Your liver is an essential organ that’s responsible for filtering out waste and toxins. When it’s damaged, it can severely impact your health. Many aspects can contribute to liver disease, but here are the main factors that gastroenterology professionals will look for.

What Affects Your Liver’s Health

1. Genetics

Some health issues are genetic. Your gastroenterology provider will ask about any family history of liver disease. Hemochromatosis, Wilson disease, and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency are all genetic risk factors. If you have a family history of these conditions, you should take extra precautions to limit other risks.

2. Toxins

While your liver’s job is to process toxic substances and remove them from your body, constant exposure can overwhelm and damage it. This includes household cleaning chemicals and pesticides, so choose safe, natural cleaners when possible and wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

Too much alcohol can damage the organ, and over-the-counter medications and supplements can lead to liver disease over time. Acetaminophen is known to cause liver damage when taken in large doses.

3. Diet

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition linked to weight and diet. It occurs when fat accumulates in the organ and stops it from functioning properly.

While the direct cause is still unknown, risk factors associated with the disease include diabetes, high blood sugar, high fat content in the blood, and being overweight. To control your weight and blood content, you should eat less sugary and fatty foods. Opt for lean proteins, green vegetables, and high-fiber grains instead.

If you’re concerned about liver disease, talk to a GI doctor at Naugatuck Valley Gastroenterology Consultants in Prospect, CT. For over 30 years, they’ve served patients of New Haven County, offering screenings, liver biopsies, and gastroenterology treatments for conditions like hemochromatosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and hepatitis B and C. To make an appointment, call (203) 756-6422 or visit them online.