How Can I Keep My Liver Healthy?

Abnormal liver tests don’t always signal serious disease. Here’s what can help your liver recover

Adam Rosenbluth, M.D.,

AARP

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Published February 23, 2026

cartoon illustration shows a doctor in a white coat pointing to an anatomical chart of the liver while pouring a cup of coffee for an older adult patient sitting on an exam table

James Yates

My liver function test results aren’t as good as when I was younger. Is there anything I can do to support the health of my liver? Does a liver detox work?

As an older adult who has just been told your liver tests are abnormal, it’s easy to worry.

I see this every week in my office, and I want to reassure you that in many cases the liver is giving us an early warning, not a final verdict. The liver is the only internal organ that can regenerate, but it needs the chance to do it. Our job is to figure out what’s stressing your liver and remove that stress.

Alcohol is always the first thing doctors think about if there is a problem with liver function, because it’s a major cause of liver injury. But let’s say, as with you and many of my patients, heavy drinking has been ruled out. What’s next? One of the most common causes is fatty liver disease, the severe form of which is called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH. You don’t have to be overweight to have it. Thin people can have fatty liver, and heavier people may not. If your liver enzymes stay high or go up and down over time, an ultrasound of the liver is a simple, Medicare-covered test that lets us look for fat in the liver and checks the gallbladder and pancreas. All three of these organs drain through the same system.

Medications are another big piece of the puzzle, especially for older adults. People often assume prescription drugs are the problem, and some are, such as certain antibiotics, antifungals and cholesterol drugs like Lipitor or Crestor, which can raise liver enzymes in a small number of people. But the most common culprit is Tylenol (acetaminophen). I see many older patients who take it three or four times a day for arthritis or back pain and don’t think of it as “medicine” because it’s available over-the-counter. Taking too much can cause liver damage.

We always test for viral hepatitis when liver enzymes are abnormal. Hepatitis C, in particular, is common in folks who came of age in the 1970s, and it can be silent for years. Hepatitis A and B are preventable with vaccines, which are recommended for older adults who are at risk of infection, such as those who travel internationally or need surgery or a blood transfusion.

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Now let’s talk about what you can do to help your liver heal. People often ask me about “liver detoxes.” If by “detox” you mean avoiding alcohol and fatty, fried foods for a week and then rechecking your labs, that’s a great idea. But if you mean coffee enemas, colon cleanses or expensive powders, those are a waste of money. There are no proven benefits to those products. Your liver is already your body’s detoxifier. If something is wrong with your liver, it’s usually because of what you’re putting into it or an underlying disease, not because it needs to be “cleansed.”

What actually works is wonderfully old-fashioned. Exercise improves circulation and helps remove fat from the liver. Even modest weight loss can make a big difference. The diet you’ve heard me promote before — whole grains, vegetables and lean proteins; moving away from sugar, refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods — really works. Stay away from sodas and other sugary drinks, as research has found they increase the risk of fatty liver disease. Getting enough sleep and staying well hydrated helps, too.

One thing many people don’t realize is that the liver does much of its healing at night, and frequent nighttime snacking interferes with that process.

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Coffee, interestingly, has been associated with better liver health for many people, as long as you don’t have heart rhythm problems or other reasons to avoid it. Finally, and most importantly, don’t ignore abnormal liver tests. Follow up with your doctor. Oftentimes in the same blood work that shows your liver enzymes, we also see your blood sugar, cholesterol and other clues that point us toward the cause. Many liver injuries are reversible, but only if we find them and act.

“Live long: love your liver” is more than a slogan. Give your liver the chance to do what it does best — heal — and it will serve you well.

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