If type 2 diabetes had a cousin, it would be NAFLD – Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. It’s a mouthful, but it’s important to understand what it is and why it’s so dangerous, if you can about your metabolic health.
There’s always some fat flowing in and out of the liver. In fact, the liver makes fat, glucose, fructose, and other compounds, and packages fat for distribution throughout the body.
Sometimes, however, the liver can get over-run with fat. This leads to inflammation,insulin resistance, damage to the liver cells, and can become NAFLD and lead to type 2diabetes.
Right now, at least 30% of people in the US and Europe have NAFLD and the number is growing quickly. The build-up of fat in the liver is a form of “energy toxicity” and comes from obesity, over-consumption of fructose, over-eating, lack of physical activity, and high blood insulin levels.
Fatty liver can be detected through imaging and bloodwork. Imaging includes MRI, Ultrasound, and CT scans, measuring the amount of fat in the liver. Blood work includes what are often termed “liver enzymes”, such as alanine aminotransferase test (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase test (AST), and Gamma glutamyl transferace (GGT).
Fatty liver can progress through four stages:
• Fatty liver: A build-up of extra fat in the liver
• Steatohepatitis: Inflammation in the liver in addition to accumulating fat
• Fibrosis: Scarring in the liver from the chronic inflammation
• Cirrhosis: Liver scarring which leads to pathological changes
Once Cirrhosis forms, there will likely be permanent damage, which can be life threatening.
What causes NAFLD?
Junk food: A diet rich in processed and refined carbohydrates, which typically includes a high amount of fructose, leads to increased fat production and storage in the liver.
Overeating: When you consume more energy, in the form of fat and carbohydrates, than you burn, the excess energy can get trapped in the liver, leading to a build-up of fat.
Insulin Resistance: Resistance to the hormone insulin leads to elevated blood levels of
Visceral Fat: Having an “apple shape”, or central adiposity with an elevated waist-to-height ratio, increases the risk for NAFLD.
Chronic Inflammation: While some inflammation is normal, chronic systemic inflammation from toxins, gut dysbiosis, poor diet, or infections leads to insulin resistance and may contribute to NAFLD.
Inactivity: Exercise is a great way to burn extra energy, including fat from the body. Sedentary lifestyles leads to more energy toxicity and a greater risk of fatty liver.
Strategies To Help Protect and Heal the Liver
Reduce or Eliminate Refined Sugar and Processed Carbs: Researchers have found that almost twice as much liver fat comes from carbohydrates in the diet rather than fat. The liver converts sugar, especially fructose to triglycerides in a process called do novo lipogenesis.
Eat Less and Burn More Fat: The most important way to rid the liver of extra fat accumulation is to reverse energy toxicity by burning the stored body fat. Weight loss is important, but what’s even more important is fat loss.
Try a Low Carb, Ketogenic, Mediterranean Diet: The Mediterranean diet, including healthy proteins, olive oil, and vegetables, has long been praised for its cardiometabolic benefits.
Get More Physical Activity: Regular exercise can significantly reduce the amount of fat in and around the liver.
Supplements: The most important supplements for the liver protect liver cells, reduce oxidative stress, and increase fat burning in the liver. These include Milk Thistle, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Fibre, Burdock Root, Berberine, and high-dose omega 3 fatty acids.
We have a comprehensive programme for dealing with fatty liver.
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Yours in Health,
Prof Sundardas D Annamalay
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