Looking After Your Liver

Couch potato alert: too much television and too little exercise can be bad for your liver.
In fact scientists now know long periods of inactivity, as well as too many beers in front of the box, are a significant risk factor for cirrhosis.
The reason is that lack of exercise, as well as overweight, contributes to fatty deposits in the liver, one of the most common causes of liver disease.
“Lifestyle factors are extremely important in the prevention and treatment of cirrhosis,” says Professor Geoff Farrell, Director of the Storr Liver Unit at Westmead Millennium Institute in NSW.
“Too much sitting in front of the tv or computer won’t do your liver any favours because it needs exercise to help insulin work better as well as to mobilise hormones that break down fat in the tissues rather than leaving it all the load.
“At the same time, two thirds of people who are significantly overweight (a BMI of 30+) have abnormal liver function tests.
“That’s a red flag saying you...