What is a Fatty Liver?
Understanding fatty liver simply means liver full of fat. It happens when fat builds up in the liver. Having small amounts of fat in your liver is normal but too much fat can become a health problem. Now the most important thing you should understand about fatty liver can lead to permanent liver damage on the positive side it is reversible if you take proper care at the right time. So let’s see how you can save your liver by taking some simple measures.
First, let’s discuss the stages of disease progression so you can have a clear idea from where you can reverse the disease. We will mainly discuss non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Fatty liver can progress through four stages.
- First is simple fatty liver this is the first stage where there is build up of excessive fat in the liver. Simple fatty liver is largely harmless if it doesn’t progress.
- The next one is t2 hepatitis in addition to excess fat there is also inflammation in the liver.
- Next stage is fibrosis persistent inflammation in the liver has now caused scarring however the liver can still generally function normally.
- Last one is the irreversible stage is cirrhosis in this stage scarring of liver has become widespread damaging the liver’s ability to function. This is the most severe stage and is irreversible. So after this third stage you can reverse the disease and lead a healthy normal life.
Understanding Signs and symptoms of fatty liver:
But before jumping into the treatment part let’s discuss the signs and symptoms of fatty liver here you may experience:
- abdominal pain
- loss of appetite fluid accumulation in the abdomen
- weight loss
- weakness
- fatigue muscle
- wasting nausea confusion
- Yellow itchy skin or jaundice easy bruising or bleeding web-like clusters of blood vessels under your skin which is called spider angioma.
- breast enlargement in men
- Dark colored urine pale stools and swelling in legs.
How to prevent fatty liver disease?
Treatment options:
Now let’s discuss the treatment options and how to prevent fatty liver disease.
- The most important part of fatty liver management is weight loss. Excess weight is a major contributing factor for fatty liver disease. Try to lose at least 10 percent of your weight and it should be gradual don’t try to lose your weight very fast. The recommended amount of weight loss is 0.5 to 1 kg per week. If you lose weight very fast then it will actually deposit fat in your liver so the result will be exactly the opposite. So lose weight but in a gradual manner.
- The next thing you should avoid is alcohol consumption. As alcohol processes through the liver, it will cause injury and inflammation. It will again aggravate the liver damage so try to completely avoid alcohol.
- According to various studies, regular coffee drinkers have a significantly decreased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The risk of liver fibrosis is also less in those people drinking three cups of coffee per day can reverse or reduce fatty liver disease symptoms.
- Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant. It is very helpful to reduce liver inflammation and excess fat. However, you should remember that excess intake of vitamin E is harmful to our body as it is a fat-soluble vitamin. The recommended dose is 800 units per day. It is better to consult your doctor before taking any medications.
- Exercise is very important in treating fatty liver exercises like running, swimming and weightlifting will help to reverse fatty liver disease.
- Vitamin D may also be helpful in reducing disease progression. Deficiency of vitamin D is associated with fat deposition and worsening of liver inflammation.
- The mediterranean diet is very useful to treat fatty liver disease. It includes olive oil which contains high mono-saturated fatty acids consumption of mono-saturated fats like olive oil is associated with favorable cholesterol triglyceride and blood sugar levels as well as favorable waist circumference. It also includes fish like salmon mackerel and tuna which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which decreases the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It contains whole grains fruits and vegetables which help to reduce the risk of having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Low potassium level is significantly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence. You can increase potassium by eating fruits like bananas, kiwi, and sweet potatoes choline consumption is very important tore verse fatty liver disease.
The liver is the main site for choline metabolism. Choline is found in a variety of fruits like beef, egg yolks, chicken breast, fish shiitake, mushrooms, potatoes, legumes, milk, yogurt, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels, sprouts, and sunflower seeds.
So follow the steps and adopt a healthy diet for a healthy liver.
FAQS:
What to eat for a healthy liver?
There are varieties of foods that can boost liver health.
- Nuts
- Beans
- Vegetables
- Olive oil
- Berries
- Coffee
What are some best liquid diets for a healthy liver?
Here are some liquid diets that can speedily boost liver health.
- Water
- Beetroot juice
- Coffee or tea without cream
- Coconut water (without pulp)
- Lemon water
- Green tea
- Peppermint tea
- Coffee
What are the best foods for fatty liver?
Fatty liver needs some best foods/ dishes that can quickly improve the overall health of the affected liver.
- Spinach and some other leafy green vegetables.
- Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids and salmons.
- Some high-fiber foods like oats.
- Nuts like walnuts.
- Turmeric roots.
- Sources of vitamin E like sunflower seeds.
- Raw garlic.
Which food helps to cure a fatty liver?
Whole grains, vegetables, and fruits are the best choices to cure fatty liver. So choose complex carbohydrate foods for a healthy liver.
How to reduce fatty liver?
There is no quick shortcut to reducing a fatty liver but a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise can help to reduce a fatty liver.
What food to avoid with fatty liver?
Foods to avoid:
- Full-fatty cheese.
- Fat Yogurt.
- Infected meat.
- Bakery products and fried items made with palm or coconut oils.
- Goods are made with sugar just like candy, regular soda.
What is the best plan to reduce fatty liver?
Try to adopt a healthy lifestyle and follow the below recommendation as the best plan to reduce fatty liver.
- Try to rely on non-starchy vegetables and fruits.
- Must pick leaner proteins like fish, poultry, beans, and nuts.
- Avoid red meats, cold cuts, bacon, and other processed meats.
- Try to add whole grains like brown rice, oatmeal, or whole wheat pasta.
What are good foods to cure fatty liver?
There are many good foods that can help to cure fatty liver just as oatmeal, coffee, green tea, avocado, high-fiber goods, and oats. Some green leafy vegetables like spinach are also considered as good foods to cure a fatty liver.
Which are the best diets for non-alcoholic fatty liver?
Mediterranean diet is highly recommended by dieticians as the best diet for non-alcoholic fatty liver. It includes more fruits and vegetables like whole grains and nuts.
Which is the best vegetable for fatty liver?
Leafy vegetables like spinach are considered the best veggies for fatty liver.
Is yogurt good for fatty liver?
Yes, yogurt without fat is good for fatty liver.