Liver Enzymes: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How to Keep Them Healthy
When your doctor talks about liver enzymes, proteins produced by liver cells that help speed up chemical reactions in the body. Also known as liver function tests, they’re one of the first things checked when there’s any suspicion of liver trouble. These aren’t just numbers on a lab report—they’re real-time signals from your liver, telling you if it’s under stress, inflamed, or damaged.
Your liver doesn’t just process alcohol or meds—it filters toxins, makes bile, stores energy, and breaks down hormones. When something goes wrong, liver enzymes like ALT, alanine aminotransferase, an enzyme mostly found in liver cells and AST, aspartate aminotransferase, found in liver and muscle tissue spill into your bloodstream. High ALT usually points to liver-specific damage, while AST can rise from muscle injury too. That’s why doctors look at both, along with other markers like ALP and bilirubin, to get the full picture.
It’s not just about drinking too much. Fatty liver from sugar and processed foods, certain antibiotics, statins, herbal supplements, even viral infections like hepatitis, can push these numbers up. You might feel fine—no jaundice, no pain—but your liver could be quietly struggling. That’s why routine blood work matters. A single elevated reading doesn’t mean disaster, but repeated spikes? That’s your body screaming for a change.
What can you do? Cut back on sugar and alcohol. Move more—even walking 30 minutes a day helps. Lose weight if you’re carrying extra around the middle. Skip unregulated supplements that promise muscle gain or fat loss—they’re often liver killers. And if you’re on long-term meds, ask your doctor if liver enzyme checks are part of your monitoring plan.
Below, you’ll find real-world guides that dig into how medications, lifestyle choices, and even gut health can affect your liver enzymes. Some posts explain how antibiotics or cholesterol drugs might raise them. Others show how hydration, diet, and avoiding toxins can bring them back down. No fluff. No jargon. Just what works.
Statins Safety in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: What You Need to Know
Learn why statins are safe for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, how to monitor liver enzymes, dosing tips, and real‑world evidence supporting their use.
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