Your liver is your chartered accountant: Dr SK Sarin on food choices

Just as a chartered accountant keeps track of a person's income and expenses, the liver manages several essential functions that keep the body working. But when people ignore what they eat and drink, the body's accounts can go out of balance, Dr S K Sarin, Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), said.

“Who is your chartered accountant? Your liver!” Sarin said during the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara session at the India Today HealthWealth Summit, drawing a parallel between financial discipline and maintaining liver health.

His message was to pay attention to everyday food choices rather than depend on supplements and wellness products to compensate for an unhealthy diet.

“A supplement cannot make up for a poor diet,” was the central message of his advice. “Don't use supplements with poor-quality food,” he said, stressing that balanced meals should come first and supplements should be considered when there is a nutritional deficiency or a specific medical need.

Sarin also made a case for home-cooked meals, saying, “Homemade food is the best. Outside food should be eaten only sometimes.” He recommended including traditional foods such as buttermilk and sattu, along with green vegetables, in everyday meals.

He also discussed coffee and its potential benefits for liver health, advising moderation rather than treating it as a cure. Fatty liver, he cautioned, should not be dismissed, as it can be associated with metabolic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The condition may develop without obvious symptoms, making timely assessment important.

The liver plays a key role in processing nutrients, metabolising medicines and handling substances the body needs to eliminate. Maintaining liver health involves a balanced diet, regular physical activity, limiting alcohol and managing conditions that increase the risk of liver disease.

Sarin's broader advice was to take responsibility for everyday health choices. As he put it in his prescription, people should “own your body, don't outsource to doctors."- Ends