, lack of movement, and weekend drinking—is taking a toll.
Alcohol is a known liver enemy, and not just in large quantities. Even moderate drinking, when consistent, can silently harm your liver. That's because when the liver breaks down alcohol, it produces a toxic byproduct—acetaldehyde—which causes inflammation and scarring. Left unchecked, this can progress to fatty liver, fibrosis, and eventually cirrhosis. The scary part? These changes often come without warning signs.
The good news: Your liver can regenerate—but only if you stop stressing it. Reducing alcohol intake, even slightly, can give your liver space to heal and function better.
The other culprit: Poor metabolic health
Even without alcohol, your liver can suffer—especially when your metabolic health is off. Think high blood sugar, insulin resistance, belly fat—this combo can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now a leading cause of liver damage globally.
When your diet is overloaded with refined carbs and sugar, your liver stores the excess as fat. Pair that with low activity and poor sleep, and you've got a recipe for chronic liver stress.
How to support your liver—The right way
Forget expensive liver detox powders or week-long juice cleanses. Real liver care comes down to simple lifestyle shifts:
Cut the sugar and processed carbs
Be more active—even daily walking helps
Eat real, whole foods
Get enough sleep
Maintain a healthy weight
Even small improvements can pay off. Losing just 5–10% of your body weight can reduce liver fat. Better sleep reduces inflammation. Moving more boosts insulin sensitivity. It's all connected.
[With TOI inputs]
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Nutritionist Addresses Latest Viral "Gut Health Hack": Fibre Maxxing
The human body cannot digest fibre, yet it is essential for general health maintenance. However, one can improve their fibre consumption over time through the process of dietitian-approved 'Fibre maxxing.' The term "Fibre maxxing," which gained popularity on TikTok, describes purposeful consumption of more fibre through food and supplements in order to improve overall health and perhaps aid in weight loss. Nutritionist Nmami Agarwal has taken to her Instagram to shed some light over the latest viral trend, saying that fibre maxxing is another 'viral gut health trend, but this one could backfire badly.' Nmami Agarwal said that fibre is important; it helps with cholesterol, blood sugar regulation, digestion, and even appetite. However, too much, too quickly, might be more detrimental than beneficial. Nmami said that fibre maxxing is a trending diet concept on social media, which involves significantly increasing daily fibre intake (30-60 grams). Common sources of fibre, according to the nutritionist, include powders, seeds and high-fibre dishes like raw salads and chia seed pudding. However, consuming too much fibre without proper hydration might cause a number of digestive issues. It is recommended to gradually increase fibre intake, remain hydrated, and use personalised approaches. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nmami - Dietitian|Nutritionist (@nmamiagarwal) Talking about potential risks associated with fibre maxxing, Nmami Agarwal said that overloading on fibre without sufficient water can lead to the following health issues: Bloating Constipation Gas Nutrient malabsorption IBS flare-ups Even dehydration Although fibre is beneficial to health, it should be gradually added to the diet. According to science, a high-fibre diet takes time for your body to adapt. It is not only ineffective, but also unsafe to jump from 10g to 50g in a single week. Nmami offered a handful of safe recommendations on how to include fibre in your diet. Recommendations include: Take it slow at first so your body can get used to it. Increase fibre intake gradually over two to three weeks. Remain hydrated to facilitate digestion. Drink 2.5–3 litres of water each day. Mix sources of soluble (chia, oats, lentils) and insoluble (wheat bran, vegetables) fibre. Prioritise eating whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Consume no more than 25–38 grams of fibre per day to avoid adverse effects. Nmami concluded by saying that it might not be safe to rely on social media for nutritional objectives; Gut wellness requires a customised, well-rounded strategy. Do not allow fads to control your approach to gut health. Make decisions based on your medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Skipping meals on weekdays and bingeing on weekends? Gastroenterologist explains how this habit harms your gut
Lifestyles are increasingly becoming erratic, with the hustle hard mindset on weekdays and the resultant fatigue leading to mindless indulgence in the name of unwinding. This shift is noticed in the eating habits, weekdays filled with excessive caffeine, rushed lunches, and sometimes even missed meals. Meanwhile, weekends turn into a free-for-all of takeout, late-night snacks, processed foods, drinks and a lot of overeating. But this unpredictable eating cycle is silently wrecking your gut health. In an interview with Dr Anukalp Prakash, Director of Gastroenterology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, elaborated how this common pattern of weekend overindulgence followed by weekday neglect is bad for your gut health, triggering gastrointestinal issues. He noted, 'As a gastroenterologist, I commonly encounter individuals who are not aware that most of their symptoms, bloating, acidity, constipation or diarrhoea, or even long-term digestive problems, result from unstable eating patterns. The weekend binge, weekday crash cycle is a sustainable lifestyle only in the short term, yet it puts undue stress on the gut and deranges its function in the long run. The secret to long-term digestive well-being isn't deprivation or excess, but balance.' The gastroenterologist further shared a guide, covering how the common weekday and weekend eating patterns look and what the resultant consequences are on your gut: The gut is not prepared to manage feast-or-famine patterns. Continuously oscillating between overeating and undernourishment can lead to: 1. Induce functional gastrointestinal disorders such as dyspepsia and IBS. 2. Boosts the risk of acid reflux, constipation, and diarrhoea. 3. Weaken gut immunity, with increased susceptibility to infections. 4. Contribute to metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). 5. Affect mental health through the gut-brain axis—bad gut health can exacerbate anxiety, fatigue, and brain fog. 1. Maintain a regular meal timing: ALSO READ: IBS vs IBD: Gastroenterologist shares the main differences between the two common gut conditions Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
This Jeera And Sauf Water Will Help You 'Feel Lighter And Less Gassy' After Meals, Recommends Nutritionist
Too much bloating after meals? Fear not, because nutritionist Palak Nagpal has come up with a simple concoction recipe to treat that stubborn swelling. Bloating after eating is a typical occurrence that can be spurred on by overeating, meals that produce gas, swallowing air, and digestive issues. It is often characterised by discomfort and fullness in the abdomen, perhaps accompanied by swelling. Herbal teas, water, and physical activity can help get rid of bloating. Nutritionist Palak Nagpal took to Instagram to share a jeera (cumin) + saunf (fennel seeds) water concoction recipe that helps to reduce bloating, aids digestion, and soothes the gut, especially after heavy meals like rajma, chana or dals. Palak said that one should try this suggested treatment for a week if one often feels bloated. This will help fix bloating caused by tal chana rajma, a type of bean that might cause bloating for some individuals, she said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Palak Nagpal - Clinical Nutritionist (@nutritionwithpalaknagpal) She added the recipe in the caption: Take 1 tsp jeera (cumin) 1 tsp saunf (fennel seeds) Boil in 1L of water Reduce to half Drink warm It is necessary to use this cautiously prepared drink into your meals to successfully prevent bloating. It should be taken after meals to increase its efficiency. "You'll feel lighter, less gassy, and your gut will thank you," Palak Nagpal said. Bloating may be mistaken for other causes of a more prominent belly, such as looseness or laxity of the abdominal wall. This is common, particularly for older women and women with children. Bloating after meals is a common occurrence for many people, particularly when eating particular foods. Simple dietary adjustments can make significant improvements in gut health. Palak added concluded that the jeera + saunf water concoction treatment is intended to reduce bloating, helps with digestion and promotes gut health. Nutritionist Palak Nagpal is no stranger when it comes to unique recipes. She recently offered a soothing kokum summer drink recipe on Instagram that reduces inflammation, keeps you cool and supports a happy gut. In the Instagram video, Palak revealed the benefits of the drink, saying, "This isn't just a pink drink, but your new summer hack." Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
