Why Winter Comfort Foods Make Your Liver Enzymes Look Higher

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Nothing here should be taken as personal medical advice. Always consult with your physician, healthcare provider, or qualified medical professional about your specific health questions, symptoms, or lab results.

Every December, patients walk into the lab shocked — stressed, confused, or even scared — because their doctor told them their liver enzymes were “elevated.”

Almost every one of them says the exact same thing:

• “But I wasn’t drinking like that.”
• “Is something wrong with my liver?”
• “Why would this show up now?”

Here’s the part most people never realize:

Your winter habits — especially around the holidays — can temporarily raise your liver enzymes even if you haven’t changed anything major in your life. And yes… that includes comfort foods, cold weather routines, sleep changes, and stress.

As a Certified Phlebotomist who processes thousands of CMP panels each year, I see this seasonal spike every winter. If you want a quick, light-hearted peek into a phlebotomist’s early-morning reality, here’s a short clip

Phleb Life Pt 1 — 2:30AM Wake Up (Hospital Edition)

Let’s break down why your ALT and AST look higher during the holiday months — and what it actually means.

For anyone who has never heard of ALT or AST before — here’s the simplest explanation possible:

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) and AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) are liver enzymes, meaning they’re proteins your liver uses to break down food, filter alcohol, and remove toxins. Think of them as tiny workers inside your liver cells.

When your liver is working harder than usual — from heavy meals, alcohol, supplements, stress, dehydration, or irregular sleep — a small amount of these enzymes can spill into the bloodstream. That’s what your blood test measures.

A rise doesn’t always mean liver damage. Often, it just means your liver has been busy, not broken. Most holiday-related elevations are temporary and return to normal once life settles back into routine.

1. Winter Comfort Foods Are Heavier — And Your Liver Works Overtime to Process Them

Most holiday meals include:

• Buttery mashed potatoes
• Creamy casseroles
• Baked macaroni
• Candied yams
• Fried foods
• Holiday meats
• Pies and sweets

These foods are delicious — but they’re also high in fat, sugar, and sodium, which increases the liver’s workload.

Why it matters

ALT and AST rise when the liver is under stress, even temporarily. You don’t need liver disease to see a bump.

Sometimes all it takes is:

• Two heavy meals in a row
• Holiday feast leftovers for days
• Late-night eating
• A week of “holiday eating mode”

Your liver has to filter, store, or break down everything you consume — and this increased workload alone can cause mild elevations. For a deeper look at how holiday eating affects other labs, you may find

How Holiday Meals Can Shift Your Lab Results More Than You Think helpful.

2. Alcohol Hits Harder in December — Even Small Amounts

Winter + Stress + Holidays = Most people drinking more than usual.

But here’s the part patients forget:

You don’t have to drink “a lot” for liver enzymes to react. Even moderate drinking can raise ALT/AST for 48–72 hours.

That includes:

• One glass of wine
• A holiday cocktail
• Weekend drinking
• New Year’s celebrations

If you had labs drawn shortly after drinking — or while dehydrated — your enzymes may show a temporary bump.

3. Supplements, Teas, and Holiday Detox Trends Can Raise Liver Enzymes Too

The winter season brings out:

• Detox teas
• Immunity supplements
• High-dose vitamins
• Herbal blends
• Fat-burner drinks
• Holiday “cleanse” routines

Many people forget to tell their doctor about these — but your liver doesn’t forget. Even “natural” products can cause enzyme elevations because the liver still has to metabolize them.

If you’ve ever wondered why December lab traffic spikes, click the link below.

Why December Turns Into the Busiest Month for Lab Testing explains the pattern.

4. Holiday Stress Makes Your Liver Work Differently

Work deadlines. Family obligations. Shopping. Traveling and the emotional load December carries. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline alter how your liver processes sugar and fat, which can cause enzyme shifts on paper.

A common pattern I see as a phlebotomist:

• Elevated liver enzymes in December → Normal again by February.
• Not because the patient “fixed” something — but because the holidays ended.

5. Poor Sleep and Irregular Eating Patterns Cause Metabolic Swings

Your liver regulates blood sugar while you sleep.

So when December turns your routine upside down, you may be:

• Staying up late
• Waking up early
• Eating at midnight
• Skipping meals
• Feeling exhausted

This puts your liver on an unpredictable schedule — and ALT/AST respond to that stress. This is why some people with perfectly healthy livers see abnormal results during the holidays.

6. Why Most Holiday Spikes Are Temporary — And When to Repeat Labs

Holiday-related enzyme elevations are typically:

• Mild
• Reversible
• Short-lived
• Related to lifestyle, not disease

Your doctor may ask for a repeat test in 6–12 weeks, and by that time:

• Diet has normalized
• Alcohol intake decreases
• Stress lowers
• Sleep improves
• Supplements stop or change

Most values return to their normal baseline naturally.

For post-holiday info,

The Weight We Carry in December: Why the End of the Year Feels So Heavy

When Should You Be Concerned?

You should seek immediate medical evaluation if you experience:

• Persistent abdominal pain
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dark urine or pale stools
• Severe fatigue
• Rapidly increasing enzyme levels

These symptoms require urgent attention and are not typical holiday fluctuations.

What You Can Do Before Your Next Lab Draw

To get the most accurate results, try these steps 48–72 hours before your test:

• Avoid alcohol
• Eat lighter meals
• Stay hydrated
• Pause non-essential supplements
• Get consistent sleep
• Avoid late-night eating

Sometimes understanding what you’re putting in your body gives you more control over what we see in your labs. Holiday Eating Doesn’t Make You “Unhealthy” — It Just Shows Up on Paper

Your liver responds to your lifestyle — especially during the busiest time of the year. If your enzymes look elevated in December or January, don’t panic. Look at the pattern. Understand the cause. Retest later.

Most of the time, your liver just needs a break — not a warning.

Related Reads

• When Holiday Meals Change Your Bloodwork: Understanding Post-Thanksgiving Lab Surprises

• How Holiday Meals Can Shift Your Lab Results More Than You Think

• Why December Turns Into the Busiest Month for Lab Testing