As you scroll through your social media feed, you are likely to come across a multitude of health advice, some with a surreal number of mass followers and others catering to more niche audiences. From the latest supplements in the market to trending protein sources, the constant clamour around being fit and shredded can sometimes make people lose sight of safety.
What you put into your body, especially through your diet, directly affects your internal organs. Whatever the latest fitness bandwagon you may jump on, there is always a risk that your liver may be adversely impacted. The liver is one of the most critical organs in the body, responsible for more than 500 essential functions, including metabolism, detoxification and digestion.
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In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Yashavanth H S, consultant – medical gastroenterology, at Manipal Hospital, Yelahanka, warned that whatever food or supplements you consume gets metabolised by the liver. If taken without proper consideration, they may negatively impact liver health, increasing the chances of liver stress and, in some cases, even more serious complications.
“Most over-the-counter fitness products are not heavily regulated like prescription medications, meaning that their ingredients may not be disclosed fully or at all,” Dr Yashavanth asserted, suggesting how they exert stress on the liver.
What do you need to be careful of?
Let’s go through all the problematic fitness hacks that may be putting your liver at risk.
1. Excessive protein intake
Protein has become the new buzzword everyone seems obsessed with. The gastroentrologist acknowledged that while protein is important for muscle growth and repair, consuming too much of it may negatively impact overall health. He also stressed that the source of the protein matters.
Dr Yashavanth elaborated, “Too much protein, especially from supplements, can hurt the liver and kidneys. If the body does not need it, over time it can cause metabolic stress.”
So, unless you require supplements, it is advisable to stay away from them or limit them and go for natural protein sources instead.
2. Fat burners and pre-workout supplements
Fat burners and pre-workout supplements claim to provide quick results and improve workout performance, making many gravitate towards them. But this equally stresses the liver. The gastroentrologist believed that some of these ingredients, especially when taken in high amounts or with other products, are linked to liver inflammation and toxicity.
3. Unregulated and stacked supplements
There is a growing trend of ‘stacking’ multiple supplements together in the hope of getting quicker results. The doctor warned, “A big thing in fitness culture is ‘stacking’ a lot of supplements without expert advice. The mix of these things, especially when from bad companies, can raise the chance of liver injury.”
Early signs that should not be ignored
Next, let’s understand how you can spot liver-related problems early on. The issue is that these problems don’t always have visible symptoms in the early stages. But still, some warning signs may overlap with other everyday health issues and are very easy to overlook. The doctor outlined these signs:
- Constant tiredness
- Loss of desire to eat
- Feeling sick or having pain in the belly
- Yellowish skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Dark urine or sudden changes in weight
Not paying attention to these signs can slow down diagnosis and make things worse.
In the end, the doctor reiterated that everyone should approach supplements with great caution and should not self-prescribe any products just because they are trendy or because friends are using them. He also emphasised a preference for real foods over supplements when it comes to meeting nutritional needs.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
