Fatty liver

After Obesity and Diabetics, Fatty liver becomes the third epidemic across the globe.

There are two kind of fatty liver condition. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). Needless to say alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by the consumption of alcohol. NAFLD caused by excess consumption of carbohydrates. Fatty liver itself a serious health condition also can lead to many other health hazard.

This post focus only on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Before getting into the subject, lets understand little bit of liver and its function.

Liver is on the right side of the abdomen, behind the rib-cage. It rests just below the diaphragm, to the right of the stomach and overlies the gallbladder.  Live is a dark reddish-brown in color.

Liver is heaviest and the second-largest organ in the body. Also, the largest gland. It primarily made up of a specialized cells called hepatocytes.  Though the liver performs more than hundred different functions, the major ones are

                    The liver plays a central role in all metabolic processes in the body.

                     Processing macro nutrients Fat (fatty acids), Protein (amino acids) and Carbs (glucose and fructose)

        Storing and releasing of vitamins and minerals, as and when needed

                    Synthesizes bile acid to digest fat

                    Detoxifying and metabolizing medications, alcohol, and other chemicals

                    With the help of vitamin K, liver synthesizes a special / important proteins needed in the bloodstream, such as albumin and clotting factors

                    Enzyme activation and Excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs.

It is okay to have a very small amount of fat within the hepatocytes, In fact it’s quite normal. But, when the accumulation of fat exceeds the normal, it becomes a disease. If more than 5% of the liver's hepatocytes are made up of triglycerides (Fat), then it a condition known as hepatic steatosis.

Hepatic steatosis is the earliest stage of NAFLD. The disease can progress slowly from simple non-alcoholic steatosis (NAS) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and subsequently to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis of liver and hepatoma. {End-stage liver disease known as cirrhosis, wherein damaged liver cells die off and are replaced by scar tissue that impairs function that can lead to liver failure or liver cancer (hepatoma)}

Fatty liver disease often isn't diagnosed until it become the more serious condition non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is characterized by inflammation and liver cell damage.  High triglycerides and elevations of the liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT) in the blood are the good indicators to diagnose NAFLD. Can be confirmed with ultrasound / CT scan. If required by biopsy.

It is not that all people who have NAFLD end up with severe liver disease. But, the chances to become NASH is pretty high. Also, excess fat in the liver is metabolically unhealthy and it not only affects the function of liver, also increases the risk of metabolic disorders, heart disease, kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes.

As the epidemic of NAFLD is mainly related to insulin resistance, Obesity is an important factor for an insulin resistance and insulin resistance is the one of the reason for metabolic disorder like Diabetics.

Excess fat accumulation in abdominal, central obesity or visceral obesity causes low-grade inflammation. Which caused by insulin resistance. It's estimated that 90% of obese adults have NAFLD and the childhood obesity epidemic has led to a dramatic increase in fatty liver condition in <16 age group.

Is it possible to reverse the fatty liver condition? Yes !  If it’s alcoholic fatty liver, quit alcohol (in any form) and switch to HFLC.  if it’s Non- alcoholic fatty liver, just switch to HFLC life style.

HFLC is nothing but cutting down, the all kinds of refined carbs, sugar, restricting the consumption of carbs that include grains /cereals.  Yes, by cutting down the carbs and meeting the daily calorie need from fat with adequate amount of protein, one can reverse non-alcoholic fatty liver condition to healthy liver condition.

HFLC not only helping you to reversing of non-alcoholic fatty liver, Also helps to reverse  Obesity, type 2 diabetes  and minimize the risk of heart / kidney disease. Again, HFLC  life assures the healthy liver and efficient liver function. 

Overcome the condition of fatty liver by eating fat (saturated)!

References:  (Click on the image to enlarge)