Alcoholic Liver Disease Prevention: What You Can Do

Alcohol liver disease is a serious condition that is brought about by alcohol abuse. If left untreated, this condition can lead to the final stage, also known as liver cirrhosis. Read on to learn more about alcoholic liver disease prevention, as well as tips on the prevention of liver cirrhosis.

Alcoholic liver disease prevention tips

Alcoholic liver disease results mainly from damage to the liver caused by excessive drinking. This condition doesn’t develop overnight, but years of alcohol abuse can eventually lead up to it.

Over time, if a person doesn’t stop drinking or doesn’t take care of their liver, the damage worsens. This is when the liver is already suffering from cirrhosis or scarring of the liver tissue.

This buildup of scar tissue is particularly bad for the liver since it severely impedes the liver’s ability to function. In the worst-case scenario, a liver transplant is usually the only way that the patient can survive.

In order to avoid all of these health problems and complications, it is best to address and avoid alcoholic liver disease early on. And you can do this by following these tips:

Quit drinking

When it comes to prevention of liver cirrhosis, as well as alcoholic liver disease, quitting alcohol is one of the most important steps to take.

Some people believe that drinking alcohol moderately might be okay, but the reality is that it can still pose a risk to your health. However, scientists found out that even occasional drinking can pose a threat to a person’s health, especially the liver. So it would be best to just cut out alcohol completely.

Additionally, alcohol has also an addictive substance, which is why it is prone to abuse. If you are having difficulty quitting alcohol, it would be best to take it slow at first. Doing it cold turkey might cause you to relapse if you have already quit alcohol.

It is also a good idea to talk to your friends and family about quitting alcohol so that they can do their best to support you.

Eat a healthy diet

Aside from avoiding alcohol, it is also a good idea in general to have a healthy diet. Try to lower your intake of meat and fatty foods, and instead focus on eating more fruits and vegetables.

Having a healthy diet ensures that your body has all of the vitamins and minerals that it needs in order to function well. It also helps lower your risk of health problems such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and fatty liver disease.

Stay active

Aside from having a healthy diet, it is also best to try and stay active. Exercising for at least 30 minutes each day, or 150 minutes a week is recommended in order to stay fit and healthy.

Combined with a healthy diet, this should help keep your body strong and also lowers your risk for liver problems.

Lower your sodium intake

Lastly, it is very important to lower your salt or sodium intake. The reason behind this is that eating too much salt contributes to liver damage.

It would be best to avoid processed food such as chips, canned goods, and instant noodles as these foods are high in sodium. When preparing food, use herbs and other flavorings instead.

The body does need some sodium, but it does not need as much salt as a lot of people are consuming these days. Lowering your sodium intake also decreases the risk of hypertension, stroke, heart attacks, and cardiovascular disease.

Key Takeaways

By following the tips above, you can help ensure that your liver stays healthy and cirrhosis-free. Remember, the best thing to do when it comes to alcoholic liver disease prevention is to establish healthy habits early on and maintain those habits throughout your life.

Learn more about Digestive Health here.