Fatty Liver: If you’ve been gaining stubborn weight around your mid-section, battling food cravings, feeling persistently fatigue or riding the rollercoaster of blood sugar crashes, you aren’t alone. However, things get worse when you’re being told that you need to eat healthy as your liver enzymes are a little high. This may be a classic sign of early-stage fatty liver, also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Now comes the good news! Early-stage fatty liver is manageable and highly reversible. However, it would require a high level of precision and not guesswork.
Why Fatty Liver Happens?
Fatty Liver develops when there is accumulation of excess fat in liver cells, primarily because of metabolic dysfunction and not just due to dietary fat intake. The real culprit could be chronically-elevated insulin levels.
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When you start consuming high amounts of sugars, refined carbs and ultra-processed foods, your body starts producing insulin to regulate blood glucose. Over time, frequent bouts of insulin spikes may result in insulin resistance. This forces the body to churn out even more insulin, creating a vicious cycle that promotes fat storage, especially in the liver region.
Due to this, the liver becomes overwhelmed and starts converting excess glucose into fat. The accumulated fat then goes on to impair liver function and trigger inflammation.
How To Treat Fatty Liver?
- Your primary goal should be to reduce insulin levels and restore insulin sensitivity. For this, you need to include healthy fats like nuts, seeds, fatty fish and olive oil so metabolic balance gets supported.
- Include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage as they enhance liver enzyme activity.
- Focus on evidence-based, hepatoprotective (liver-protecting) foods and natural supports such as green tea, ginger, coffee (in moderation) and turmeric. You can even include herbal teas made from dandelion root, milk thistle and peppermint.
- You need to cut down on or eliminate refined sugar, white flour products ultra-processed snacks and excess alcohol. Also, say goodbye to Granola bars, flavoured yogurts and even certain smoothies.
Disclaimer: This content, including advice, provides general information only. It is not a substitute for a qualified medical opinion in any way. The methods and claims mentioned in this article should be considered as suggestions only; DNP India neither confirms nor denies them. Always consult a doctor before following any such suggestions/treatments/medications/diets.
