Fatty liver refers to the accumulation of too much fat in the liver. There are actually two kinds of this disease, and they are alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Each one of them has varying causes, but they do share some things in common, such as signs and symptoms.
You certainly don’t want to have fatty liver disease. Aside from the fact that it can put your health in danger, there is no medication or surgery known to man that can treat fatty liver. The good news is it’s possible for this liver problem to be naturally reversed by means of some dietary and lifestyle changes.
Just like what’s mentioned earlier, the cause of fatty liver disease varies depending on which type it is. Clearly, the cause of alcoholic liver disease is excessive alcohol consumption. Even if a person has started drinking lots of alcoholic beverages not too long ago, he or she may already develop it.
However, experts say that the genes dictate whether or not an alcoholic will develop the disease. They add that some other factors may increase one’s risk of having, such as being obese and having hepatitis C. Too much iron present in the body is also known as a contributor.
When it comes to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, experts are unsure as to what really causes it. They do know, however, that certain things can put a person at higher risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver. They include having autoimmune diseases, malnutrition, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight and an advanced age.
Signs and Symptoms
Especially during the early stages, a person who has fatty liver regardless of its kind usually experiences no sign and symptom. Sometimes a doctor may accidentally come across the problem during a routine physical exam, in particular upon checking the liver and seeing that it’s larger than normal.
When the liver becomes inflamed because of the disease, it’s not unlikely for the individual to experience loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, pain in the abdomen and even confusion.
As of now, there is no available treatment for fatty liver disease, be it the alcoholic or nonalcoholic kind. In other words, there are no drugs or surgical procedure that can help cure such problem with the liver.
However, someone with fatty liver may welcome some dietary and lifestyle changes into his or her life for the management of the disease. For instance, alcohol consumption may be stopped or at least done in moderation. He or she should also stay away from fatty and sugary foods, while adding more fiber- and healthy fat-rich foods in the diet.
Keeping blood sugar, cholesterol and the weight within the normal and healthy range can be very beneficial, too.
Together with having healthy diet and lifestyle, there are also a handful of home remedies that someone who is diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may count on. Some of them are:
- Lemon water. Packed with antioxidants, the regular consumption of lemon water (the juice of half a lemon squeezed in a glass of water) can help in having the liver detoxified. This home remedy for fatty liver disease may be done 2 to 3 times a day for best results.
- Apple cider vinegar. In a glass of lukewarm water, add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, in particular the kind that is raw and unfiltered. Drink it before having your lunch. Drink another serving of it before having your dinner. Stick to doing this home remedy for a few months.
- Green tea. Something as simple as consuming 3 to 4 cups of green tea per day can actually help in reversing fatty liver disease. That’s because the well-loved beverage is teeming with liver-protecting antioxidants. Also, green tea can help promote weight reduction, which is good for someone who has fatty liver.
- Turmeric milk. Another beverage that is proven effective against fatty liver disease is turmeric milk, which consists of 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric in a glass of warm milk. This should be taken before bedtime to let the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric help heal the liver.