The liver is tasked with numerous functions in the body. Among other things, the liver filters toxins from the blood, produces bile so that you can digest fats better, and produces essential proteins and regulates blood sugar. These are just to mention a few of what the liver actually does. And this is why taking care of your liver is vital. You simply cannot afford to take it for granted.
So recently, I came across some mobile health workers who carried out tests done by machines (body analyser health detectors). By placing your palm on the machine, the device provides an individual health assessment. It is meant to help you track and monitor your health status.
Well... the results came out shady.
Apart from a list of 101 things that are wrong with me, fatty liver was.... wait for it.... part of the problem.
Obviously, I’ve heard of fatty liver before, but you know how we are not always concerned about certain things until it happens to us.
As a health enthusiast that I am, I quickly researched what this ailment was all about. So I’ll explain it in layman's terms for the sake of my dear readers.
Fatty liver is also known as “hepatic steatosis” and is caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver cells. A lot of factors are involved, but the major issue is that the liver either:
- Produces too much fat, or
- Has taken in more fat than it can process, or
- Doesn’t digest fat efficiently, which leads to fat accumulation.
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FATTY LIVER TYPES
So basically, there are two main types of fatty liver disease. There’s one for those who drink alcohol and there’s one for those who don’t.
NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD)
This occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. It's the most common type and is associated with:
- Obesity
- Insulin resistance / Type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Metabolic syndrome (mine is practically non-existent)
- Poor diet (high in sugar, refined carbs, and fat)
- Sedentary lifestyle (I'm such a couch potato lately)
- Rapid weight loss
Judging from my lifestyle, I would say I’m in this category since I can tick off more than two boxes.
Note: NAFLD can lead to NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), which involves inflammation and liver damage, and eventually leads to cirrhosis or liver failure.
ALCOHOL-RELATED FATTY LIVER DISEASE (AFLD)
Just like the name implies, this is caused by heavy or chronic alcohol intake. The liver prioritizes alcohol metabolism over fat metabolism, causing fat buildup. As if the liver is not doing enough, you still go ahead to stress it more by taking alcohol.
Shame on you!
The risks for this type of fatty liver go up with:
- Amount and duration of alcohol intake
- Gender (women are more vulnerable)
- Genetics
- Malnutrition (who could have thought?)
OTHER CAUSES OF FATTY LIVER INCLUDE:
- Certain medications (e.g., corticosteroids, methotrexate, amiodarone)
- Toxins and chemicals
- Viral hepatitis (especially Hepatitis C)
- Pregnancy (a rare condition called acute fatty liver of pregnancy)
- Inherited metabolic disorders (e.g., Wilson's disease)
HOW TO KNOW YOU HAVE FATTY LIVER
While fatty liver might not show any signs in the early stage, it can be discovered during tests for other conditions, which is the same as my case. However, as it becomes more advanced, you will start to experience some of the following symptoms. Number one is the reason why I did the test in the first place.
- Fatigue: always feeling tired, lazy, and sluggish
- Swelling: swelling in the legs, ankles or feet.
- Dark urine: color may become dark like amber
- Abdominal pain: discomfort in your abdominal area
- Jaundice: yellowing of the skin and whites of your eyes
- Pale stool: stools that are light in colour
- Easily bruised: since the liver produces fewer clotting factors, you might bruise more easily.
Once you observe a few of these symptoms, this is your sign to see a doctor and this is the reason why routine medical checkup is now necessary. Do not wait until you fall sick before you visit the hospital. Nobody wants any unpleasant surprise in the form of an ailment.
HOW TO TREAT IT
Treating fatty liver primarily focuses on addressing the underlying causes and preventing progression to more serious liver damage. Here’s a rundown of common treatment strategies:
1. Lifestyle Changes (the cornerstone of treatment)
Weight loss:
Losing about 7-10% of body weight can significantly reduce liver fat and inflammation.
Achieved through a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise.
Healthy diet:
Focus on a balanced, nutrient-rich diet: lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins.
Avoid added sugars, refined carbs, and saturated fats.
Consider the Mediterranean diet, which has good evidence for liver health.
Limit or eliminate alcohol intake.
Exercise:
Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week (e.g., brisk walking, swimming) plus muscle-strengthening activities.
Manage diabetes and cholesterol:
Control blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol/triglycerides with diet, exercise, and medications if needed.
2. Medications
Currently, no medications are specifically approved to cure fatty liver, but some are used to manage related conditions or inflammation:
Wellness pack for men and women:
These packs contain very rare and powerful ingredients that can be used not only to manage the symptoms but also to reverse them in the long run. The packs are formulated for each gender based on their anatomy to give the body the needed nutrients for wellness.
A pack of 3 is enough to restore you to your factory settings. However, you must continue to maintain a good lifestyle. To know more about this game changer, then READ ABOUT IT HERE. OR PLACE YOUR ORDER HERE.
Insulin sensitizers:
Such as pioglitazone can help improve insulin resistance and liver inflammation, but has side effects. So I would not recommend this.
Medications for underlying conditions:
3. Avoiding Alcohol
Stay away from Alcohol. Even science has stated it as a fact that no amount of alcohol is good for you. And this is especially crucial in alcohol-related fatty liver. Also for non-alcoholic fatty liver, alcohol can worsen liver damage.
4. Regular Monitoring
Regular check-ups with liver function tests and imaging as advised by your doctor.
Monitor for progression to fibrosis or cirrhosis.
5. Advanced Disease Management
If fatty liver progresses to cirrhosis or liver failure, more intensive interventions or liver transplant may be required.
However, we all hope it doesn't get to that stage.
Until then, take care of yourself.
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