080 6801 6801
080 6801 6901
Cardiac Sciences
Bone and Joint
Gastrointestinal Sciences
Neurosciences
Renal Sciences
Maa Kauvery (Women and Child Health)
Robotic Surgery
Accident and Emergency Care
Anaesthesiology
Arthroplasty (Joint Replacement Surgeries)
Arthroscopy
Bariatric Surgery
Cardiology
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
Critical Care and ICU
Dermatology
Diabetes and Endocrinology
ENT
Medical Gastroenterology
General Surgery
Hand Surgery
Tuesday, 9 December, 2025
Most people assume heart problems begin in the arteries, but there’s more going on beneath the surface. The liver and digestive system have a much bigger impact on heart health than many realise. When either of those organs is under strain, the heart can gradually pick up the slack, often with few or no obvious warning signs.
Understanding the Connection Between Liver, Gut, and Heart
Your liver, gut and heart form a tightly connected network often called the gut-liver-heart axis. It’s a chain that connects blood circulation, detoxification and digestion. The liver filters what enters the body, the heart circulates blood throughout the body, and the gut breaks down the food and absorbs essential nutrients.
When these are in sync, your metabolism and circulation stay balanced. But when one fails, say the liver gets overloaded or the gut bacteria become imbalanced, inflammation begins to rise, cholesterol weakens, and the heart starts working harder.
As Dr Madhukar, Consultant cardiologist at Kauvery Hospital, explains:
“Heart health isn’t isolated. The liver and gut directly influence how blood vessels respond to stress and how well cholesterol is managed.”
How Liver Health Affects Heart Function
The liver is the body’s main regulator, detoxifying blood, managing hormones, and controlling cholesterol levels. It’s a complex engine that keeps circulation efficient. When it slows down or become inflamed, the consequences reach far beyond digestion.
Role of the Liver in Cholesterol and Fat Metabolism
The liver decides how much cholesterol the body makes and clears away. A healthy liver maintains a steady balance between HDL- the good cholesterol and LDL- the bad cholesterol. But an overworked liver,burdened by alcohol, processed food, or metabolic stress, loses that control. LDL builds up HDL drops, and the arteries begin to narrow.
This imbalance, called atherosclerosis, forces the heart to pump hearder against resistant blood flow.
As Dr Srinivas Bojjanappu, puts it,
“When a patients’s cholesterol doen’t improve despite medication, it’s often because the liver isn’t processing fats efficiently.”
Fatty Liver and Risk of Heart Disease
Fatty liver, especially non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is now one of the strongest silent predictors of cardiovascular disease. It develops when excess fat accumulates in the liver, often due to poor diet, insulin resistance, or obesity.
Even in its early stages, NAFLD triggers chronic, low-grade inflammation that spreads through the bloodstream, damaging arteries and raising the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Most people don’t feel any warning signs. They may discover a fatty liver during a routine health check, often alongside high cholesterol or borderline diabetes.
How Liver Inflammation Affects the Heart
An inflamed liver releases chemicals like C-reactive protein(CRP) and interleukin-6(IL-6). These circulates in the blood and irritate artery walls, causing stiffness and higher blood pressure. Over time, this persistent inflammation can reduce oxygen delivery to the heart muscle and contribute to long-term heart disease.
As Dr Madhukara, Consultant Cardiologists explains,
“When we treat inflammation in the liver early, we often see blood pressure and cholesterol improve too. The systems heal together.”
How Gut Health Influences Heart Health
The gut is more that a digestive organ, it’s a living ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and microbes known as the gut microbiome. These microbes influence metabolism, immunity and even mood. In recent years, researchers have found that the microbiome also effects heart health.
When the gut is balanced, it produces beneficial fatty acids that reduce inflammation and keep blood vessels flexible. But when harmful bacteria dominate, a state called dysbiosis, they release toxins that enter the bloodstream, straining both the liver and the heart.
The Gut Microbiome and Cardiovascular Inflammation
Certain gut bacteria produce helpful short-chain fatty acids (SCFs) that protect blood vessels. Other generate trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a compound linked to plaque buildup in arteries. People with higher TMOA levels are more likely to develop heart disease, even with normal cholesterol readings.
As Dr Rakesh, Senior consultant, gastroenterology, explains,
“We often predict cardiovascular risk by looking at gut diversity. A healthy microbiome keeps inflammation down and metabolism balanced.”
Poor Gut Health and Blood Pressure
Gut bacteria also influence blood pressure. Some microbes help blood vessels relax, while others trigger the opposite response. A poor diet, frequent antibiotics, or low fibre intake can upset this balance. The result? Higher blood pressure and more strain on the cardiovascular system.
Probiotics and Heart Wellness
Restoring the gut’s balance is surprisingly simple. Foods like yogurt, curd, kefir, and fermented vegetables add probiotics that repopulate good bacteria. Paired with fiber-rich foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, they create an environment that supports both liver and heart.
As Dr Srinivas, hepatologist, notes,
“When gut health improves, cholesterol stabilised, blood pressure softens, and inflammation quets down. It’s one of the most natural ways to protect the heart.”
The Gut-Liver-Heart Axis: How It Works Together
Think of the gut-liver-heart axis as a continuous conversation:
- The gut absorbs nutrients and sends them to the liver through the portal vein.
- The liver filters and processes these nutrients before releasing them into circulation.
- The heart pumps this filtered blood to every cell, including back to the gut, to keep digestion running.
When this conversation breaks down, for example, when the gut leaks toxins or the liver becomes fatty, the entire system compensates. The heart works harder to circulate blood filled with inflammation markers, while the liver struggles to filter it effectively.
The result is slow, silent decline that can be reversed only by treating the cause, not the symptoms.
Signs of Poor Liver or Gut Health Affecting the Heart
These issues rarely appear overnight. The early clues are subtle, a tiredness that doesn’t lift, bloating after meals, or cholesterol that doesn’t respond to diet changes.
Some common signs include:
- Constant fatigue or poor stamina
- Bloating or irregular digestion
- Chest tightness or breathlessness
- Yellowish eyes or skin
- Persistently high cholesterol
- Foggy concentration or irritability
Dr Madhukara says,
“When patients describe tiredness and bloating along with heart concerns, we start looking at the gut and liver first. The connection is that close.”
How to Improve Liver, Gut, and Heart Health Naturally
The encouraging part of this story is that healing one organ helps the others. The liver, gut, and heart respond quickly to small, consistent lifestyle shifts, no extreme diets or expensive cleanses required.
Diet and Nutrition
Start with food.
- Choose colorful vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to nourish gut bacteria.
- Include lean proteins like fish or tofu to support metabolism.
- Replace refined oils with olive oil or nuts.
- Limit sugar and alcohol, both strain the liver.
- Add natural liver-friendly food such as garlic, turmeric, and green tea.
Exercise and Hydration
Movements keep everything flowing.
- Walk daily, practising yoga, or do any activity you enjoy. Exercise helps the liver burn fat, balances blood sugar, and improves circulation.
- Staying hydrated helps the liver flush out waste and keeps digestion smooth.
Regular Checkups and Detox Support
Annual health screenings matter more than occasional “detoxes.” Monitor liver enzymes, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Consult your doctor before using over-the-counter detox teas or supplements, many do more harm than good.
FAQs About Liver, Gut, and Heart Health
1. How does poor liver health affect the heart?
An unhealthy liver struggles to regulate cholesterol and filter toxins, leading to inflammation and fatty buildup in arteries. This increases the heart's workload and raises the risk of cardiovascular disease.
2. What is the gut-liver-heart axis?
It's the interconnected relationship where the gut absorbs nutrients, the liver processes them, and the heart circulates the filtered blood. Dysfunction in one organ can negatively impact the others.
3. Can improving gut health lower heart disease risk?
Yes. A balanced gut microbiome reduces inflammation, helps manage cholesterol, and supports healthy blood pressure—all key factors in lowering heart disease risk.
4. Which foods are good for liver and heart health?
Leafy greens, berries, fatty fish, nuts, olive oil, garlic, turmeric, and fiber-rich whole grains support both liver function and cardiovascular health.
5. How can I naturally improve my gut and liver function?
Eat a fiber-rich diet with probiotics, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, limit alcohol and processed sugars, and manage stress through mindfulness or yoga.
Conclusion: Building a Healthier Heart Through Gut and Liver Care
Your heart doesn’t work alone. It relies on your liver to clean the blood and your gut to keep inflammation in check. When either one is neglected, the heart quietly carries the burden.
As Dr Madhukara often reminds patients,
“A healthy heart starts with a healthy system. When you care for the liver and gut, the heart naturally follows.”
Protecting your heart health isn’t just about exercise or diet, it’s about respecting the harmony of the body’s inner network. Small, steady choices today shape a stronger heart for tomorrow.
