Your liver has the major responsibility of keeping your body healthy. It cleans your blood, stores energy and helps digest food. When your liver has too much fat, you end up with a fatty liver. It’s common in people dealing with diabetes and obesity. Though initially it doesn’t show any symptoms, it can lead to health problems.
Can you cure fatty livers or at least reverse or control them? Let’s find it out in this article.
What Causes Fatty Liver?
A healthy liver contains very little or no fat and it does its job of processing food and waste materials properly. But when you consume too much food or alcohol beyond the liver’s capacity to handle, it starts storing more fat by turning the excess calories into fat.
So when fat makes up more than 5% to 10% of the total weight of your liver, you get a fatty liver.
There are two main types of fatty liver disease:
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease is caused by obesity and not being active enough.
Alcohol-related fatty liver disease is caused by drinking too much alcohol over long periods of time.
Can you Cure a Fatty Liver?
There is a particular medication that can treat fatty liver disease. But don’t worry, the condition can be improved and even reversed by making some lifestyle changes.
What Lifestyle Changes Should I Follow if I Have a Fatty Liver?
1. Lose excess weight.
According to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases’s guide, weight loss plays a big role in handling fatty liver progression and symptoms. As per the guide, people with obesity and a fatty liver must lose 3 to 5% of their body weight to reduce fat buildup in the liver. But ensure that you take small steps to reach your goal over time.
2. Don’t Drink Alcohol
If you drink excessively, you can develop an addiction, experience health complications, and suffer from impaired judgement. So, for optimal health, clear thinking, and emotional stability, avoid alcohol.
Make healthy living a priority.
3. Get active
Often, a fatty liver is associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Regular physical activity can help you lose weight and improve your liver health. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.
4. Avoid foods with added sugars
Cutting down on foods with added sugars can be a significant step in managing fatty liver disease. Added sugars, like those found in sugary beverages, candies, baked goods, and processed snacks, can contribute to weight gain and liver fat accumulation.
Can Fatty Liver Disease be Prevented?
Yes, fatty liver disease can be prevented if you follow the same lifestyle changes mentioned above.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce the consumption of alcohol.
- Eat a healthy diet and include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats.
- Be physically active.
Without your liver, your body would have a tough time working properly. So, taking care of your liver is super important. In fact, your liver works hard for you; why not show it some love by keeping it healthy and active by eating clean and avoiding alcohol?