Fatty liver disease is an early stage of liver disease. To help prevent the disease from progressing, it is very important to manage the Fatty liver disease as effectively as possible. But, is it possible to reverse fatty liver disease naturally? How long will the healing process take?
Health experts share that several foods might help to improve liver health. They include fatty fish, whey protein, and nut/seeds. Some beverages like black coffee and green tea might have the same effects. The liver’s main function is to remove toxins from the blood. So a liver cleanse can also help the vital organ to work better.
Fatty Liver Disease: What Is It?
We’ve all heard of fat and the liver but what about fatty liver disease (FLD)? We usually think of fat as something right under the skin that can cause people to gain weight. However, fat can also exist in other places like the blood and liver.
Our liver normally contains fat, but if the fat levels become higher than normal, this will result in fatty liver disease.
Types Of Fatty Liver Disease
There are two types of fatty liver disease alcoholic and nonalcoholic.
(ALD) Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
This type of fatty liver disease is reversible. The patient with ALD normally improves after stopping drinking alcoholic beverages. Meanwhile, if you keep drinking the ALD can progress to more serious conditions including:
- Enlarged liver
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Alcoholic cirrhosis
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Nonalcohol drinkers may also have the possibility of getting fatty liver disease and this is the “non-alcoholic” type known as NAFLD.
Reverse Fatty Liver Disease Naturally
The good news is it’s possible to reverse fatty liver naturally during the early stages of the disease. This is through lifestyle/diet changes. Note that it can be tough to reverse it during the late stage of FLD.
People with fatty liver disease may try some certain diet such as the Mediterranean diet. This diet not created for patients with FLD, but it will definitely help reduce the fat in your liver. This type of diet also focuses on foods that contain healthy fats, complex carbs, and antioxidants.
DIET CHANGES
Besides focusing on certain foods/drinks to consume you can also take some general steps. For example, eat more fish, fruits, veggies, and high-fiber foods. Reduce salt, sugar, carbs, and unhealthy fats (saturated/trans). Coffee might also help to reduce inflammation although make sure to avoid sugar and non-dairy creamers.
You should also make sure to drink up to 3 liters of water per day. This will help to remove unwanted wastes/toxins from your body, including the liver.
Some food to include in your diet are:
| Foods To Eat | Foods To Avoid |
| Fatty fish | Red meat |
| Coffee or tea | Fried foods |
| Chia or flax seeds | White bread |
| Garlic | Pasta |
| Walnuts | White rice |
| Avocado | Sugary foods |
| Soybeans | Salty foods |
| Cruciferous vegetables | Alcoholic beverages |
AVOID NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed as anti-inflammatory medicine. These include Advil and others. Such pain relievers can cause a strain on your liver, which you’ll want to avoid if you have NAFLD.
REGULAR EXERCISE
Make sure you’re doing at least 30 minutes of light exercise daily. It’s even better if you do an hour of cardio or weight-resistance exercises most days of the week.
- Brisk walking daily
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
HEALTH CONDITIONS
Sometimes related health conditions are factors related to fat buildup in the liver. Some of these conditions include:
- High cholesterol
- Sleep apnea
- Under/over-active thyroid
- Diabetes
- High blood fat
LIMIT/AVOID ALCOHOL
If you have a fatty liver disease then make sure to reduce or avoid alcohol. The maximum should be 1 drink/day for women and 2 drinks/day for men.
LOSE WEIGHT
Studies show this is the most important step to take for reversing NAFLD. Try to lose up to 10% of your current body weight for the best results. Some options include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight-loss medicines after learning is fatty liver disease reversible.
Supplements
According to studies, some vitamins and other supplements may help lessen fat in the liver and reduce the progression of fatty liver disease. Though in most cases, further research is needed.
If you are taking medication, it is important to consult your physician first before taking any vitamins or supplements.
Some supplements to consider:
- Silymarin: Its potential benefits are the prevention and treatment of FLD and even primary liver cancer.
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids: These essential fats can be found in foods such as fatty fish, nuts and seeds
- Berberine: is known as one of the most effective herbal supplements. It lowers blood sugar levels, reduces inflammation and alleviates NAFLD
- Vitamins C and E: These vitamins are considered as the major antioxidants. Certain studies found that fatty liver disease can be improved by taking vitamin e and c.
