Giving up alcohol for January `not enough to revive liver`

Giving up alcohol for January is seen by many as the ideal way to begin a healthier new year, but liver experts has warned that it is not enough to undo the long-term damage caused by regular drinking.

According to the British Liver Trust, year-round action is needed to protect the liver from the effects of alcohol and fatty food..

This should include having at least two alcohol-free days a week, taking regular exercise and cutting down on fat and sugar in the diet, they stated.

Alcohol Concern, the charity, is encouraging people to abstain from drinking this month in the Dry January challenge, in order to help them save money, lose weight and feel healthier.

But Andrew Langford, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said that it’s not about a quick fix in January, to repair the liver and keep it healthy, the Telegraph reported.

The trust called on the Government to make early liver screening available to those at risk in an attempt to save a million lives a year.

Liver disease, the fifth biggest killer in the UK, has increased in the past year due to the daily consumption of alcohol and unhealthy food choices, combined with sedentary lifestyles, it said.