Il fat liver it is a condition also known as hepatic steatosis and occurs when they accumulate in the liver high amounts of fat. The liver is the second largest organ in our body and helps process nutrients from food and drink by filtering harmful substances from the blood.
Too much fat in the liver can cause liver inflammation, which can damage the liver and create scars; in severe cases these scars can lead to liver failure. There are no specific medications for its treatment, but there are some treatments and remedies for fatty liver, which we will see below.
Index
Symptoms
In many cases, the fatty liver it does not cause particular symptoms, but you could blame a little bit of fatigue and pain in the upper right abdomen. Because of its asymptomatology, it is always good do periodic medical check-ups and blood analysis, especially if you suffer from diabetes, polycystic ovary, thyroid disorders, obesity and if you follow an unbalanced diet high in fat.
In cases of severe liver fibrosis, also known as cirrhosis, the symptoms are:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Nosebleeds
- Itchy skin
- Yellow eyes
- Abdominal pain and swelling
Causes of fatty liver
When the body produces too much fat, this it accumulates in the liver cells causing fatty liver; for people who consume a lot of alcohol, there is a correlation between abuse and fatty liver, but for those who do not drink the causes are unclear.
The following factors could play a key role:
- Obesity
- High blood sugar
- Insulin resistance
- High levels of triglycerides
- Pregnancy
- Rapid loss of several kg
- Hepatitis C
Stages of hepatic steatosis
Fatty liver can progress through 4 stages:
- Simple fatty liver: there is an accumulation of excess fat in the liver
- SteatohepatitisIn addition to excess fat, there is inflammation in the liver
- Fibrosis: inflammation caused scarring
- Cirrhosis: liver scarring has spread
Diagnosis
To diagnose fatty liver, the doctor will collect the patient's medical history data, perform a physical examination and prescribe further tests and investigations:
- Blood tests: to look for high levels of transaminases
- Abdominal ultrasound: the fatty liver subjected to this examination appears brighter
- CT scan or magnetic resonance
- Vibration-controlled transient elastography: This test uses low-frequency sound waves to measure the stiffness of the liver
- Liver biopsy: A piece of liver tissue is taken and is the most accurate test for determining the severity of the disease.
Diet for fatty liver
There is no escape: the first step to save the liver is get rid of the extra weight and of the fat that accumulates in the abdominal area.
But don't worry, no one will recommend drastic weight loss - the opposite is true. A study conducted by experts fromUniversity Hospital of Tübingen, in Germany, and recently published in the prestigious periodical The Lancet, concluded that the loss of the 5% of the weight already reduces by 30% the volume of fat in the liver.
Let's face it: it's nothing that shocking!
Think: a person of 90 chili would need to lose only 4,5 pounds to start enjoying the benefits. However, the ideal would be to lose the 10% of the weight in a period of six months. This is because reducing the measures too quickly is even dangerous for the liver.
Another topic that has recently been much talked about is the role of intestinal microbiota. Experiments reveal that the stability of the bacteria living in the digestive system is critical to good liver health.
Let's see below the foods that are good and those that should be eliminated:
Allowed foods
- Consume from 4 to 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, such as zucchini, eggplant, lettuce, tomato, onion, carrot, apple, pear, peach, papaya, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, orange, lemon, plum, among others;
- Increase your consumption of high-fiber foods every day, like the brown rice, wholemeal bread or wholemeal pasta;
- Eggs;
- White (low-fat) meats, such as turkey, chicken, or fish
- Milk skimmed and yogurt;
- White cheese;
- 1 tablespoon of raw olive oil.
The kind of fat that can be consumed, but in small quantities, are polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats and foods rich in omega 3.
Some examples of these types of fats are: olive oil, avocado, walnuts, peanuts, almonds; and fish such as salmon, trout, sardines or mackerel, for example.
Foods to avoid
Foods that should be avoided to prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver are:
- Foods with saturated fats: yellow cheese, cream cheese, ricotta, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, sausages, sauces, butter, coconut, margarine, pizza or hamburger, for example;
- Products ad high sugar content, especially industrialized and processed ones, such as biscuits or fruit juices;
- Quick ready foods or frozen;
- Alcoholic beverages.
In some people, the fat in the liver can cause abdominal pain and therefore the consumption of gas-producing foods, such as beans, can cause greater discomfort, so they should be avoided.
Example of a fatty liver diet
Below is an example of a 3-day fatty liver diet (is just an example, always ask the opinion of a specialized doctor!):
Other recommendations
It's important drink a lot of water during the day, it is recommended to drink at least 2 liters per day. You can also drink herbal teas that help cleanse the liver to eliminate accumulated toxins, such as milk thistle, yarrow or artichoke.
In case the person does not drink much water it is possible to add lemon, because in addition to giving a little flavor, it also contains vitamin C which helps detoxify the liver. In addition to this, it must always be done 5 meals per day (3 main meals and 2 snacks), avoiding not eating for a long time.
In this diet it is also important that the food is prepared in a simple way, without too many seasonings or fats, and should preferably be cooked to the grilled, steamed or baked.
Following these guidelines correctly is possible gradually eliminate fat accumulated in the abdominal area, as well as the fat accumulated in the liver, e the results can be seen in about 2 months.
However, the ideal is to always consult a nutritionist to adapt the menu to the individual needs of each person.
Does physical activity help?
There is no point in just changing your diet. Weight loss will be greater if combined with physical exercise; doing a sport regularly brings direct gains to the liver.
Uno study carried out at the University of Pittsburgh, in the United States, it attests that moving the body has three main advantages:
- relieve insulin resistance,
- increase the burning of stored triglycerides e
- prevent damage to hepatocytes, the first chapter in the development of cirrhosis and cancer.
In short, this is it "A proven therapeutic strategy to improve steatosis", write the American authors.
These effects are not limited only to the moment of sweating. After physical activity, to replenish the energy stock in the muscles, it is necessary to use the surplus stored in the liver.
What are the best activities?
For a long time it was believed that aerobic exercises, such as walking, running and cycling, were the most suitable.
Today we know that even the training of force, like CrossFit, are very important. L'World Health Organization says what to do 150 minutes of exercises during the week is already enough.
But no exaggeration, okay? The intensity varies from light to moderate.
In practical terms, this means to be able to speak without losing your breath completely when doing aerobic exercises. When doing muscle strengthening workouts, do from 8 to 12 repetitions in the movements - always under the guidance of a coach.
Fatty liver treatment
Currently no drugs have been approved for the treatment of fatty liver; lifestyle changes can help reverse the condition:
- Limit or avoid the use of alcohol
- Take steps to lose weight if you are overweight
- Get regular physical activity
- Consume more fruits, vegetables and whole grains
It is good always contact your doctor to get the proper diagnosis and advice; some supplements or natural remedies could put even more stress on the liver.
And do you follow a healthy diet without the abuse of fat and alcohol? Let us know in the comments and
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