Galectin Therapeutics is focused on a treatment for advanced fatty liver disease, or NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), which includes those patients with advanced scarring, or who are at the end stage of scarring called cirrhosis.
I am often asked how one can maintain a healthy liver and avoid the complications that can happen with chronic fatty liver disease. It has also recently been shown that fatty liver disease is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, providing everyone with another important reason to maintain a healthy liver.
Liver health should be as important to everyone as heart health. However, how do you go about ensuring that your liver is healthy? I have listed below my suggested steps to maintain a healthy liver.
Maintain a healthy weight
There is a clear connection between body weight and the risk of NASH, including an increase in organ fat in apparently lean people (see here). If you are overweight, losing as little as 10% of your body weight can result in a much healthier liver (see here).
Follow a healthy diet
It is not my intention to provide specific dietary advice, but your liver diet should be preferably high in lean protein, low in carbohydrate like starch, low in added sugar, and limited high fructose corn syrup.
Exercise
Activity appears to improve fatty liver disease and help keep your liver healthy even if you don’t lose weight. Studies show resistance exercise is as beneficial as aerobic exercise.
Avoid excessive alcohol
Know the exact alcohol content of what you are drinking and what constitutes a “drink.” Men should drink a maximum of two drinks a day and women should limit themselves to one drink a day.
Avoid certain nutritional supplements
Certain nutritional supplements and herbal remedies can damage the liver. Talk to your doctor or read on-line about all supplements you are considering. For example, even too much iron or vitamin A can be harmful to your liver.
No illicit drug use
This may seem obvious, but you must avoid the use of drugs that expose you to blood from others, which put you at risk for hepatitis.
Discuss liver health with your doctor
Ask your primary care doctor, “How’s my liver?” You will often have gotten routine blood tests that include liver enzymes that may provide an indication of liver problems. Also, always ask whether there are potential liver effects from drugs, over-the-counter medicines, nutritional supplements and vitamins you may be taking.
These all seem like simple steps, but if everyone were following them we would not have the epidemic of fatty liver disease and other liver diseases we have today. Consider incorporating these steps in your lifestyle today.
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