Fatty Liver Disease – By Dr harold Gunatillake
Website: www.Doctorharold.com
About 1 in 4 adults has an often-missed liver disorder linked to higher heart disease risk. American Heart Association Scientific Statement The liver plays an important role in the body. Although it primarily takes care of itself, a person can help maintain liver health by consuming certain foods and drinks.
The body stores fat for energy and insulation in many areas, including the liver. If the fat content in the liver is too high, it may be a sign of fatty liver disease. Dietary changes are the first-line treatment for this condition.
Fatty liver disease is a common condition caused by storing extra fat in the liver, often related to obesity and insulin resistance, which can lead to inflammation and scarring of the liver tissue. Most people have no symptoms, and it doesn’t cause severe problems for them. In some cases, though, it can lead to liver damage. The good news is that you can often prevent or even reverse fatty liver disease with life style changes.
Considering the high popularity of traditional herbal medicine in the country, herbal medicine is likely an etiological factor for liver disease in Sri Lanka, but no published data are available.
How do we know that we have liver disease? It is known that many Sri Lankans living in the country and abroad seem to have fatty livers. Liver cells get infiltrated with fat in two common conditions. One is the non-alcoholic fatty liver, and the other is the alcoholic fatty liver.
Hepatitis A and B also can cause fatty liver, but that incidence is very low compared to other South Asian countries. Many Sri Lankans are walking about with non-alcoholic fatty livers with no symptoms.
The condition is diagnosed when routine blood tests, including liver function tests, are done.
Laboratory abnormalities often are the only sign of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The most common abnormal laboratory test results are elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), usually one to four times the upper limits of normal.
So next time you get your liver function tests done on your blood, look for the above-raised enzyme studies.
The other two liver enzymes of importance are SGOT and SGPT levels.
A few conditions and diseases that can cause high SGPT/SGOT levels are excessive alcohol consumption, Acute viral hepatitis A and B, obesity, heart attack, diabetes, Celiac disease (Autoimmune disorder),
kidney disease, Hepatitis C, Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), muscle injuries, pancreatitis, etc.
NAFLD can lead to permanent liver damage, and heart disease is the leading cause of death in people with fatty liver disease. So, early diagnosis and measures should be taken to reverse the condition. There is no medication for it. Don’t get worried; the situation can be reversed with time.
Overeating white rice with curries can cause non-alcoholic liver disease among Sri Lankans, where the condition is so common. Eating in restaurants and street foods is highly deep-fried with added salt. You need to restrict eating such spicy foods.
Refined sugars, and carbohydrates, for example, white bread, pasta, sugar, white rice, sweets and cakes, are all hard on the liver. Be sure to limit your consumption of anything made with white flour or sugar.
Brown rice is rich in anthocyanins and tocopherols and thus has plenty of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains a high amount of insoluble fibre and B-complex vitamins. In a mice study, dewaxed brown rice was reported to have improved fatty liver in obese and diabetic mice.
You need to be careful not to drink beverages with added fructose. As the quantity of fructose in the form of fruit juice is substantial and beyond the capacity of the liver to handle it, the excess fructose is converted into fat and results in nonalcoholic fatty liver,
What foods help repair liver damage?
Many foods contain specific compounds or antioxidants that have been shown to support liver function. Examples include grapefruit, blueberries, cranberries, fatty fish, olive oil, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
Best foods for liver health
- Coffee
Coffee is good for the liver, mainly because it protects against issues such as fatty liver disease.
Consuming oatmeal is an easy way to add fibre to the diet. Fibre is an essential tool for digestion, and the specific fibres in oats may benefit the liver.
- Garlic
A small 2016 study Trusted Source suggests that supplementing the diet with garlic powder capsules can reduce body weight and body fat in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), without losing lean body mass.
- Plant foods,
in general One 2015 Trusted Source study reports that many plant foods may be helpful for the liver. These include: avocados, bananas; barley; beets and beet juice Broccoli, brown rice; ;carrots; figs; greens such as kale and collards; lemons; papayas; watermelons If possible, people should eat these foods as part of a whole and balanced diet.
- Fatty fish
Consuming fatty fish and fish oil supplements Fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, good fats that help reduce inflammation. These fats may be beneficial in the liver, as they prevent the build-up of excess fats
and maintain enzyme levels in the liver.
Eating nuts may be another simple way to keep the liver healthy Foods to avoid
In general, finding balance in one’s diet will keep the liver healthy. However, there are also some foods and food groups that the liver finds harder to process. These include: Fatty foods include fried foods, fast food meals, and takeout meals from many restaurants. Packaged snacks and chips may also be surprisingly high in fats. Starchy foods: These include low-fibre, highly processed bread, pasta, cakes, and baked goods.
Sugar: Cutting back on sugar and sugary foods — such as cereals, baked goods, and candies — may help reduce the stress on the liver.
Salt: Some simple ways to reduce salt intake include eating out less often, avoiding canned meats or vegetables, and reducing or avoiding salted deli meats and bacon.
Alcohol: Anyone looking to give their liver a break may wish to consider reducing their intake of alcohol or eliminating it from the diet completely. So, viewers, be aware of fatty liver, which is so prevalent among Sri Lankans. Check for elevated liver enzymes in your blood once a year.
I hope this video article was helpful.
Cheers, stay safe and goodbye for now.
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