Treatment of Fatty Liver Disease

Treatment of Fatty Liver Disease

Treatment of Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

There are several ways of treating alcoholic fatty liver disease, but the most important method is to stop drinking alcohol. This really does mean the total elimination of alcohol - all beer, wine, hard drinks, tonics and everything else that contains alcohol.
Alcohol damages the liver in several ways:

When you drink large amounts of alcohol, you begin to lose your appetite. Over time, you end up with vitamin and mineral deficiencies that contribute to the development of fatty liver disease. Studies show that deficiencies of vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, methionine, choline, vitamin C, and other B vitamins may be related to fatty liver disease.
The high amounts of calories in alcohol can pack on the pounds. Once you are overweight or obese, there is a great risk of developing fatty liver disease.
Alcohol damages the liver cells directly. It causes oxidative stress and generates free radicals that attack the liver directly. Free radicals are clearly related to fatty liver disease.
Alcohol damages the liver indirectly by increasing the space between the cells in the intestines so that substances can leak out into the bloodstream. From the bloodstream, they make their way back to the liver, and some of these toxins may start an inflammation reaction or directly damage cells.
Giving up alcohol is easier than one may think if you approach it like you can approach giving up other bad habits - looking for the goodness and benefits that will replace what you will miss. For example, what types of activiities are you unable to do now? How's your endurance? How do you feel when you get up in the morning? Do you ever look into the mirror and tell yourself you are beautiful (or handsome)? If not, this is simply where you are now but you won't be in the same place after your journey to health ends. Look for positive reinforcement along your journey, never the things you are missing.

Part of the treatment for alcoholic fatty liver disease includes switching to a healthy diet. This is a diet full of leafy green vegetables, fruits, wholesome grains, protein foods, and healthy fats without alcohol, sugar, processed foods, and high amounts of salt. You may notice an immediate improvement in the way you feel - within a week - just from a healthier diet. One thing to remember is that your body will respond quickly and it really does want to show you its regeenrative abilities.

Medications may also be used for alcoholic liver disease but no medications have ever been shown to benefit or reverse the condition.

Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

There are several strategies that are used to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and facilitate the reversal of the condition. Below are 7 of them with an explanation of why they work:

1. Exercise
Exercise will help you lose weight, especially if you participate in some of the most advanced gym workouts that never give you more than a 30-second rest. These types of workouts use body weight for resistance, and include exercises such as push-ups and situps in various positions. The instructor discusses how you can do the exercises while you are still doing the previous set! Some people love this type of workout because they end up burning 600 calories in a session! Weight loss happens easily with this method.

2. Weight Loss Program
A weight loss program is essential if you are overweight or obese since it contributes to fatty liver. However, whichever one you select, you should make sure you can be committed to it. A failing diet means prolonged fatty liver - and your life could depend on the success of the diet.

3. Avoiding Foods with Saturated Fats
Medical professionals tend to believe that saturated fat is the culprit in fatty liver disease; however, they haven't kept up-to-date on the latest information. Saturated fat is stable in the diet and doesn't create the free radicals that accelerate the fatty liver damage and accumulation of fat. It's the unsaturated fats that are the culprits - vegetable oils, hydrogenated fats, and fats heated to high temperatures. Saturated fat is only a problem if you eat too much of it and pack on pounds.

4. Controlling Cholesterol Levels 
Some sources say that controlling cholesterol levels should be done with statins while other sources say that statins cause fatty liver. Cholesterol levels may be high because of low copper levels, low or dysfunctional thyroid, or an overall poor diet. It's best to attack the root cause instead of going after the symptom of high cholesterol.

5. Diabetes Control 
The insulin resistance of diabetes contributes to overweight and fatty liver. Regulating your blood sugar levels is essential for fatty liver reversal.

6. Eating Low Glycemic Index Foods
Studies have shown that blood sugar levels are lowered significantly when a low glycemic index food diet is eaten. The term "low glycemic index" refers to carbohydrates. Grains are not low glycemic index, and neither are processed foods including macaroni, cakes, cookies, candy, high sugar fruits, potatoes, corn and sweet potatoes. Of course, protein and healthy fats are still allowed on this type of diet to round it out to a good healthy diet. Good healthy diets always contain protein, fat and carbohydrates, the ratio of them is what makes the biggest difference.

7. Avoiding Any and All Alcohol
Although someone with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease doesn't have the condition due to their sporadic intake of alcohol, eliminating alcohol is required in order to reverse the condition. Even a small amount of alcohol is a bad amount to consume because the liver is unable to process it and instead will accumulate the triglycerides in the alcohol in the liver. This will worsen the condition.