What Is Fatty Liver Disease?
Dr. Eric Berg
10/03/2024
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Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Keto & Intermittent Fasting
Fatty liver disease is characterized by a buildup of fat in liver tissue and is primarily caused by excessive alcohol consumption or poor dietary and lifestyle choices.
Fortunately, making beneficial lifestyle changes and adopting a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of fatty liver disease and support liver health in those already diagnosed.
Discover what causes fatty liver and how to promote liver function naturally.
What is fatty liver disease?
Hepatic steatosis, widely known as fatty liver disease, is a condition characterized by excess fat buildup in and around the liver.
This potentially serious condition is broadly categorized into alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
AFLD is attributed to excessive alcohol consumption, which results in damaged liver cells and inflammation. Left untreated, AFLD can worsen into alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis, which causes severe liver scarring and reduced liver function.
NAFLD is typically caused by inflammation and damage to liver cells in the absence of alcohol abuse and can progress into cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, a potentially fatal form of liver cancer.
This type of fatty liver is often a result of obesity or metabolic imbalances linked to poor dietary and lifestyle choices.
Watch the video below to learn more about the causes of fatty liver disease.
The REAL Causes of Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
What causes fatty liver disease?
The liver is a crucial organ with approximately 500 functions, including metabolic energy-making processes, nutrient storage, hormone production, and detoxification.
Alcohol disrupts the normal metabolism of fats in the liver. This can lead to an imbalance in lipid synthesis and breakdown, causing fatty acids to accumulate in liver cells.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men who drink more than 15 alcoholic beverages and women who consume eight drinks per week are at increased risk of AFLD.
The leading cause of a nonalcoholic fatty liver is obesity, which typically is linked to a diet high in carbohydrates, processed foods, and sugar.
A study published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences found that the prevalence of NAFLD is between 50 and 90 percent in obese individuals compared to 15 to 30 percent in the general population.
Obese individuals and those consuming high-carb diets are at increased risk of insulin resistance. This metabolic imbalance occurs when liver and muscle cells don’t respond to the blood glucose-regulating hormone insulin.
Poor blood sugar control can lead to elevated insulin levels to compensate for cellular resistance. However, because insulin is an anabolic hormone that stimulates liver cells to convert excess blood sugar into fatty acids, insulin resistance can lead to fat accumulation in liver tissue.
At the same time, insulin suppresses lipolysis, the metabolic process of breaking down lipids and fats for energy production. This explains why insulin resistance creates a vicious cycle of weight gain and hepatic fat accumulation.
Signs and symptoms of fatty liver disease
The early stages of NAFLD and AFLD are typically asymptomatic, which means there are few or no symptoms until the condition worsens.
It’s believed that around 24 percent of US adults have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and a majority of those affected are asymptomatic. As liver function diminishes, symptoms such as fatigue, a general feeling of unwellness, and discomfort in the upper right abdomen are common.
However, there may also be seemingly unrelated liver disease symptoms associated with NAFLD and AFLD.
Here are signs and symptoms that may indicate fatty liver disease:
Heart pain
Jaundice
Enlarged breasts in men, also known as gynecomastia
Poor eyesight
Belly fat
Itching on palms of hands or bottom of feet
Confusion
Irritability
Poor blood sugar control
Bad breath
If you show signs and symptoms of fatty liver disease or are worried about your liver health, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider.
Imaging tests like MRI scans and ultrasounds can evaluate liver function and help diagnose fatty liver disease. Blood tests, including liver function tests, may also be used to rule out other liver diseases.
In some cases, it may be necessary to perform a liver biopsy. This procedure removes part of the liver for examination to diagnose fatty liver disease or determine the severity of liver damage.
Risk factors for fatty liver disease
Various risk factors can contribute to the development of fatty liver disease. However, chronic alcohol consumption, obesity, and poor dietary habits are the leading causes of NAFLD and AFLD.
Other risk factors for fatty liver disease include:
Age
Belly fat
Smoking
Hepatitis B and C infections
Insulin resistance
Metabolic syndrome
Nutritional deficiencies
In addition, an underactive pituitary gland, known as hypopituitarism, can contribute to rapid weight gain associated with liver fat accumulation and NAFLD.
5 ways to reduce the risk of fatty liver disease
Too much alcohol and a high body mass index (BMI) can lead to fatty liver disease and may require a liver transplant at advanced stages.
Here are five ways to support healthy liver function and naturally reduce the risk of fatty liver disease.
1. Follow a low-carb ketogenic diet
The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that restricts carbohydrate intake to no more than 50 grams of net carbs daily.
Keto is an excellent strategy to promote balanced blood sugar and insulin levels, thereby reducing the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.
“Any foods that cause blood sugar and insulin spikes can contribute to liver fat,” explains Dr. Berg. “This includes sugars, fructose from fruit, and refined carbohydrates.”
A nutritious low-carb diet such as Healthy Keto® focuses on organic vegetables, including leafy greens, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts. These foods contain powerful antioxidants that can promote liver function by lowering inflammation in liver cells.
Healthy Keto also advocates grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, avocados, and coconut oil, all rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. These anti-inflammatory fats have been shown to support liver cell function and may help reduce liver fat accumulation.
2. Practice intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting refers to cycling between fasting periods and time-restricted eating windows. Scheduled caloric restriction is highly effective for weight loss, helps promote metabolic balance, and reduces the risk of insulin resistance and fatty liver disease.
A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found intermittent fasting improves BMI in those with NAFLD. It also reduces elevated levels of liver enzymes, especially alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), a marker of liver cell damage.
3. Exercise regularly
A sedentary lifestyle is associated with poor liver health and NAFLD, including those with a healthy weight.
Research published in Gene Expression found that regular exercise is therapeutic for those with NAFLD and helps manage fatty liver disease by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing liver cell damage.
4. Avoid alcohol
Drinking alcohol not only causes fatty liver disease but can also lead to various other conditions, including high blood pressure, cancer, and digestive and kidney diseases.
Avoiding alcohol eases the liver’s burden to detoxify ethanol, which allows liver cells to regenerate and liver tissue to heal.
Depending on the severity of alcohol-induced liver damage, normal liver cell function can be restored in as little as two weeks after stopping alcohol consumption.
5. Drink black coffee
Caffeinated black coffee may have a hepatoprotective effect and reduce the risk and severity of NAFLD. Regular coffee consumption has been linked to reduced liver scarring, one of the primary causes of cirrhosis.
A study published in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology investigated the health benefits of coffee for liver function.
The authors observed “A significantly decreased risk of NAFLD among coffee drinkers and significantly decreased risk of liver fibrosis among patients with NAFLD who drank coffee on a regular basis.”
It’s believed that coffee can help reduce liver fat due to its antioxidant properties, ability to decrease inflammation, and potential to enhance liver enzyme function.
Key takeaways
Fatty liver disease is a preventable condition characterized by fat buildup in liver cells. It occurs due to chronic alcohol abuse or poor dietary choices and can be managed by adopting a nutritious low-carb diet, exercising, and intermittent fasting.
Without making beneficial changes, fatty liver disease can progress into cirrhosis, which is characterized by permanent scarring, liver stiffness, and reduced liver function.
FAQ
1. What are the top signs of fatty liver disease?
Fatty liver disease is typically asymptomatic until the condition develops into cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.
However, common signs of progressive liver disease include a protruded belly, malaise, fatigue, jaundice, or pain in the upper right abdomen.
2. What is the best diet for fatty liver disease?
The ketogenic diet is the best diet to manage and prevent fatty liver disease. Limiting carbs is crucial in preventing insulin resistance, a primary cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
In addition, keto promotes fat-burning and stimulates liver cells to utilize stored fatty acids as a fuel source, which helps reduce liver fat.
3. How long does it take for a fatty liver to turn into cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is a progressive disease that begins as simple fatty liver disease and, if left untreated, can cause fibrous liver tissue and scarring.
It may take up to 30 years before a fatty liver turns into cirrhosis, which explains why most cases are diagnosed around 60 years of age.
4. How long does it take for a fatty liver to heal?
While the liver can start repairing itself in as little as two weeks, severe liver damage can take six months to three years to heal completely.
How fast the liver can regenerate also depends on how disciplined you are in making beneficial dietary and lifestyle changes.
5. What are the best superfoods for the liver?
Cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, and berries provide essential nutrients and antioxidants that help detoxify and support liver health. Black coffee may also benefit the liver by reducing liver fat and slowing the development of scar tissue.
Additionally, eggs, beef liver, and fish contain choline and omega-3 fatty acids, which promote hepatic fat metabolism, reduce inflammation, and improve insulin sensitivity.
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