The liver is the second largest organ in the body and plays a large role in decomposing fat, blood detoxification and drawing glucose from the reserves when blood sugar levels are low. It’s important to keep the liver healthy.
What Is Fatty Liver?
Fatty liver, or steatosis, expands the term that describes accumulation of fat in the liver. It’s normal that a certain amount of fat should be in the liver, but if there’s more than 5-10%, you’re suffering from a fatty liver.
Fatty liver is a common occurrence, and usually occurs between 50 and 60 years of age.
There Are Two Types Of Fatty Liver
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) – occurs when the liver can’t decompose fat. This leads to its accumulation in the tissues of the liver.
It’s not known exactly what causes non-alcoholic fatty liver, and is considered to be hereditary. It mainly affects obese people between 40 and 50 years of age.
- Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) – The name says it all. This disease occurs with excessive alcohol consumption, although it’s believed that it can also be hereditary.
Fatty Liver Symptoms
Though the symptoms are often subtle, they include:
- Fatigue;
- Weight loss and loss of appetite;
- Pain in the upper abdomen region;
- General weakness;
- Nausea;
- Concentration problems;
What you should do?
Change Your Lifestyle
If you’re overweight, find a way to reduce the number of calories you enter every day and engage in physical activity to shed excess pounds.
Eat healthier, eat lots of fruits, vegetables and grains.
Exercise more and be active.Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
If you’re suffering from diabetes, find a way to contain it. Take your drugs and keep an eye on your blood sugar level.
Protect your liver. Avoid things that put pressure on your liver. For example, stop drinking alcohol. Read the labels on your drugs and avoid those that affect the liver.
Home Remedies
Many people use different drugs to treat NAFLD. However, there are home remedies you can use as well.
Studies have shown that these two natural supplements urge proper liver function. Gooseberry is rich in antioxidants and is great for the liver. Burdock contains high quantities of the flavonoid silimarin that helps with liver function.
Vegetables containing high quantities of sulfur minerals help with liver detoxification. These include: garlic, onions, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.
People suffering from NAFLD have elevated levels of transaminases in their liver (AST and ALT). According to studies conducted in 2012, licorice helps regulate the levels of these enzymes.
The bile in the liver helps with emulsification of certain fats. Natural bile enhancers include:
- Artichoke;
- Dandelion;
- Green tea;
- Lemon juice;
According to a study, patients suffering from NAFLD who have consumed coffee, had a less damaged liver than those who hadn’t consumed coffee. It’s still not clear how coffee affects liver damage, and how much we should consume.