The liver plays a critical role in many bodily processes, including digestion and detoxification. Making healthful choices can promote the health and optimal functioning of this vital organ. Exercise in particular, has been shown to prevent certain conditions associated with the liver.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Exercise promotes a healthy weight, which can directly benefit the liver. The University of Louisville Medical School explains obesity stresses the liver and accelerates damage. Exercise also reduces other risk factors that contribute to liver damage such as high cholesterol and high blood sugar.
To reap optimal benefits from exercise, however, you should combine physical activity with other healthful choices such as eating a healthier diet.
Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease is characterized by excess buildup of fat cells in the liver. While this condition usually does not produce symptoms, it can lead to inflammation and scarring of the liver. This condition has been linked with a sedentary lifestyle.
A 2008 study conducted at the University of Missouri Medical School looked at the effects of exercise on fatty liver disease in rats. Obese rats either exercised on a wheel or did no physical activity for 16 weeks. The study found that 100 percent of the rats who exercised were free of the disease while 100 percent of the rats who did not showed signs of fatty liver disease. This study also demonstrated the importance of continuous exercise. When the rats stopped exercising, they began to show signs of the disease just seven days after stopping.
An Australian study published in the October 2009 issue of Hepatology found that sedentary adults who increased their physical activity reduced their risk of fatty liver disease. Participants who took part in four weeks of cycling reduced levels of fat in the liver by 21 percent.
Talking to Your Doctor
If you already have cirrhosis or other diseases in which you have scarring and decreased liver function, talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program. While physical activity can offer numerous benefits, you might have to restrict certain activities.
Warnings
Liver disease can cause the formation of swollen veins in the esophagus and other parts of the body because of blocked blood flow to the liver. Certain exercises that increase blood pressure rapidly, like lifting weights, can increase the risk of extensive internal bleeding.
References
- Science Daily: Regular Aerobic Exercise Reduces Health Concerns Associated With Fatty Liver
- University of Louisville: General Recommendations for Patients with Advanced Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis Australia: Nutrition, Exercise and Liver Health
- Science Daily:Exercise Prevents Fatty Liver Disease, New Study Suggests
