What Are The Early Warning Signs Of Fatty Liver Disease
The sooner you realize your liver is in peril, the better your prospects are for reversing the buildup of fat and reducing liver inflammation before you’re in a life-threatening situation or in need of a liver transplant.
The most well-known signs of liver damage usually come at the end-stage of liver disease, like pain, an escalation of other health problems, or jaundice .
Here are the earliest signs of fatty liver disease:
- General fatigue
- Clusters of web-like blood vessels beneath the skin
- Nosebleeds
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
Again, many of these symptoms may not appear until later in the game after the damage has already been done, so if you feel persistently unwell and can’t pinpoint a reason, make an appointment with your doctor and request blood tests.
Some of the early symptoms of fatty liver disease, if you experience them at all, could also be the symptoms of an autoimmune disorder or another underlying condition. The doctor may measure your liver enzyme levels, conduct other liver function tests, or even perform a liver biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Lifestyle And Diet For Cirrhosis
When the direct cause of liver damage has been mitigated, therapeutic lifestyle and diet alterations can be introduced for maximum impact.
As a foundation, wipe your diet clean of all processed foods, replacing them with vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains. Processed foods contain high levels of sugar, salt, and chemicals like artificial sweeteners and preservatives all of which are hard on your liver. Processed foods tend to be empty calories with no nutritional value. Instead, opt for nutrient-dense, fiber-rich foods that support healing.
Examples of foods that support liver health include:
- kale, collard greens, spinach
- nuts and seeds
- beets
There are also many specific foods and herbs with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that benefit your liver and encourage healing. Consider adding some of these to your daily routine.
Can Fatty Liver Disease Be Reversed
This is a critical issue since its the first stage of liver disease. There are various symptoms that you have fatty liver. You might not have all of them but its still important to watch out for them. Here are some:
- Higher levels of live enzymes
- High insulin levels
- Pain/fullness in the abdomen
- Fatigue/weakness
There are various symptoms to watch out for that show fatty liver has developed into NASH including:
You can take some steps to treat fatty liver including:
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Take A Good Liver Tonic
Choose a liver tonic that combines the clinically proven dose of St Marys thistle with B group vitamins, antioxidants and sulfur rich amino acids. A good liver tonic can promote repair of damaged liver cells and facilitate the fat burning and detoxification abilities of the liver. Livatone Plus contains all of those ingredients and is available in powder or capsule form.
Can A Person With Hepatic Steatosis Stop Drinking
Many people with alcoholic hepatic steatosis do not experience any symptoms. However, pain and discomfort in the right upper abdomen are common side effects in advenced cases where the liver becomes enlarged. Once diagnosed, those with alcoholic hepatic steatosis usually see improvement after they stop drinking alcohol.
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Why The Type Of Fatty Liver Disease Matters
Distinguishing between simple fatty liver and NASH is important. Why? Because for most people, having simple fatty liver doesnt cause sickness related to the liver, whereas those with NASH have inflammation and injury to their liver cells. This increases the risk of progression to more serious conditions like fibrosis of the liver, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. NASH cirrhosis is expected to be the number one reason for liver transplant within the next year. Luckily, most people with NAFLD have simple fatty liver and not NASH it is estimated that 3% to 7% of the US population has NASH.
It takes a liver biopsy to know if a person has simple fatty liver or NASH. But the possible complications and cost of a liver biopsy make this impractical to do for everyone with NAFLD.
Scientists are trying to find noninvasive ways to identify who is at the greatest risk for fibrosis, and thus who should go on to have a liver biopsy. Possible approaches include biomarkers and scoring systems based on blood tests , as well as elastography .
Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad Recipe
This plant-based salad serves a family of four and is packed with liver-friendly ingredients.
Quinoa is technically a seed but considered a whole grain and complex carb, making for a healthier diet, Bonkowski says. This recipe also has fiber, protein, unsaturated fat from the olive oil and fresh ingredients like cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes.
What youll need
-
1 cup of quinoa, rinsed and dried
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2 cups of water
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1 bunch of fresh parsley, finely chopped
-
12 bunch of fresh mint, finely chopped
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2 carrots, shredded
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1 pint of cherry tomatoes
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12 cucumber, diced
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Living With Fatty Liver Disease
If you are living with fatty liver disease, learn as much as you can about your condition and work closely with your medical team. Since many medications can harm your liver, always let all your health care providers know about any medications you are taking. These include OTC drugs, dietary supplements, and vitamins. Other ways to manage fatty liver disease include maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and continuing to avoid alcohol.
What Causes Fatty Liver Disease
Some people get fatty liver disease without having any pre-existing conditions. But these risk factors make you more likely to develop it:
- Having Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
- Having metabolic syndrome .
- Taking certain prescription medications, such as amiodarone , diltiazem , tamoxifen or steroids.
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Causes Of Liver Cirrhosis
Common causes of liver injury that lead to cirrhosis include:
- Viral Hepatitis: Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are viral infections that cause hepatic inflammation and liver damage.
- Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Steatosis describes the accumulation of fat in the liver, and steatohepatitis describes the development of fatty liver and subsequent inflammation. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is precipitated by poor diet, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.
- Autoimmune Hepatitis: Chronic hepatitis can occur when your immune system malfunctions and attacks your liver, instead of foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria.
- Alcoholic Liver Disease: Certain neurological and psychological factors lead to alcohol addiction, chronic alcohol abuse, and liver damage.
These illnesses inflict damage on the liver through a complex biological cascade. Hepatic cellular injury often precipitates apoptosis or cell death. Byproducts of hepatic injury include cellular waste like reactive oxygen species, which interfere with the function of other liver cells. The resulting condition is oxidative stress, which impairs normal liver function, aggravates the immune system, and creates a state of chronic inflammation.
Acute Fatty Liver Of Pregnancy
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is when excess fat builds up in the liver during pregnancy. Its a rare but serious pregnancy complication. The exact cause is unknown, although genetics may be a reason.
When AFLP develops, it usually appears in the third trimester of pregnancy. If left untreated, it poses serious health risks to the mother and baby.
If your doctor diagnoses AFLP, they will want to deliver your baby as soon as possible. You might need to receive follow-up care for several days after you give birth.
Your liver health will likely return to normal within a few weeks of giving birth.
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What Are Fatty Liver Disease And Liver Fibrosis
One of the many causes of liver disease is the buildup of too much fat in the organ, called steatosis. The liver normally contains some fat, but more than 5-6 percent of fat is abnormal. The class of liver disease in which liver becomes fatty is called Fatty Liver Disease .
There are two major causes of FLD:
- alcoholic fatty liver disease , which occurs as a result of drinking excessive quantities of alcohol.
- nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , which occurs as a result of abnormal metabolism. It is associated with obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes. NAFLD is the most common liver disease in developed countries, including the United States.
Other causes of FLD include: viral hepatitis, certain medications including steroids and chemotherapy, and pregnancy.
FLD can progress to a condition called steatohepatitis when the accumulation of fat in the liver causes inflammation, cell death, and scarring. Long-standing steatohepatitis leads to liver fibrosis as scar tissue builds up and replaces healthy liver tissue.
Liver fibrosis results in diminished blood flow throughout the liver. As healthy liver tissue is lost, the liver also loses its ability to function. If untreated, liver fibrosis may progress to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, and liver cancer.
Unfortunately, many patients with FLD and liver fibrosis do not realize they have liver disease because the symptoms are often vague, like mild fatigue or abdominal discomfort.
- appetite and weight loss
Fatty Liver And Pregnancy
Occasionally, a fatty liver can develop as a side-effect of pregnancy. It is rare less than 1 in 10,000 pregnancies are affected by fatty liver disease, but when it does occur, it can cause serious complications. Fatty liver in pregnancy has a high risk of mortality for both mother and baby. It usually occurs towards the end of pregnancy, and requires intensive medical management.
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Ways To Reverse A Fatty Liver
Fatty liver occurs when excess fat accumulates inside liver cells. This means normal, healthy liver tissue becomes partly replaced with fatty tissue. The fat starts to invade the liver, gradually infiltrating the healthy liver areas, so that less and less healthy liver tissue remains. The fatty liver has a yellow greasy appearance and is often enlarged and swollen with fat.
Fatty liver is now recognised as the most common cause of abnormal liver function test results in the USA, UK and Australia. Around one in five people in the general population, in the USA and Australia has a fatty liver. Fatty liver is usually associated with abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. If severe, it can eventually lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.
How Can A Dietitian Help Patients With Fatty Liver Disease
A key role the dietitian plays is individualizing the nutrition plan for each patient. Every patient is unique and everyone has different needs.
Adapting to a Mediterranean diet is hard for patients because we are surrounded by convenience foods and junk on a daily basis. This diet is focused. It is important for patients to be able to sit down and learn about the benefits of the recommended diet and ask questions. Then they can set realistic and attainable goals with a nutrition expert, rather than something that sets them up to fail.
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The Fatty Liver Disease Lifestyle Cure
In a review of studies on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease treatments, the researchers found that weight loss leads to a substantial improvement in this condition. Weight loss of 3-5 % reduces liver fat, but a weight loss of 10% may be needed to reverse liver damage. To accomplish this, researchers used the most well-known ways to promote weight loss: caloric restriction and exercise.
Lets start with exercise. Physical activity alone improves insulin sensitivity and reduces fat in the liver. In fact, one study kept the body weight of their subjects constant while they implemented an exercise training program. They found that exercise alone leads to a substantial decrease in liver fat.
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In studies that combine caloric restriction with exercise, the results are even more promising. For example, one study took twenty-five obese patients with fatty liver and put fifteen of them on a calorie restricted diet and exercise program for 3 months. The calorie restricted diet was based on a daily calorie intake of the patients ideal weight in kilograms multiplied by 25 calories, and the exercise program is described as walking or jogging.
Its that simple. Eat less and move more, and you can reverse fatty liver disease. Many other review articles on the treatments for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease also agree on this simple principle.
The Typical Treatments Can Hepatic Steatosis Be Reversed
The primary treatment for fatty liver disease is surgery. This involves removing or dissolving the fatty liver cell. Surgery can be used for treating both severe and moderate cases. But the downside to surgery is that it can leave you with scarring that could impede your progress in losing weight and even your ability to stand up.
A more common way to diagnose fatty liver disease is through the use of liver function tests called a CT scan and an MRI. These tests will show whether or not your liver is functioning to its fullest capacity. If it shows signs of inflammation then your doctor may want to prescribe medication that will reduce inflammation. If there is fluid buildup in your abdomen, then your doctor may use a procedure called a liposuction to remove some of the fluid and reduce the swelling in the abdominal area.
===> How To Cure A Fatty Liver In Just Days < < <
The diagnosis of fatty liver is a little more tricky. A biopsy of your liver from the abdominal area will reveal inflammation, but it might not be fatty liver. It could be something else like hepatitis B or C, or even HIV if it is contained in its early stages. If the biopsy indicates the presence of fatty liver, then your doctor will conduct a trial of anti viral medication to make sure that the hepatitis does not develop into cirrhosis of the liver which would be very serious.
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How To Reverse Fatty Liver In Seven Months
I am back with some great news especially for me, but also for those who have been diagnosed with a fatty liver and are wondering whether it can be cured or not.
I just came back from my ultrasound appointment and doctor visit and they both said that my fatty liver has improved tremendously, with the doctor saying that its looking almost like a completely healthy liver. Yay!
This proves that with some research, some additional will power and lifestyle changes here and there, your fatty liver CAN BE REVERSED.
And trust me that knowing that you can become a healthy individual once again is extremely satisfying. This article is here to give you a bit of inspiration and support based exclusively on my own experience reversing it.
UPDATE note: I initially wrote this article back in March 2015, 7 months after being diagnosed with a fatty liver. I have decided to edit it to add some relevant links, but the original text remains unaltered.
The even better news is that in the mean time, I have completely healed my fatty liver and never switched to the old me again. So read below for my experience and hopefully that extra push you need to do it yourself too.
Nash Definitions To Know
- Biopsy: a procedure where a sample of tissue is taken from the body to perform further diagnostic testing. In the case of NASH, that tissue is taken from a patients liver.
- Cirrhosis: Also known as liver cirrhosis or hepatic cirrhosis, cirrhosis is a condition where the liver does not function properly due to long-term damage, typically characterized by the replacement of normal liver tissue by scar tissue.
- Fatty liver disease: Fatty liver disease is a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver. Often there are no or few symptoms. There are two types of fatty liver disease: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease . NAFLD is made up of simple fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis . The primary risks for fatty liver disease include alcohol, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
- Fibrosis: Also known as fibrotic scarring, fibrosis is a thickening of connective tissue in the body. It can occur as the result of normal healing, or due to excess tissue deposits. In the case of NAFLD and NASH, fibrosis is the result of the latter, also known as scarring.
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The Typical Treatments Can Diffuse Hepatic Steatosis Be Reversed
The primary treatment for fatty liver disease is surgery. This involves removing or dissolving the fatty liver cell. Surgery can be used for treating both severe and moderate cases. But the downside to surgery is that it can leave you with scarring that could impede your progress in losing weight and even your ability to stand up.
A more common way to diagnose fatty liver disease is through the use of liver function tests called a CT scan and an MRI. These tests will show whether or not your liver is functioning to its fullest capacity. If it shows signs of inflammation then your doctor may want to prescribe medication that will reduce inflammation. If there is fluid buildup in your abdomen, then your doctor may use a procedure called a liposuction to remove some of the fluid and reduce the swelling in the abdominal area.
===> How To Cure A Fatty Liver In Just Days < < <
The diagnosis of fatty liver is a little more tricky. A biopsy of your liver from the abdominal area will reveal inflammation, but it might not be fatty liver. It could be something else like hepatitis B or C, or even HIV if it is contained in its early stages. If the biopsy indicates the presence of fatty liver, then your doctor will conduct a trial of anti viral medication to make sure that the hepatitis does not develop into cirrhosis of the liver which would be very serious.