According to the Mayo Clinic, Liver disease can be inherited (genetic), but Liver problems can also be caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity.
Controllable factors that may increase your risk of liver disease include:
• Heavy alcohol use
• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes
• Exposure to other people’s blood and body fluids
• Unprotected sex
• Exposure to certain chemicals or toxins
According to the National Health Service, there are many different types of liver disease. You can help prevent some of them by maintaining a healthy weight and staying within the recommended alcohol limits, if you drink.
Some of the most common types of non-genetic liver disease include:
(Condition – Possible causes):
• Alcohol-related liver disease – regularly drinking too much alcohol
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – being very overweight (obese)
• Hepatitis – catching a viral infection, regularly drinking too much alcohol
• Primary biliary cirrhosis – may be caused by a problem with the immune system
How to reduce the risk of Liver Disease
According to the Mayo Clinic, to prevent liver disease (abbreviated):
• Drink alcohol in moderation.
• Get vaccinated for hepatitis, if you’re at increased risk of contracting it
• Use medications wisely. Take prescription and nonprescription drugs only when needed and only in recommended doses.
• Avoid contact with other people’s blood and body fluids.
• Keep your food safe. Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or preparing foods. If travelling in a developing country, use bottled water to drink, wash your hands and brush your teeth.
• Take care with aerosol sprays. Use them in a well-ventilated area, and wear a mask when spraying insecticides, fungicides, paint and other toxic chemicals.
• Protect your skin, when using insecticides and other toxic chemicals.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
In “How Not to Die”, Doctor Greger notes these aspects of liver disease:
• Excessive alcohol can lead to accumulation of fat in the liver, but the most common cause of a fatty liver is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The main causes of NAFLD are: fizzy drinks and meat. It can also be caused by cholesterol overload from eggs, meat and dairy. Eventually fatty liver can turn into hepatitis.
• So: Avoid excess calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, alcohol and sugar.
But on the positive side:
• Berries, grapes, plums, red cabbage, and red onions are protective of the liver. Their red/blue/purple pigments (Anthocyanins) help prevent fat accumulation in the liver.
• Coffee consumption is associated with less liver inflammation. Also, it seems to halve the rate of liver cancer.
Sources
Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-problems/symptoms-causes/syc-20374502
NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/liver-disease/
Link to my post on “How Not to Die”
Link to my post on “Alcohol”