Fatty Liver Disease
Alcohol affects the liver in unhealthy ways. Most drinkers believe that moderation is the key to prevents serious consequences from alcohol. This episode hopes to shed light on that belief.
A Lifetime of Learning about Human Health
In 1975, I graduated with an Honours B.Sc. degree in Kinesiology, the study of Human Performance. Among its wide range of courses about the human body were topics about disease processes, a little about the immune system and a lot about the prevention of factors that will impact performance.
Not unlike many university students, beer drinking was common. As a wing forward on the varsity rugby team, I participated in the post-game beer bashes which were notorious on campus for their drunken antics (one of my teammates stole the flag from the local police station). Needless to say, I didn’t give much thought to my liver at those events.
After graduation, I took up long distance running and competitive cross-country skiing. Inspired by my Kinesiology studies, I ran 18 marathons and participatedin many shorter x-c ski and running events over the next five years. I was keenly interested in health sciences and aerobic athletic performance. My liver was not important consideration in my disciplined training regime.
Today, approach the age of 73, I am still active in long distance athletic exercise as a Nordic Cross Skater for the past thirteen years and have skated ~ 20,000 KMs since starting in 2011. I also enjoy alcohol in moderation. After retiring from work in 2018, my interest in medical and other topics related to the longevity, performance and quality-of-life has resurfaced. In 2020, I began following The Drive podcast with host Peter Attia, MD.
The liver is not a sexy topic.
By far the most important thing I learned from listening to over 150 of Peter’s podcasts is about Metabolic Syndrome. It is mind-boggling to me that an estimated 60% of the US population, some 200 million citizens, suffer from various degrees of this lifestyle-related chronic disease. Related to Metabolic Disease is liver health which is low on the radar of most adults in Western societies.
The Drive is the most informative podcast source I have found on topics related to health. Peter conducts long form interviews and lengthy discussions with world class experts.
Typically over 90 minutes in length, you will hear and learn many scientific terms. Peter has a knack for summarizing important information into digestible take aways for the intelligent layman.
Over many episodes, the medical terms will become familiar and you will be amazed at how much body science you will have learned. The Drive has become one of my wife’s favourite podcasts and she has no prior studies in the sciences.
If this subject interests you, listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or watch it on YouTube from the link below.
#302 - Confronting a metabolic epidemic: understanding liver health and how to prevent, diagnose, and manage MAFLD and liver disease | Julia Wattacheril, M.D., M.P.H. - Peter Attia