What to Know About Fatty Liver Disease
#fattyliver is also known as hepatic steatosis. It happens when fat builds up in the liver. #Having #small #amounts of fat in your liver is #normal, but too much can become a health #problem .
Your liver is the second-largest #organ in your body. It helps process nutrients from food and drinks, and filters #harmful substances from your blood.
Too much fat in your liver can cause liver #inflammation, which can #damage your liver and create #scarring. In severe #cases, this #scarring can lead to liver failure.
When fatty liver develops in someone who #drinks a lot of alcohol, it’s known as alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD).
In someone who doesn’t drink a lot of alcohol, it’s known as #nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
According to a 2017 research review, NAFLD affects up to 25 to 30 percent of #peopleTrusted Source in the United States and Europe.
What are the symptoms of fatty liver?
Fatty liver can progress through four stages:
Simple fatty liver. There’s a #buildup of #excess #fat in the liver. Simple fatty liver is largely harmless if it doesn’t #progress .
#Steatohepatitis. In addition to excess fat, there’s also inflammation in the liver.
#Fibrosis. Persistent inflammation in the liver has now caused scarring. However, the liver can still generally function normally.
#Cirrhosis. Scarring of the liver has become #widespread, impairing the liver’s ability to function. This is the most severe stage and is #irreversible .
Both AFLD and NAFLD present similarly. However, in many cases, fatty liver causes no noticeable #symptoms. But you may feel tired, or experience discomfort or pain in the upper right side of your #abdomen .
Some people with fatty liver disease develop complications, including #liver scarring. Liver scarring is known as liver #fibrosis. If you develop severe liver fibrosis, it’s known as cirrhosis, a potentially life threatening condition that can cause liver #failure .
The liver damage due to cirrhosis is permanent. That’s why it’s so important to prevent it from developing in the first place.
Cirrhosis may cause symptoms such as:
#abdominalpain
loss of #appetite e
#weightloss
#weakness or #fatigue e
#nausea a
#itchyskin
yellow skin and eyes
easy bruising or bleeding
dark-colored urine
pale stools
fluid #accumulation in the abdomen (ascites)
swelling ( #edema) of your #legs
web-like clusters of blood vessels under your #skin n
#confusion
Here are a few foods to include in your #healthy #liverdiet :
1. #coffee to help lower abnormal liver #enzymes s.
2. #Greens to prevent fat buildup
3. Beans and soy to reduce the risk of NAFLD
Both #beans and soy have shown promise when it comes to #reducing the risk of NAFLD.
4. Fish to reduce inflammation and fat levels
5. Oatmeal for fiber
Whole-grain, #fiber-rich foods like #oatmeal
6. #nuts to help reduce inflammation
A diet rich in nuts is associated with reduced inflammation, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress, and a lower prevalence of NAFLD.
7. #turmeric to reduce markers of liver damage
High doses of curcumin - the active ingredient in turmeric - might reduce markers of liver damage in people with NAFLD.
8. #sunflower seeds for #antioxidants s
Sunflower seeds are particularly high in vitamin E, an antioxidant often usedTrusted Source (via supplementation) in the treatment of NAFLD.
9. #increase unsaturated fat intake
Swapping out sources of saturated fat - like butter, fatty cuts of meat, sausages, and cured meats - for #unsaturated fat sources - like avocados, olive oil, nut butter, and fatty fish - may be helpful for those with NAFLD.
10. #garlic to improve overall health
This vegetable not only adds #flavors to food, but small experimental studies also show that garlic powder supplementsTrusted Source may help reduce body weight and fat in people with fatty liver disease.