Quiet threats to the health of your liver and how to stop them

We know alcohol is bad for the liver, but it's not the only danger

- Dipa Kamdar

The liver is an organ that performs a vital role in our bodies - but you may be damaging it without even realising it, writes Dipa Kamdar.

The liver is one of the hardest working organs in the human body. It detoxifies harmful substances, helps with digestion, stores nutrients, and regulates metabolism.

Despite its remarkable resilience - and even its ability to regenerate - the liver is not indestructible. In fact, many everyday habits, often overlooked, can slowly cause damage that may eventually lead to serious conditions such as cirrhosis (permanent scarring of the liver) or liver failure.

One of the challenges with liver disease is that it can be a silent threat. In its early stages, it may cause only vague symptoms like constant fatigue or nausea.

As damage progresses, more obvious signs may emerge. One of the most recognisable is jaundice, where the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow. While most people associate liver disease with heavy drinking, alcohol isn't the only culprit. Here are five common habits that could be quietly harming your liver.

Drinking too much alcohol

Alcohol is perhaps the most well-known cause of liver damage. When you drink, your liver works to break down the alcohol and clear it from your system. But too much alcohol overwhelms this process, causing toxic by products to build up and damage liver cells.