Tips for Maintaining Liver Health During Festive Season

Tips for Maintaining Liver Health During Festive Season

Festive seasons are always celebrated with joy and tradition, where each community embraces its own unique way of marking the occasion. With the Chinese New Year approaching, many of us are looking forward to tables filled with a variety of dishes and late-night gatherings with family and friends. But do you know that while you’re enjoying every delicious bite and appetising drink, your body is signalling one special organ to work overtime? Yes, it’s the liver.

Our liver is a unique organ, whose biggest job is filtering harmful substances and wastes from the blood - and its health often shows through the appearance of our skin. Besides this, the liver also carries out 5 other important functions, which include1,2

  • Helping to digest food by producing bile, which in turn breaks down fats in the small intestines.
  • Storing and releasing energy by managing glucose.
  • Filtering toxins.
  • Supporting immunity by removing germs and bacteria from the bloodstream.
  • Keeping blood healthy by making important proteins and helping with clotting.

During the festive season, the liver can feel the impact even more. Richer foods, sweeter drinks and late-night gatherings all mean it may have to work harder to digest, detoxify and keep everything in check. The liver is like the quiet engine that lets you enjoy the celebrations without your body feeling the strain.1,2

Because of this extra workload, many people look for ways to support their liver during this period. While good habits like staying hydrated, eating mindfully and not overindulging are still the foundation, certain supplements can offer an added boost. Here are some supplements that can help the liver to function better:

Milk thistle (Silymarin)

  • Milk thistle has been shown to decrease liver inflammation.3
  • It also displays high antioxidant properties, which help act against free radicals in the liver.4

Grape seed extract (GSE)

  • Appears to have a protective effect on your liver - it reduces inflammation and is an antioxidant that protects against free radical damage when the liver is exposed to toxins.5
  • Consuming GSE has been shown to improve liver function in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.5

Vitamin E

  • May help reduce inflammation associated with fat buildup in the liver. Ongoing inflammation can, over time, contribute to liver tissue damage and scarring.6

 

 

Other supplements such as omega-3 and curcumin may also offer benefits for liver health due to their anti-inflammatory properties.7 While these supplements can provide supportive effects, they should not replace a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy liver still depends on balanced nutrition, regular exercise, limiting alcohol intake and avoiding overly processed foods. Supplements can be helpful as an addition, but the foundation of liver care should always be wholesome eating habits and overall healthy living for long-term wellness. As we celebrate the Lunar New Year, it’s important to stay mindful. Enjoy the festivities, but choose your foods wisely. Drop by your nearest BIG Pharmacy for guidance on looking after your liver during the festive season.


References: 

  1. Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Liver: Anatomy and Functions.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2025, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/liver-anatomy-and-functions
  2. Cleveland Clinic. “Liver.” Cleveland Clinic, 2025, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21481-liver
  3. Woreta, Tinsay, MD MPH. “Detoxing Your Liver: Fact Versus Fiction.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 2025, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction 
  4. MacDonald-Ramos K, Michán L, Martínez-Ibarra A, Cerbón M. Silymarin is an ally against insulin resistance: A review. Ann Hepatol. 2021;23:100255. doi:10.1016/j.aohep.2020.10.007.
  5. Hill, Caroline. “10 Benefits of Grape Seed Extract, Based on Science.” Healthline, 15 July 2024, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/grape-seed-extract-benefits#liver-support
  6. Schmidt, Nicole. “Vitamin E for Fatty Liver: Benefits and Risks.” WebMD, WebMD, 2 Jan. 2025, https://www.webmd.com/fatty-liver-disease/benefits-vitamin-e-liver
  7. Mayo Clinic. “Vitamins and Supplements for Fatty Liver Disease (MASLD).” Mayo Clinic, 9 Oct. 2025, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fatty-liver-disease-masld/in-depth/vitamins-and-supplements-for-fatty-liver-disease-masld/art-20587290
Back to blog