Your liver plays a vital role in keeping your body healthy. It processes nutrients from food, filters harmful substances, and supports digestion. In fact, at any given moment, your liver contains about a pint of your blood, i.e., roughly 13 percent of your body’s blood volume, highlighting just how central it is to your wellbeing.
Because of this, your liver’s health is often checked using liver function tests. These blood tests measure enzyme and protein levels to show how well your liver is working. What many people do not realise is how closely your everyday habits, such as drinking alcohol and what you eat, affect these results.
Alcohol’s Effect on Liver Tests: What You Should Know
Alcohol is one of the biggest factors that influence liver health. When you drink, your liver has to work harder to break down the alcohol and remove it from your body. Over time, regular or heavy drinking can damage liver cells. This often shows up in liver tests as raised enzyme levels, which suggest inflammation or stress in the liver.
People who consume alcohol frequently may notice that their results come back outside the normal range. Even moderate drinking can sometimes affect the outcome, depending on your overall health. The more alcohol your liver has to process, the greater the strain, which is why experts often recommend cutting down before having a liver test to get clearer results.
Diet Impact on Liver Function: Processed vs Healthy Foods
What you eat daily also plays a major role in liver health. A diet high in fresh fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can support the liver and keep test results in a healthy range. On the other hand, diets filled with processed foods and unhealthy fats can cause issues over time.
Processed foods and liver problems often go hand in hand. Ready meals, fried snacks, sugary drinks, and refined carbs can lead to fat build-up in the liver. This condition, called fatty liver, is now one of the most common liver problems worldwide, even in people who do not drink alcohol. A fatty liver can alter your liver test results by showing higher enzyme levels.
Fatty Liver Causes and Risks
Fatty liver causes include eating too many processed or sugary foods, being overweight, and drinking excess alcohol. People with type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol are also more at risk. While fatty liver disease is often silent in its early stages, it can progress to more serious conditions if not managed.
When fat builds up in the liver, it can cause inflammation and scarring, which may show up during liver tests. That is why maintaining a balanced diet and managing your weight is so important if you want to keep your liver healthy.
Reducing Liver Enzymes Naturally
The good news is that it is possible to improve your liver test results by making positive lifestyle changes. If your results show raised enzymes, you may be able to bring them down with the right habits.
Here are a few practical steps for reducing liver enzymes naturally:
- Cut down alcohol intake: Giving your liver time to rest can help enzyme levels return to normal.
- Eat a balanced diet: Focus on fresh, whole foods instead of processed options.
- Stay active: Regular exercise supports weight control and improves liver function.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water helps the liver process toxins.
- Limit added sugars: Too much sugar contributes to fat build-up in the liver.
These changes not only support healthier liver function but also improve overall wellbeing.
When to Seek Expert Guidance?
If you notice unusual symptoms like persistent tiredness, yellowing of the skin, or pain in the upper abdomen, it may be linked to liver issues. Even without symptoms, abnormal test results are worth taking seriously. Speaking with our pharmacists about your lifestyle, alcohol intake, and diet can help you get the right advice on how to move forward.
Take Steps Towards a Healthier Liver Today
Your lifestyle choices have a clear effect on how your liver functions and what your test results show. Alcohol, processed foods, and fatty diets increase the risk of poor results, while healthy eating and balanced habits support your liver in doing its job. Making even small adjustments can make a noticeable difference.
If you are concerned about your liver test results or want personalised advice on how to improve them, our pharmacists are here to help. From diet recommendations to guidance on safe alcohol limits, we can support you in making the right changes.
Keep your liver healthy—book your health consultation at Anna Pharmacy.