Food Items You Should Avoid If You Have Fatty Liver

The disease of the fatty liver is also known as hepatic steatosis, and it is an increasingly common condition that occurs when fat accumulates in the liver. Although the liver normally contains some fat, the excessive fat buildup interferes with its function as well as leads to more serious problems of health if not addressed. The most worrying aspect of the fatty liver is that many people do not even realize they have it until it progresses to an advanced stage. Knowing this condition, its types, symptoms, as well as the changes in the dietary necessary to manage it is important for maintaining the health of the liver.

What is Fatty Liver?

A fatty liver occurs when the liver stores more fat than it can handle as well as it leading to inflammation and scarring over time. The liver is a crucial organ that processes nutrients along with toxins, so maintaining its health is very important. So, when the fat begins to disrupt its function, it could trigger a cascade of health issues.

There are two primary types of fatty liver:

1. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): 

NAFLD is the most common, and it affects people who drink little or no alcohol. It’s primarily associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol as well as other metabolic conditions. On top of that, the NAFLD ranges from the simple fatty liver (steatosis), where the fat accumulates but causes little or no inflammation, to the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), where the liver becomes inflamed as well as scarred and potentially progressing to the cirrhosis or the liver cancer.

2. Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD): 

As the name suggests, AFLD results from the excessive consumption of alcohol, and the liver plays a significant role in breaking down the alcohol, but excessive amounts can overwhelm it, leading to the deposits the fat. Over time, this can cause inflammation as well as scarring, similar to NAFLD, with the risk of cirrhosis along with the failure of the liver if left unchecked.

Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease

Detecting the disease of the fatty liver in its early stages can be challenging because the symptoms are often subtle or non-existent. However, as the disease progresses, certain symptoms start to surface, which should not be ignored.

Fatigue: 

The common early symptom is persistent tiredness or weakness, as well as since the liver is crucial in converting nutrients into energy, its impaired function leads to chronic fatigue.

Discomfort or Pain in the Upper Right Abdomen: 

Some individuals with fatty liver experience discomfort or a dull ache in the upper right side of the abdomen where the liver is located, and this is often due to the liver swelling as the fat builds up.

Unexplained Weight Loss: 

In some cases, the advanced fatty liver may experience unexplained weight loss due to the reduced appetite or the inability of the body to metabolize the nutrients properly.

Jaundice (Yellowing of the skin or eyes): 

Jaundice is the more serious symptom as well as it indicates significant damage to the liver, and it occurs when the liver is unable to filter out bilirubin and the yellow compound formed by the breakdown of the red blood cells.

Food Items to Avoid if You Have Fatty Liver

Managing the disease of the fatty liver, whether NAFLD or AFLD, requires lifestyle changes, with the diet being the cornerstone of the treatment. The liver is very sensitive to what we consume, along making the right dietary choices slows the progression of the disease as well as even the reverse of some of the damage. Here are the food items that should be avoided for optimal liver health:

Fried Foods

The fried foods are high in unhealthy fats, particularly in the trans fats, which are harmful to the liver and when it is consumed in excess, they lead to further fat accumulation in the liver as well as worsen the inflammation. Foods like french fries, fried chicken, along doughnuts should be avoided as they are not only high in calories but also difficult for the liver to process.

Sugary Foods and Beverages

Excess sugar, particularly fructose, is a significant contributor to the disease of the fatty liver, and sugary drinks like soda, energy drinks as well as even fruit juices contain high levels of fructose, which the liver converts into fat. Over time, this lead to fat buildup in the liver, and sugary snacks like cakes, cookies as well as candies should be limited, as they spike the levels of blood sugar and contribute to the storage of the fat in the liver.

Fructose and alcohol are processed in similar ways in the liver.

In excess, they are converted to fat resulting in fatty liver disease.

Until the 1980's alcohol was the main cause.

With increasing sugar consumption, today, fructose is now the main cause of fatty liver. pic.twitter.com/2kzOI9AO0d

— Robert Lufkin MD (@robertlufkinmd) February 22, 2024

Processed and Packaged Foods

Processed foods are often high in sodium sugar along with unhealthy fats, all of which are detrimental to liver health. Processed meats like sausages, bacon as well as hot dogs should be avoided as they contain preservatives along with additives that can increase the inflammation in the liver. These foods are also linked to obesity along with insulin resistance, both of which are risk factors for the disease of the fatty liver.

Alcohol

For individuals with alcoholic fatty liver disease, avoiding alcohol is non-negotiable, and even small amounts of alcohol worsen the condition. For those with non-alcoholic fatty liver, it is recommended to limit or avoid alcohol entirely as it exacerbates liver inflammation as well as hinders recovery. Alcohol is toxic to the liver along with its breakdown process produces harmful substances that promote fat accumulation as well as scarring.

New study showing fatty liver makes COVID not just deadly but also disabling — "long covid". Reverse fatty liver by avoiding seed oils, cutting soda and juice, and keeping alcohol under 4 drinks per week. #vegoilsucks #FatBurn #DeepNutrition pic.twitter.com/RI8kGfFu8J

— Cate Shanahan, MD (@drcateshanahan) April 2, 2021

White Bread, Rice, and Pasta

Refined carbohydrates like white bread, white rice as well as pasta cause rapid spikes in blood sugar along with insulin levels, and it is leading to fat deposition in the liver. These foods are stripped of fibre, which means they are digested quickly as well as lead to increased storage of fat. Opt for whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread as well as quinoa instead, which are high in fiber as well as support liver health.

Foods to Include for Fatty Liver Management

While avoiding certain foods is critical, it is equally important to focus on what to include in your diet to support liver function. So, incorporating these nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods aids in reducing liver fat along with inflammation.

Foods That Are Good for Your #Liver: https://t.co/yvjYKIMOat Excessive alcohol, eating #junkfood, prescription #drugs, taking #birthcontrol pills and steroids, excessive deposition of iron, and smoking can damage the liver severely pic.twitter.com/LbHRF9omYJ

— Organic Live Food (@OrganicLiveFood) January 25, 2023

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