Medical providers preach about the importance of a healthy diet, but nutrition isn’t always one-size-fits-all. For patients with fatty liver disease, the country’s most common chronic liver condition that affects about 100 million Americans and can lead to cirrhosisand cancer, it's important to focus on diet and lifestyle changes.
As a registered dietitian and nutritionist at the University of Chicago Medicine's Steatotic Liver DiseaseClinic, I recommend a diet full of healthy fats and plant-based foods – as well as up to three cups of coffee per day – to help keep your liver healthy.
According to theAmerican Liver Foundation, there are no medical treatments – yet – for non-alcoholicfattyliver disease. So that means that eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are the best ways to bothprevent liver damage from starting or reverse liver disease once it’s in the early stages. We know people don’t wantto feel like they’re on a “diet,” so we work really hard with our patients to help them focus on lifestylechanges instead, which includes a healthy diet, exercise and getting a lot of quality sleep.
What foods help reverse fatty liver disease?
They might surprise you. We recommend patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseasedrink three cupsofcoffee per day, eat four tablespoons of olive oil a day and follow a Mediterranean diet, which emphasizeseating primarily plant-based foods and healthy fats.
People usually can’t believe we’re asking them to add more food like coffee and olive oil to their diet, rather than restrict items or cut things out.
What is the best diet plan for a healthy liver?
We recommend the Mediterranean diet to our liver patients.
The Mediterranean diet is everything you would expect a dietitian to recommend – morefruitsand veggies, more whole grains, more nuts and legumes, lean meats, less red meat and less sweets/addedsugars.
Why is the Mediterranean diet the best diet for fatty liver disease?
The Mediterranean diet is a well-known diet that gained popularity in the 1990s, known more as an eating pattern rather than a structured diet. It emphasizes eating fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and flavorful herbs and spices; fish and seafood at least a couple of times a week; and poultry, eggs, cheese and yogurt in moderation, while saving sweets and red meat for special occasions.
In addition to being good for people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the Mediterranean diet has been associated with a decreased risk of heart disease, and it's also been shown to reduce blood pressure and bad LDL cholesterol. And it can be in line with theAmerican Diabetes Association'snutrition guidance. That’s important because both heart disease and diabetes are strongly associated risk factors for fatty liver disease.
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 uniqueand everyone has different needs.
Adapting to a Mediterranean diet is hard for patients because we are surrounded by convenience foodsandjunk on a daily basis. This diet is focused. It is important for patients to be able to sit down and learn about thebenefits of the recommended diet and ask questions. Then they can set realistic and attainable goals witha nutrition expert, rather than something that sets them up to fail.
We recommend the Mediterranean diet to our liver patients. The Mediterranean diet is everything you would expect a dietitian to recommend – more fruits and veggies, more whole grains, more nuts and legumes, lean meats, less red meat and less sweets/added sugars.
Coffee. A 2021 study analyzed data from 494,585 people in the United Kingdom to learn how different types of coffee might affect the risk of chronic liver disease, including decaffeinated, instant, and ground coffee. ...
Treatment for NAFLD usually starts with weight loss. This can be done by eating a healthy diet, limiting portion sizes and exercise. Losing weight may improve other health problems that lead to NAFLD. Typically, losing 10% of your body weight or more is recommended.
According to many experts, people with cirrhosis should not eat too many eggs. Because: The relatively high cholesterol in egg yolks can cause more fat to accumulate in the liver. Eating a lot of eggs increases the amount of protein and lipid, creating a burden on the liver, the liver has to work more actively.
Red meat and processed meats are high in saturated fat. Eating a lot of these foods is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and risk of fat in the liver. They're also associated with some forms of cancer, especially colorectal cancer.
Causes of fatty liver disease. Eating excess calories causes fat to build up in the liver. When the liver does not process and break down fats as it normally should, too much fat will accumulate. People tend to develop fatty liver if they have certain other conditions, such as obesity, diabetes or high triglycerides.
Grapefruit contains antioxidants that naturally protect the liver. The two main antioxidants found in grapefruit are naringenin and naringin. The protective effects of grapefruit are known to occur in two ways — by reducing inflammation and protecting cells.
French fries and burgers are a poor choice to keep your liver healthy. Eat too many foods that are high in saturated fat and it can make it harder for your liver to do its job. Over time it may lead to inflammation, which in turn could cause scarring of the liver that's known as cirrhosis.
Vitamin B. Studies have shown that B vitamins can benefit liver function in several ways, including reversing liver inflammation. Many B vitamins, including vitamin B12 and folic acid, can improve liver health in people with fatty liver disease.
Eat a healthy diet that's rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. Limit alcohol, simple sugars and portion sizes. Avoid sugary drinks like soda, sports drinks, juices and sweet tea. Drinking alcohol can damage your liver and should be avoided or minimized.
The newly approved medication, Rezdiffra, targets a protein directly in the liver and reduces liver fat, inflammation, and scarring. Clinical trials found it can halt the progression of fibrosis or even reverse it. It's intended to be used along with a healthy diet and exercise.
The two exceptions to the lack of harm to the liver by higher doses of vitamins are vitamin A and niacin, both of which can cause distinctive forms of liver injury when taken in high doses.
Lifestyle and dietary changes are currently the most effective options for managing NAFLD. Losing weight, being physically active, cutting back on sugar, eating a nutrient-dense diet, and drinking coffee (if you can tolerate it) are some of the methods that may help improve symptoms associated with NAFLD.
The most effective fatty liver treatment involves a change in lifestyle. Weight loss is helpful. “But the weight loss has to be pretty significant,” says Loomba. You have to lose about 7% of your body weight to resolve NASH.
How long it takes to reverse fatty liver disease may depend on the cause. If your fatty liver is because of alcohol, you may be able to reverse the effects in about 2 weeks. If you have NAFLD, it will depend on how quickly you lose weight. But remember, be careful not to lose weight too quickly.
Blueberries: If you have a fatty liver, blueberries are a must-addition to your everyday diet. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants and can help you overcome liver problems, particularly fatty liver disease. 4. Bananas: Bharadwaj also suggests bananas for fatty liver disease patients.
Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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