Foods To Eat And Avoid For People With Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty Liver Disease is taking over the lives of people, affecting their health and leading to unrecoverable complications.

But what is Fatty Liver Disease?

What causes it, and how can you know?

I have never touched a drink; why would I be worried about it?

Yes, your mind might be full of questions, but it’s fine. But the only thing we want to say is just stay calm and, instead of panicking, learn about the disease and look for ways to protect yourself and your loved ones and prevent it.

So, let’s start with the very basics.

What is Fatty Liver Disease?

Fatty Liver Disease, as its very own name suggests, is called to a condition in which fat builds up in your liver, attributed to alcohol or non-alcohol factors.

According to the studies, your liver, which processes over 500 essential functions, can handle up to 15% of fat, which is normal for it. However, when it goes overboard, the excess fat accumulated in the liver can lead to a condition known as Fatty Liver Disease.

The condition is further classified into two broader categories:

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: As clear from the name, Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) occurs in individuals who are heavy drinkers. The risk doubles for those:

• Who drinks a lot or has been drinking for an extended period
• Who are women.
• Have obesity
• Have certain genetic mutations.

However, if you think Fatty Liver Disease is only associated with alcohol, you need to rethink. This is because the other category of the disease is the one that affects non-alcoholic individuals.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: As per a recent AIIMS Study, 38% of Indians have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. The condition is not only limited to adults; around 35% of children are in its grip.

As per NHS, you are at high risk if you:

• Are overweight, especially if you have a lot of fat around your belly.
• Have Type 2 Diabetes.
• Have Hypothyroidism
• Have chronic conditions like High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol & Metabolic Syndrome
• Are age above 50
• Smoke

However, it is essential to understand that people, even with no such risk, can be diagnosed with NAFLD, including young children.

One important thing to understand is that it might be similar to ARLD; it is not caused by drinking too much alcohol.

Also Read: If you want to know more about Fatty Liver Disease, its causes, and symptoms, read this as well.

https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/liver/what-is-fatty-liver-causes-symptoms-and-treatment/ 

While the cases of Fatty Liver Disease are increasing, the good news is that with a change in diet and lifestyle, you can reduce your risks for both types.

Diet and lifestyle changes are easier said than done, right?

Worry not—we got you. That's why we have jotted down a little cheat sheet on food that can help you combat the condition and keep your liver functioning in balance.

So, if you have Fatty Liver Disease, here’s what you should or shouldn’t eat.

5 Foods To Include In Diet If You Have Fatty Liver Disease:

1. Garlic:

Besides being a staple in the diet, Garlic is a superfood with superb health benefits for people with Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Some studies have found that garlic consumption can reduce the incidence and severity of NAFLD.

2. Whole Grains:

Choosing whole grains over refined carbohydrates may have some positive impacts on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Being rich in vitamins, minerals, and filling fiber, whole grains can support bowel regularity and help keep liver health in check.

3. Turmeric:

Also called the Golden Spice, Turmeric, with a high dose of curcumin, might help reduce the marker of liver damage in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

According to the National Institutes Of Health, turmeric intake is often associated with improving liver functioning, decreasing serum TG levels, reducing obesity, and more. Therefore, it plays a significant role in treating NAFLD.

4. Green Tea:

If you love tea, love Green Tea. Some studies have shown that green Tea can significantly reduce fat storage in the liver and help improve its function. While the research is still under way, sipping on a hot cup of green tea is good for your liver and overall health.

Besides, it will keep your weight down too.

5. Coffee:

All coffee lovers would definitely be in awe after reading that drinking coffee (in a healthy proportion a day) can significantly improve liver health. Often known for its bad rep, Coffee does not always work as an enemy for your health and is found to lower liver enzymes in people at risk of liver disease.

Important Tip: Just drink a normal cup of coffee and keep the quantity in mind. Also, do not load it with too much sugar or cream, which can only increase calories and burden liver health.

5 Foods To Eliminate From The Diet If You Have Fatty Liver Disease:

Sugar And Sugary Drinks:

According to some studies, NAFLD is often associated with sugary drinks, as it can negatively impact liver function. These may, in one way or another, contribute to the following:

• Poor Liver Functions
• High Blood Sugar Levels
• Increase Fat in the Liver

Therefore, it is always highly advisable to avoid sugary drinks, soda, and foods or drinks containing fructose and corn syrup to minimize liver fat and keep it healthy.

Added Salt:

While salt in the diet is essential to give food the taste and iodine value it needs, too much of it can increase the risk of NAFLD. Excess salt in the diet usually activates the aldose reductase-frucktokinase pathway in the liver, leading to NAFLD.

According to the National Institutes Of Health (NIH), people with a high sodium intake are at 60% greater risk of NAFLD than those with low consumption.

So, keep a safe distance from it.

Butter And Ghee:

Being an Indian, your diet must include a lot of Butter and Ghee, and why not? Its benefits are numerous. But like every coin, there is also the other side of these delicious and healthy Butter and ghee: They contain saturated fat, which is often linked with high triglycerides in the liver and is a no-no if you have NAFLD.

Alcohol:

Do we really need a reason to share why you should quit alcohol? Well, you must be aware of its impact on your liver health. Still, to add to the available information, as per the experts, if you have alcoholic fatty liver disease, drinking can simply lead to further damage.

Does that mean people with NAFLD can drink?

NO, moderate to heavy alcohol consumption can cause additional damage and fat accumulation in the liver in people with NAFLD.

White Flour:

Food items made with white flour, including white pasta and white bread, are often highly processed, which can raise blood sugar levels, leading to problems with liver function and should be avoided if you have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Whether you have Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, it is always good to consult your healthcare provider for a personalized diet that can support your liver health.

Besides good health, healthy lifestyle choices contribute to optimal liver function and help you adequately manage Fatty Liver Disease.

Tips To Reverse Fatty Liver Disease:

• If you are obese, the first and foremost advice is to lose weight. It will reduce the odds of injury to liver cells and might help you reverse some of the damage. However, lose it in a healthy way, as rapid weight loss can make things worse.
• Exercise, Exercise, and Exercise daily. Daily physical activity can help you shed weight and cut the excess fat in your liver. Strength or weight training often helps lower inflammation and improve fatty liver disease. So, aim for 30-40 minutes of physical activity daily or at least 5 days a week, following the advice of your healthcare provider.
• If you have diabetes and your blood sugar levels are not balanced, you should better pay attention to them as they are significantly linked with Fatty Liver Disease. Make sure you take all your medications on time as suggested, and watch your blood sugar levels for a healthy balance.
• Moreover, people with high cholesterol problems should also monitor it routinely to keep liver health in check. Eat a healthy diet and lower it to ensure that fats in your liver are at healthy levels.
• Moderate your alcohol intake, as excessive intake of it can negatively affect liver function and cause liver damage.
• Practice good hygiene to prevent certain infections that can make you sick and can damage the liver.

Eating a balanced and nutritious diet, along with healthy habits, can make a big difference in liver health and help you cope with Fatty Liver Disease.

However, to take charge, you need to recognize the problem early so actions can be initiated in time. Therefore, it is important to understand the significance of a routine Liver Function Test to examine its function thoroughly, identify abnormalities (if any), and take charge while there is still time.

So, Love Liver And Book Routine Liver Function Test With Redcliffe Labs!

With Redcliffe Labs, you can book a Liver Function Test at home. The aim is to thoroughly evaluate whether all the functions of the most important organ of your body are working fine and detect abnormalities (if any). Besides helping with early diagnosis, the test allows timely intervention, preventing the severity of the condition.

Your liver is your life. Make sure to love it enough to live longer. Book the LFT test today if you have any concerns or just for routine testing.