Known as NALFD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), or “fatty liver” for short, it is caused by the 152 pounds of sugar and 146 pounds of flour the average American consumes daily. It is estimated that 60 million Americans have it, and it is now the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. NAFLD can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. These are the reasons I have done a lot of research into the diet and nutritional therapies that can reverse NALFD.
The good news is that it is almost always reversible!
How Does Fatty Liver Happen?
Fatty liver occurs when excess fat accumulates inside liver cells. Over time, normal, healthy liver tissue becomes replaced with fat. Gradually, fat infiltrates healthy liver tissue, so that fewer healthy liver cells remain. A fatty liver has a yellow appearance and is often enlarged and swollen with fat.
Fatty liver is now recognized as the most common cause of abnormal liver function tests in the USA, Australia, and the UK.
Did you ever hear of Foie Gras? It is actually a French term for fatty liver that is used to describe a “delicacy” made from duck or goose liver. These poor animals are overfed/force fed sugar in the form of corn and starch. These sugars activate the liver to begin lipogenesis, which is a normal response to sugar. But in the case of excess, which is forced on these geese and ducks, fatty liver quickly begins.
It’s the same thing that happens with too much sugar consumption with us. It’s not consuming fat that causes fatty liver… it’s consuming too much sugar! The high fructose corn syrup found in our processed foods is the biggest cause of fatty liver.
How Do You Know If You Have A Fatty Liver?
Blood tests, such as a liver profile, can help detect fatty liver. This blood profile may not detect early NALFD, however. An ultrasound is much better at detecting fatty liver, as is a CT scan. Quite often, fatty liver is discovered by accident while looking for other conditions. For example, it is often detected by ultrasound when checking the gallbladder. Or perhaps a CT scan while looking for the cause of abdominal pain.
If you eat a lot of sugar and flour and have excess belly fat, you probably have a fatty liver.
Early symptoms can be vague and non-specific. Most are unaware that they even have a problem. Some possible symptoms include:
- Tiredness and Fatigue
- Gallstones
- Nausea
- Excessive Sweating/Easily Overheated
- Excess Weight in the Abdominal Area
- Elevated Cholesterol and Triglycerides
- Red, Itchy Eyes
Why Is Fatty Liver A Problem?
Fatty liver creates many problems. It causes inflammation in the body, which can create insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. This causes your body to deposit fat around other organs and in your belly.
Belly fat caused by starch and sugar in your diet then create more problems, including the elevation of triglycerides and small particle LDL cholesterol. It also places you at increased risk for heart attack, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. And remember the greatly increased consequences of direct liver damage: cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
How To Fix Your Fatty Liver!
Foods To Avoid:
- Poor diet is the leading cause of fatty liver. The biggest culprit is sugar, often labeled as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Foods made with white flour are a close second. Both sugar and white flour need to be avoided. Remember, the liver converts excess carbohydrate into fat, so carbohydrate-rich foods that need to be restricted include pasta, rice, bread, breakfast cereals, potatoes, and any food made with white flour.
- Excess alcohol consumption is the second leading cause of fatty liver. Alcohol can cause inflammation and damage to liver cells, leading to fatty infiltration. Alcohol should be limited to one drink per day.
- Remember, it’s not fat that causes a fatty liver. It’s sugar!
Foods To Eat:
- Eat more of these foods to promote a healthy liver: raw vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes (beans, chickpeas, or lentils), lean chicken, fish, turkey, and eggs. Organic when possible. Use good oils such as olive oil, coconut, avocado, macadamia nut oil, and fish oil. These fats are anti-inflammatory and they help heal your liver.
- Protein should be consumed with each meal, as it helps to keep blood sugar at stable levels, reduces hunger and cravings, and helps with abdominal weight loss.
- Exercise boosts metabolism and is a wonderful way to help reduce fatty liver through improving insulin resistance.
- Drink raw vegetable juices or smoothies. Raw juices and smoothies are an excellent source of highly concentrated vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients. Personally, I prefer smoothies. They provide a great amount of fiber and are more convenient to make.
- Juice or smoothies should contain about 80-100 percent vegetables, with the remainder made up of fruit. Make sure that most, if not all, of the vegetables and fruits are organic. Ideally, juices and smoothies should be made fresh daily. If you are unable to make them daily, refrigerate the balance, but for no longer than 24 hours. Fresh juices and smoothies rapidly loose their nutrients once they are made.
- Do not drink fruit juice, as it is too high in carbohydrates and calories.
- Eat liver-repairing super foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, collards, spinach, arugula, garlic, and onions.
What Is The Best Natural Supplement Program?
The proper liver detoxification supplement program is extremely important! There are many so-called “liver detoxification” programs and supplements on the Internet. I question many of the ingredients, the quality and dose of the ingredients, and the source of the ingredients. I hope you do as well.
With all Diamond Nutritionals products, you are receiving the highest quality, made in America nutritional supplements. Each ingredient and product is highly researched for efficacy. Each product has the proper dose and balance of ingredients with no artificial additives.
Located next to each product picture is a green button marked “Product Data Sheet”. This will take you to the research paper about each product.
Here is my simple and convenient, 2-part supplement program I have used in my practice with much success:
1.) Diamond Nutritionals’ Liver Detox Formula. This product has helped many. The recommended dose is 2 twice a day (with food) for 1 month and then 2 once a day for healthy liver maintenance. Liver detoxification is an ongoing process, so I recommend starting with a higher dose and then lowering to a daily maintenance dose. As you will see, the ingredients in this natural formula are highly researched.
2.) Diamond Nutritionals’ Foundation Vitamins. The recommended dose is 3 once a day (with food) to support healthy liver function and detoxification.
For personalized medical support, either through telemedicine or at our Integrative Medical Center, contact Dr. Maxwell here.
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Photo credit: Boogie Man / BigStock.com
