Evidence-Based Fatty Liver Diet – Diet Plan And Foods To Eat And Avoid

 Fatty liver is the result of the accumulation of excess fat in the liver. The first line of treatment to help treat fatty liver is a healthy diet. Fatty liver is one of the major occupational lifestyle diseases and can becaused by alcohol abuse, an unhealthy lifestyle, and/or genetics (1). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, death rates for liver disease and cirrhosis have increased by about 31% for those aged 45 to 64 years old between 2000 and 2015 (2).

 

 

 

The early symptoms of an unhealthy liver are bad breath, bloating, indigestion, sudden weight loss, and premature graying of hair (3), (4), (5). However, many fatty liver patients do not show signs and symptoms until it’s too late. That’s why you should be extra cautious and improve your diet and lifestyle. Here are some foods and a diet plan that can protect you from fatty liver. But first, let’s understand how the liver and body functions are affected if you have fatty liver.

 

How Does Fatty Liver Affect The Liver?

 

Fatty liver can disrupt the main function of the liver, which is to remove toxins from your body. The liver is the second largest organ, and it filters the blood and metabolizes drugs and other chemicals. However, excess alcohol consumption and medical conditions like diabetes type 2, insulin resistance, genetic disease, and a sedentary lifestyle can prevent the body from metabolizing the glucose properly. In turn, excess glucose can be stored in the liver as fat.

 

There are two types of fatty liver:

 

1. Alcoholic fatty liver – Due to overconsumption of alcohol
2. Non-alcoholic fatty liver – Due to genes, a metabolic disorder, and/or a sedentary lifestyle. This is commonly known as NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease). NASH or Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis is a form of NAFLD that is caused when overaccumulation of fat causes inflammation, leading to liver damage if not treated on time.

 

If you do not make an immediate change to your diet and start being active, your liver may develop cirrhosis, cancer, or liver disease. Here is a list of foods to eat and avoid to improve the condition of your liver. Take a look.