What is Fatty Liver?
Hepatic steatosis is another name for fatty liver disease. This condition occurs due to the accumulation of fat in the liver. While some amount of fat on the liver is considered healthy, when it crosses a certain limit, it can be harmful to one’s health.
The liver is the second largest organ of your body. It helps process nutrients from the food and drinks consumed by a person. It filters toxins from the blood.
When too much fat accumulates in the liver, it can lead to liver inflammation. This can severely damage the liver, develop scar tissue, and, in some severe conditions, lead to fatal liver failure.
If a person consumes too much alcohol, he or she develops fatty liver, which is known as alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). On the other hand, when fatty liver develops in someone who does not consume too much alcohol, it is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
What are the types of Fatty Liver?
Fatty liver, which is the accumulation of excessive fat in the liver, is mainly of two types. This condition arises when the amount of fat in the liver cells exceeds the normal. Let us know the main types of fatty liver:
Alcoholic Fatty Liver
This type is caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol prevents the liver from metabolizing fat properly, leading to fat accumulation in the liver cells.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD)
This type occurs in people who do not consume alcohol or consume it in very small quantities. It is mostly related to obesity, diabetes, and poor lifestyle.
Subtypes of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver
Simple Fatty Liver: There is only an accumulation of fat in the liver cells and no inflammation or damage.
Symptoms of Fatty Liver
The symptoms of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are similar. However, in many cases, fatty liver does not cause any outward symptoms. The person may feel tired, experience fatigue, or feel some discomfort. You may feel mild pain in the upper right part of the abdomen.
Causes of Fatty Liver
Some of the factors that can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are as follows:
- Being overweight or obese
- Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
- Having resistance to insulin
- High levels of bad cholesterol in the blood
- Any syndrome based on impaired metabolism
- Pregnancy
- Certain side effects from medications
- Hepatitis C
- Certain rare genetic diseases
Treatment of Fatty Liver
Currently, no specific drug has been approved for the treatment of fatty liver disease. Research needs to be done to develop and test drugs that can treat this condition.
In the case of fatty liver, the condition can be improved to a great extent by making certain lifestyle changes. The doctor may advise you to take the following steps:
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Weight loss should be your priority.
- Dietary changes are seriously advised
- Please avoid certain drugs and supplements that can adversely affect your liver
If someone has alcoholic fatty liver disease, your doctor may advise him to avoid alcohol at all costs and make lifestyle changes.
Some viral infections can also damage the liver. To protect liver health, you should get certain vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Fatty Liver Diet
Fatty liver can be treated not only with medicines but also with proper diet and lifestyle. By adopting a proper diet, liver fat can be reduced and it can be kept healthy. Information about proper diet for fatty liver is given here:-
What to Eat for Fatty Liver?
1- Fiber-Rich Diet
- Whole grains: oats, brown rice, and quinoa.
- Vegetables: broccoli, spinach, cabbage, carrots, and gourd.
- Fruits: apples, oranges, guava, and berries.
2- Protein-Rich Foods
- Lean protein: lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, peanuts.
- Fish: salmon and tuna, which contain omega-3 fatty acids.
- Egg whites: Good source of protein.
3- Healthy Fats
- Avocado, nuts (almonds, walnuts).
- Olive oil and mustard oil.
4- Antioxidant-Rich Diet
- Green Tea: Contains catechins, which reduce liver inflammation.
- Turmeric: Curcumin helps reduce inflammation.
- Garlic: Activates liver enzymes.
5- Take Care of Hydration
- Drink enough water.
- Natural drinks like coconut water and lemonade.
What not to Eat in Fatty Liver?
1- Sugar and Sweet Foods
- Sweet beverages like soft drinks and juices.
- Sweets, cakes, and pastries.
2- Refined Carbohydrates
- White bread, pasta, and foods made from refined flour.
3- Fried and Fatty Foods
- Deep-fried snacks.
- Junk foods contain trans fats.
4- Alcohol and Caffeine
- Stop alcohol consumption completely.
- Avoid excessive tea and coffee.
5- Preservatives and Processed Foods
- Canned food and cooked meats like sausages and bacon.
Fatty Liver Prevention
One of the best ways to avoid fatty liver disease is to maintain your overall health:
- Maintain a healthy weight that is neither overweight nor obese.
- Lose weight gradually to maintain long-term weight loss.
- Cut back on alcohol consumption immediately.
- Take your prescribed medications as per the schedule prescribed by your doctor.
- Take a healthy fatty liver treatment diet as mentioned above to reduce the harmful effects of fatty liver or, even better, prevent it from occurring.
Fatty liver disease is one of the most prevalent conditions in the general population. One of the main ways to prevent this disease is to follow a fatty liver diet. When facing this condition, what we eat and how we eat plays a huge role in both the prevention and treatment of the disease. For more information, consult a liver specialist doctor today.
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