Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) happens when too much fat builds up and is stored in your liver. If more than 5% of the total liver weight is comprised of fat cells, it is a fatty liver. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a kind of metabolic stress-induced liver injury that is closely related to insulin resistance and genetic susceptibility.
You cannot survive without your liver, and yet, most people aren’t aware of how much stress is put on this hard-working organ day after day.
Alcohol use does not cause NAFLD. Alcohol was long thought to be the sole cause of a fatty liver. Recent studies have shown that other factors raise your risk.
However, if those with a fatty liver drink excess alcohol, it can quickly worsen their condition. Taking pain relievers or anti-inflammatories (even over-the-counter versions) can also aggravate a stressed liver. Prescription drugs and painkillers are difficult for your liver to metabolize.
Research in the past decade has linked the emergence of NAFLD to metabolic syndrome. It has become an epidemic in developed countries that have high incidences of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It can gradually progress – if steps are not taken to slow or stop it – to severe other liver conditions, end-stage liver failure, and early death.
Primary Trigger of Fatty Liver Disease
- Insulin resistance
- Obesity
- Elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia, pre-diabetes, or type 2 diabetes)
- Poor diet
- High triglycerides (fats in the blood)
- Lack of exercise
- An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Underactive pituitary gland (hypopituitarism)
- Genetic variants (specifically PNPLA3)
Fatty liver disease is the most common chronic liver disease in the world. In the United States alone, NAFLD affects more than 80 million people (1-in-5 adults). Experts estimate it will become the number one cause of liver transplants within the next decade.
You may experience no symptoms of liver problems initially. The human liver is strong and durable, accustomed to handling all the toxins you’re exposed to daily. This means it’s able to endure years of abuse before it begins to falter.
Once you begin to show signs of liver distress, the problem could already be highly advanced. You may still show no signs until your liver begins to fail.
Signs And Symptoms of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Nausea and indigestion
- Inability to lose weight
- Excessive sweating
- Hyperthermia (overheating of the body)
- Enlarged liver
- Fatigue
- Pain in the upper right area of the abdomen
- Abdominal swelling
- Large (possibly visible) blood vessels beneath the skin
- Larger breast tissue in men
- Enlarged spleen
- Red palms
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
According to research published in the Hepatology Journal, NAFLD can be halted and even reversed with the proper diet and lifestyle changes. This means focused steps to remove those contributing to a dangerous fatty liver.
Nine Steps to Protect Your Liver Right Now
- Control alcohol intake. While one or two glasses of wine daily have proven health benefits, avoid hard liquors.
- Limit high-carb food. Avoid processed foods, white bread, and anything packed with preservatives or refined sugars. A carbohydrate-rich diet overwhelms your liver as simple carbs are converted into sugars and fat.
- Read the labels. Consume flour-based foods in moderation. This includes breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, bread, chips, and fries. Even if your food isn’t made of flour, it’s mixed with or coated.
- Cut all trans fats. Fast food, deep-fried anything, and convenience store snacks are dangerous. Despite legislation, trans fats are still present in these foods because manufacturers lower the serving size to stay under the maximum allowable. Eliminate all hydrogenated oils and switch to olive or coconut oils.
- Eat more produce. Produce is one of the most potent healing and cleansing foods available and is crucial to liver health.
- Exercise regularly. Even low-impact exercise such as walking or yoga does wonders for your health.
- Control the weight. While even thin people have developed fatty liver disease, they are the exception. Obesity is a known risk factor for countless diseases and premature death. Getting your weight down to a healthy level will help your entire body.
- Increase protein consumption. Natural proteins such as meat, eggs, nuts, and seafood stabilize your blood sugar, reduce hunger, and aid in weight loss.
- Follow a Mediterranean Diet of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and fish.
Some simple changes can help avoid or reverse fatty liver disease. A healthy liver translates to a cleaner body, meaning a longer, more vital life.
Supplements that help with fatty liver disease:
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) – NAC is a little-known amino acid that has been shown to help support the gentle detoxification of your liver, to rid it of tobacco and other types of carbon monoxide-rich smoke, alcohol, and the air pollutants you’re exposed to daily.
- Berberine Max – For the past few years, extensive research has found that berberine can regulate blood glucose levels and reduce blood lipids. The latest research demonstrated that berberine was an exceptionally effective supplement for treating NAFLD. The liver is the organ that contains the highest concentration of berberine metabolites, and the concentration in the liver is about 70 times as large as that found in plasma.
- Annato E 300 – Aids in the support and detoxification of the liver through the use of tocotrienols. Owing to their positive influence on lipids (fats in the blood), tocotrienols may be beneficial for those with a buildup of fat in the liver and those who need help managing blood sugar and insulin levels.
- Milk Thistle – A purple flower and an ancient liver booster, milk thistle has been found to help support the elimination of heavy metal buildup, medication residue, environmental pollutants, and alcohol that can accumulate in and damage your liver.
- Turmeric – This 4,000-year-old Indian herb is a potent anti-inflammatory, helps protect your liver from oxidative stress, and promotes healthy liver function.
- Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) – ALA is a potent antioxidant that helps keep fats from accumulating in your liver, which is vital when you want to prevent fatty liver disease.
Your liver is too crucial to your very life to self-diagnose or leave it to chance! While none of the warning signs listed above is definitive of fatty liver disease, if you’re experiencing more than one of these – especially if they’re ongoing – get a FREE Consultation with one of our doctors (D.C) here.
