Fatty Liver: What It Is. Why It Is A Problem & How To Heal It Naturally

You may have heard of fatty liver disease, but what does it actually mean? And why are so many people being diagnosed with it, including those who aren’t overweight or heavy drinkers?

What's the big deal?

Fatty liver disease (also called Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD) starts when too much fat builds up in the liver. You may think that this is not such a big deal, but fat doesn't sit idly by, doing nothing. Over time, that fat can cause inflammation, damage liver cells, and lead to scarring (called fibrosis).

Left unchecked and untreated, it may continue to progress to a more serious condition called NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis), and eventually to cirrhosis or even liver cancer. It is better to catch the problem early, because in these advanced stages, the liver can no longer do its job such as filtering toxins, producing important proteins, and helping with digestion.

You might think fatty liver only affects people who are overweight or drink a lot, but that’s not always the case. While obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic issues are risk factors, about 1 in 5 people with fatty liver are not overweight. Some people, especially from Asian backgrounds, may appear slim but have more internal fat and higher insulin resistance, putting them at risk too. You may have heard of a condition known as TOFI (Thin on the Outside, Fat on the Inside)?

The biggest culprit for fatty liver is a high intake of sugary, processed foods, especially those containing fructose (like high fructose corn syrup or fruit juice). Unlike other sugars, fructose can be stored as fat in the liver without triggering insulin. This is a key driver of fat build-up in the liver. It is worth also noting that table sugar is 50% fructose and 50% sucrose.

One of the most troubling things about NAFLD is that it often has no clear symptoms. Some people feel a bit tired or 'off', bloated, or have a dull ache under their ribs, but these signs are easy to ignore or blame on something else. Usually the first red flag is elevated liver enzymes in a routine blood test. However, GP reference ranges for liver enzymes are too broad, making it easy for a problem to get missed.

As the condition gets worse, more noticeable signs might appear: yellowing of the eyes, itchy skin, swelling of the extremities, or weight around the belly. The earlier it is identified and treated, the better the outcome.

Doctors typically start with blood tests to check liver enzymes and other markers, but as previously mentioned, the reference ranges are too broad and it can therefore go undiagnosed for some time. A thorough medic who is on-the-ball, will see that something looks off, and may follow up with imaging like an ultrasound or MRI. In some cases, a liver biopsy may be needed to confirm how advanced the damage is.

If you have been told that you have a fatty liver, then you have probably also been told the standard advice to "lose weight and exercise more", which makes sense in theory, but not in practice. Giving a blanket prescription to lose weight and get some exercise, without any regard for the very real struggles that you may face, such as food cravings, emotional eating or sugar addiction. Plus living in an inflamed body, with poor mitochondrial function, causing low energy and painful movement, means that this advice is just setting you up to fail. Hunger will be ramped up due to not eating enough, and exercise as we know, increases hunger. This combination together will lead to more cravings and eating. It is like a vicious circle.

For diet and lifestyle recommendations to work, they need to not only reverse the fatty liver, but to include coping strategies and management of personal challenges and root causes.

What is really key is what you eat, not just how much!

While low-fat, high-carb diets are often recommended, they don't work well for fatty liver, because carbs (even so called healthy wholegrains and fruit) are broken down in the body to sugars and what happens to sugar in the liver? It is converted and stored as fat. Hence fatty liver!

A Smart Approach: Cut the Carbs and Add the Coaching

Recent studies show that a therapeutic carbohydrate-restricted (TCR) diet, essentially a low-carb, whole food (not wholegrain!) diet, can reduce liver fat, in as little as 3 to 10 days. This has been proven via MRI imaging.

This kind of diet helps by:

• Lowering insulin and blood sugar levels

• Reducing hunger and cravings

• Helping the body burn fat instead of storing it

Unlike medications or surgery, a TCR diet is low-risk, cost-effective, and doesn’t require fancy tools or treatments. It simply focuses on eating real food and avoiding sugar and processed carbs.

When working with clients, I use a combination of TCR, nutritional therapy (including functional blood testing), plus insight based coaching, to empower and nurture you back to vibrant health.

Why This Matters Now

Incidence of fatty liver disease is growing fast. In the 1990s, about 1 in 4 people had it. By 2019, it was closer to 1 in 3, and numbers are still rising.

Many people have no idea they’re affected, because symptoms are insidious. If left untreated, NAFLD can seriously harm your health and lead to life-threatening complications. But with early detection and a low-carb, whole-food diet, the liver can often heal and recover.

Fatty liver disease isn’t just a “lifestyle disease”, it’s a serious and growing public health issue. But the good news is, it's also highly reversible, especially if caught early.

By cutting back on sugar, processed food and carbohydrates, and focusing on real, nourishing foods, you can give your liver the break it needs, to rejuvenate and repair. Meaning that you can take back control of your health and enjoy an energetic, vibrant future.

If you need help with reversing fatty liver disease, please click on the link below for a free on-line video chat to discuss your needs

BOOK A FREE CALL

Until next time, wishing you health and love,

Ali xxx

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