Maintaining a healthy liver requires quality sleep and avoiding junk food, warned **Dr. S.K. Sarin**, Director of the **Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS)**. He emphasized that junk food, loaded with **unhealthy fats, sugars, and processed ingredients**, significantly contributes to obesity, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and **non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)**, which can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Sarin stressed the importance of **not eating late at night**, as it disrupts gut bacteria and increases the risk of **fatty liver disease and fibrosis**—signs of liver damage. He underscored the need for **restorative sleep**, cautioning that poor sleeping habits impair digestion and metabolic functions, further burdening the liver.
Encouraging people to prioritize **good health over chasing money and power**, Sarin stated that **a sound body and proper sleep** are essential for happiness and longevity. NAFLD, now termed **metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)**, is **rising in India**, affecting **three in ten people**. The **Union Health Ministry’s revised guidelines** focus on **early detection and enhanced patient care**, aiming to curb the growing prevalence of liver disorders.
With liver health concerns on the rise, experts continue to advocate for lifestyle changes, urging people to adopt **balanced diets, regular sleep patterns, and proactive healthcare measures** to prevent serious complications.
