As the festive season of 2025 brings endless reunions and parties, safeguarding your health becomes paramount. Original Pinoy Music (OPM) icon Ogie Alcasid, at 58 years old, is leading by example, emphasizing the critical need to support the body's often-overlooked hero: the liver.
The Silent Workhorse: Why Liver Care Cannot Wait
While the heart announces its distress, the liver operates in silence. This vital organ filters toxins, processes nutrients, and produces bile to break down fats, a workload that spikes during holidays filled with rich food and celebratory drinks. Filipino physician and nutritionist-dietitian Dr. Dex Macalintal warns that a compromised liver leads to toxin buildup, low energy, and inflammation, raising risks for metabolic syndrome and heart disease.
"You don't feel liver disease — you discover it," is a common medical adage, highlighting that symptoms like fatigue, dull skin, or lower alcohol tolerance often appear only after significant damage.
Ogie Alcasid's Holistic Strategy for Strength
Ogie Alcasid adopts a proactive, multi-faceted approach to maintain his vigor. A key component is supplementing with soya-derived phospholipids, which help reduce liver fat infiltration and strengthen liver cells. This provides extra support during periods of dietary indulgence.
His routine extends beyond supplementation. Alcasid prioritizes a balanced lifestyle built on three pillars:
- Proper nutrition and exercise for physical resilience.
- Adequate sleep, crucial as the liver detoxifies most actively at night.
- Mental and spiritual grounding through social interaction, prayer, and worship.
"At my age, it's important to set limits so you have energy for the days ahead," Alcasid shared, underscoring the value of mindful living.
Expert-Backed Tips for Nutritional Recovery
For those experiencing liver stress from diet, medication, or lifestyle, phospholipids can offer additional benefit. Dr. Macalintal advocates for moderation and mindfulness during festivities. His practical advice includes:
Eating slowly, pairing alcoholic drinks with water, and incorporating 'nutritional recovery days' focused on fiber-rich fruits and vegetables to give the liver a rest.
Ultimately, an annual baseline liver function test is recommended to monitor health proactively. By combining conscious choices with scientific support, you can ensure your liver remains healthy long after the last noche buena plate is cleared.
