“5 Tips for Maintaining Optimal Liver Health for Women with Irregular Menstrual Cycles”

Studies have shown that women with irregular or longer-than-average menstrual cycles have an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver refers to a disease in which fat is accumulated in the liver, similar to people who do not drink or drink only small amounts of alcohol.

Women with irregular menstrual cycles have an increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liverㅣSource: Clip Art Korea
The research team at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital revealed that if the menstrual cycle is irregular or longer than 40 days, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver is about 35% higher than that of women with normal menstrual cycles. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

The research team conducted a study on 72,000 adult women under the age of 40. Among them, about 50,000 people without fatty liver were followed up for about 4 years, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease occurred in about 9% of women. The incidence was found to increase by 22% in menstrual cycle irregularities.

The research team assumed that there might be a hormonal influence in that the menstrual cycle independently affects non-alcoholic fatty liver. Pharmacist Kim Ji-young introduced five ways to manage liver health, saying, “Even a young woman in her 20s and 30s who does not enjoy drinking should pay attention to liver health if her menstrual cycle is long or irregular.”

1. Eat ‘Well’
Pharmacist Kim Ji-young said that it is important to eat well to maintain liver health. He advises filling your plate with healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. At this time, carbohydrates should be reduced to 55-80% of the recommended daily energy requirement. Simple sugar causes insulin resistance, which not only affects menstrual irregularities but also causes fat to accumulate in the liver.

2. Move ‘a lot’
In order to prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver, you have to move a lot. In particular, it is good to do large-muscle exercises such as squats and planks shortly before and after meals. When blood sugar levels are high, our body easily produces fat and accumulates it all over the body. Large-muscle exercise is most effective in rapidly lowering blood sugar.

3. Refrain from ‘drinking parties’
It is a well-known fact that alcohol harms liver health. Alcohol itself is also a problem, but snacks eaten at drinking parties also put a lot of strain on the liver. Adding a high-carbohydrate, greasy snack increases the chance that excess calories will be stored as fat in the liver.

4. Managing ‘Stress’
Chronic stress can cause hormonal imbalance, which can increase the risk of liver fat accumulation. Therefore, pharmacist Kim Ji-young said, “You have to find your own way to rest and heal, such as meditation, yoga, or light walks.”

5. Eat ‘soy sauce’
Pharmacist Kim recommended UDCA as an effective hepatic agent for non-alcoholic fatty liver. Studies have shown that UDCA can help treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by preventing cholesterol reabsorption and cholesterol entry into the liver. In addition, UDCA is a non-toxic bile acid, which protects the liver by controlling the ratio of toxic bile acid that poisons the liver. However, pharmacist Kim Ji-young advised that it is important not to rely solely on UDCA intake and to combine it with a healthy lifestyle.

Help = Pharmacist Kim Ji-young

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