The role of diet in maintaining liver health takes centre stage this World Liver Day, marked globally on 19 April 2025.
With the official theme “Food is Medicine”, health professionals and campaigners are raising awareness of how everyday dietary choices can have a significant impact on liver function and long-term wellbeing.
The liver, one of the body’s most vital organs, processes nutrients, filters blood, and helps fight infections. But it is increasingly under strain in modern lifestyles, where poor diets high in sugar, saturated fats and ultra-processed foods are contributing to a rise in liver-related conditions - including fatty liver disease, which now affects one in three adults in the UK.
LiverScan is encouraging people to adopt Mediterranean-style diets rich in whole foods - such as vegetables, fruit, legumes, oily fish and whole grains - to support liver health. Cutting down on alcohol, sugar-sweetened drinks, and processed snacks is also strongly advised.
Claire Hardie, chief operating officer at LiverScan, a private liver health clinic in Edinburgh, commented: “World Liver Day is an opportunity to take a step back and ask 'what are we really feeding our bodies?'
"Liver disease is often silent in its early stages, but with a simple, non-invasive exam, we can spot problems early and give people the chance to turn things around through lifestyle changes and have had may positive client stories over the last two years.”
LiverScan uses a technology called FibroScan, which measures liver stiffness and fat content - key indicators of liver health. The procedure is painless, takes just 10–15 minutes, and provides immediate results.
Public awareness remains a challenge, however. Many people are unaware that liver damage can occur without symptoms until it’s too late. Initiatives like World Liver Day are vital for shifting the conversation from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.
World Liver Day events across the UK will focus on education, screening, and encouraging people to see food as a daily tool for protecting their liver.
To learn more about FibroScan testing or book a liver health check, visit: www.liverscan.co.uk