Reverse Fatty Liver Disease With Your Diet
Fatty liver disease, as the Cleveland
clinic defines it, is a condition caused by the storage of extra fat in
the liver. It’s usually seen in people who are overweight or obese, but
most people have no symptoms. In some cases though, it can lead to liver
damage. But the good news is that it’s easily reversible or even
preventable through lifestyle and diet changes. We will be reviewing
some of the steps you can take today.
What does a liver do? 
But before we begin let’s see, what does
the liver do? The liver has many different functions. First, it produces
bile, which is a substance that breaks down fat into nutrients like
omega fatty acids. The liver also makes proteins and glucose from fat
and protein. It stores all kinds of nutrients and helps you detoxify
your body.
WebMD lays down some ground rules for which foods would help you reach a
healthy weight and a healthy liver: “In general, foods that fight cell
damage, make it easier for your body to use insulin, or lower
inflammation.“ But what does all of this mean? Let’s break it down.
The good fat and bad fat
There is the fat you should consume and
there is that you should avoid. In general, you do not need to consume
any sugar, because your body can synthesize its own. And sugar, rather
than fat, is what makes you gain weight in the long run.
Consuming too much sugar can ultimately lead to a condition called
insulin resistance, which most people with fatty liver disease suffer
from. Insulin resistance is a condition in which your body produces too
much insulin (which is responsible for the proper absorption of sugar
into the cells) but can’t quite use it well. Instead, sugar builds up in
your blood, rather than working into the cells, and your liver turns it
into fat.
But there are fats that can help the body use insulin better. These are
omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats, found in:
- Fish
- Nuts (especially cc and walnuts)
- Flaxseed
- Leafy greens
- Olives
- Avocados.
Many of these food staples are found in the
Mediterranean diet. Consider giving it a go. If you’re looking for a
massive change in your diet you could also consider taking on
intermittent fasting and a ketogenic diet. Here's a guide.
On the other hand, there are fats you
should avoid, which are called saturated fats. These lead to more and
more buildup in your liver, and will usually be found in:
- Red meat
- Palm and Coconut oil
- Everything and anything with sugar
- Full fat cheese
You may also want to consume less yogurt and poultry, unless it’s lean
white meat.
Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
In addition to antioxidants, WebMD also
recommends adding potassium to your diet. These foods are good sources:
- Codfish
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Bananas
- Kiwi
- Apricots.
Dr. Eric Berg recommends vitamin D as well for fatty liver disease.
While you can consume it in supplement form, the best way to get vitamin
D is limited and controlled exposure to the sun. Lay flat in the sun
with as little clothing as possible, for no longer than 20 minutes a
day, with no sunblock.
Eating fiber can also help with insulin resistance. If you’re looking
for natural supplements, consider curcumin and resveratrol, vitamins A
and E, and choline. When choosing a vitamin E supplement, go for those
containing tocopherols and tocotrienols- these are the best natural
forms.
Cruciferous vegetables such as:
- Arugula
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Radish
- Swiss chard
all have high fiber content, and low carbs.
Garlic and onion also help remove fat from your liver. As far as drinks
go, 1 cup of coffee a day could help strip your liver of excess fats, as
well as green and black tea.
Lifestyle changes
Changing your diet isn’t enough. This is
only one part of your healing journey, which will consist of several
lifestyle changes.
Limit your alcohol consumption to once a month, or not at all.
Lose weight. If you have a belly, you probably have a fatty liver.
According to WebMD, even dropping just 5% of your body weight could
lower the fat in your liver. Practicing intermittent fasting and a
well-balanced ketogenic diet could help tremendously with that.
Start exercising. Any and every kind of exercise will be good and
beneficial for us at a later. But high intensity workouts could even
help with scar tissue (cirrhosis).