- By Iram Hussain
- Sun, 20 Apr 2025 04:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Liver Health For Women: Women's bodies face unique challenges that can impact liver health. Hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy and metabolism can all affect liver function. Women are more prone to autoimmune diseases like autoimmune hepatitis which can harm the liver. Furthermore, women's livers are more susceptible to damage from toxins and medications, making it essential for women to take proactive steps to protect their liver health through a balanced diet, regular exercise and stress management. Thus, maintaining a healthy liver in a woman requires extra effort.
In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr Piyush Gupta – Senior Consultant, Gastroenterology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh listed some things that every woman should be aware of about their liver health.
Liver Health For Women
Eat Healthy And Stay Hydrated- The liver feels more powerful when we eat green leafy, cruciferous vegetables and citrus fruits like oranges, lemon/limes and tangerine. Foods like berries, beets and garlic are also rich in antioxidants and good for our liver. Processed foods rich in trans fats, complex carbohydrates and refined sugars contribute a lot to fatty liver and further inflammation. Common food items like biscuits/cookies, namkeen, achar, rusk and bakery products like pastries and cakes need to be avoided nearly completely. Moroever, at least 2.5 litres of water/liquids per day are recommended for women to maintain normal liver metabolism, bowel function and detoxification.
Hormones- Estrogen which is a female hormone which affects secretion of bile production and liver function. The liver tends to become fatty due to insulin resistance in females with Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and can have infertility and perimenopausal issues.
Restrict Alcohol- Women process and metabolise alcohol differently hence avoiding it completely or restricting it too low to moderate consumption (not more than 2 drinks any day) is advisable.
Medication- Today, there are many unhealthy and toxic options in the market which can damage liver cells. Even certain protein supplements contain anabolic steroids which can cause jaundice and chronic liver damage. Thus, the use of supplements and medication should always be done after a doctor's consultation.
Physical Activity- A sedentary lifestyle is also a cause of fatty liver along with diabetes and hypertension. Therefore, 40 minutes of jogging and brisk walking is good for women and is recommended for at least 5 days a week. People with knee or ankle issues can opt for stationary cycling and swimming or upper body exercises.
Alarming Signs And Symptoms- Always be watchful of your weight. Your ideal weight should be your height in centimetres minus 100. The presence of easy fatiguability, right-sided upper abdominal pain, yellowish discolouration of eyes and urine and vomits containing blood or dark black stools signify liver failure.