8 Things You Must Know If You Have A Fatty Liver
Fatty liver is an extremely common condition that is thought to affect one in five individuals. This is probably a conservative estimate and a true figure is likely one in three. Fatty liver disease can be diagnosed via an ultrasound scan of the liver. A blood test usually shows elevated liver enzymes. Basically having a fatty liver means too much fat has accumulated inside your liver and this compromises the ability of the liver to function.
Fatty liver is a common diagnosis that many individuals and their doctors take too lightly. Having a fatty liver is an indicator of a much larger problem with metabolism. The liver has become a fat storing organ instead of a fat burning organ. Your liver is supposed to regulate fat metabolism properly and will "burn" excess body fat and remove it from your body via the bile. Clearly this is not happening in individuals with a fatty liver, and they usually find it extremely difficult to lose weight.
I have seen thousands of patients with a fatty liver and I’ve discovered 8 vital strategies for reversing this condition.
1. Follow a low carbohydrate diet
A correct diet for fatty liver excludes sugar, refined and/or bleached flour and foods containing these things. Avoid all foods with added sugar. If you are overweight and find it very difficult to lose weight, it is more effective to exclude ALL grains and be on a “no grain diet”.
Carbohydrates to avoid –
These include table sugar, foods with added sugar or maltodextrin, fructose, polydextrose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, golden syrup, molasses, jams, preserves made with sugar, candies, sweet desserts, chocolate and ice-cream, muffins, donuts, pizza, pretzels, chips, pastry, cakes and biscuits. The best types of chocolate for those with a fatty liver are stevia-sweetened chocolate.
2. Increase the amount of raw plant food in your diet
Raw vegetables and fruits are the most powerful liver healing foods. These raw foods help to cleanse and repair the liver filter, so that it can trap and remove more fat and toxins from the blood stream. Eat an abundance of vegetables (cooked and raw salads) and fresh fruits. Eat a large salad every day, or much better still twice a day, and use a nice dressing made with cold pressed oils and apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. Some people only eat salads during summer, as this is the way they have been educated. Forget this habit, as your liver needs raw food every day!
3. Eat first class protein with every meal or if you have sudden hunger
Good sources of protein include –
- Free range, pastured eggs
- All seafood fresh or canned (avoid smoked or deep-fried seafood)
- Free range poultry
- Lean fresh red meat
- Whey protein powder, especially Synd-X Protein powder designed for fatty liver people
Good protein can also be provided from a combination of legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas) and raw nuts and seeds; you need to combine the legume with the seed and nut at the same meal, as this will provide first class protein which contains all the essential amino acids. If you just eat a bean, or a nut, by itself, you are not getting the first class protein you need to control your hunger and blood sugar levels. This is why it is not uncommon for strict vegans to struggle with their weight and suffer with unstable blood sugar levels and sugar cravings.
There is an easy to follow lower carbohydrate, higher protein eating plan in my book Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It.
4. Avoid the unhealthy fats
These include all deep fried foods, grain fed meat, processed and preserved meats, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, trans-fatty acids found in margarines and cheap cooking oils. Avoid hydrogenated oils found in processed foods and snacks (read the labels on foods to see if they contain hydrogenated vegetable oils).
Avoid cream and cream cheese as they are too rich for those with a fatty liver and will aggravate gall stones.
You do NOT need to follow a low fat diet and indeed you need to eat the healthy fats found in seafood, cold pressed vegetable and seed oils, free range organic eggs, raw nuts and seeds.
5. Drink raw vegetable juices regularly
A fatty liver is an inflamed liver and raw vegetable juices are a powerful natural anti-inflammatory remedy. If you have a fatty liver, your liver cells desperately need the vitamins, minerals and antioxidant pigments in fresh raw vegetables. Juices are therapeutic because they provide an added boost of nutrients, on top of the vegetables I’d like you to eat in salads for lunch and dinner. There are specific juices for the liver in my book Raw Juices Can Save Your Life.
6. A regular exercise program
A regular exercise program is important as it speeds up the metabolism and reduces insulin levels. Why not join a gym or buy yourself an exercise machine that allows you to do weight resistance exercises? Walking, swimming and recreational sports can be incorporated into your lifestyle.
Please take the time to do these things with the understanding that your health is more important than meeting deadlines at work or at home. Once you improve your liver function you will find that you have a lot more energy and that your mental state and moods are much better. Thus you will have extra energy to achieve the things that you previously struggled to get through.
7. Take a liver tonic every day
Take a liver tonic every day and use a tonic that combines the clinically proven dose of the herb Milk Thistle combined N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), activated B group vitamins, selenium, antioxidants and sulphur rich amino acids. Livatone Plus contains all these things in one capsule; this enables you to avoid having to take multiple tablets of the individual ingredients. Livatone Plus will promote repair of damaged liver cells, and facilitate the fat burning and detoxification functions of the liver; they can also speed up weight loss.
8. Overcome unstable blood sugar levels
If you have unstable blood sugar levels (a common symptom of fatty liver) you may need extra supplements to control your carbohydrate cravings and prevent the symptoms of low blood sugar. When the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood drops to abnormally low levels, some very unpleasant and disabling symptoms may occur.
The symptoms of low blood sugar may include –
- Strong cravings for sugar and foods high in carbohydrates
- Dizziness and feeling light-headed
- Sweating and racing pulse
- Fatigue
- Foggy vision
- Moodiness
- Mental confusion
The condition of abnormally low blood sugar levels is called hypoglycaemia and this can be tested for with a 2 hour Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT). Hypoglycaemia often alternates with high levels of sugar in the blood, so that the levels of blood sugar resemble a roller coaster; this is common in Syndrome X (known as the metabolic syndrome) and/or in the early stages of diabetes.
Natural supplements can be taken to improve the function of insulin and stabilize blood sugar levels; these reduce the symptoms of hypoglycaemia. The most effective one is known as Glicemic Balance capsules.
I also recommend that you do not over eat and control your portions. Intermittent fasting is also of great benefit and not hard to do - for example just miss breakfast, or even miss breakfast and lunch; instead drink water and herbal teas. If you get hungry while fasting, you can chew on some raw coconut pieces as they are very healthy to eat and quell hunger, or you can make a quick shake with Synd-X Protein powder and coconut cream and water - this will take away hunger and contains no carbohydrates.
The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
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Thanks to this website I lost weight and my liver function improved beyond belief. I feel more energized, happier and the transformation in my health has been nothing short of a miracle. I not only feel 100 times better, but I barely need to take any insulin at all anymore.
small amounts )half a teaspoon up to 3 times daily) are ok
if you exercise a lot and your blood sugar levels are well controlled with insulin then you can have more.
Honey has health benefits especially if locally sourced and produced
Blood pressure medications are very unlikely to contribute to NAFL, but an inflammatory diet high in carbohydrates and/or processed foods are very likely to be responsible for Fatty Liver development.
We suggest you begin Dr Cabot’s 15 Day Cleans and Maintenance Program.
To hasten the healing of your liver Dr Cabot prescribes Ox Bile, Livatone Plus, and NAC.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
Dr Cabot’s wonderful book, Fatty Liver – You Can Reverse It is in stock and has a very efficient eating plan to help you reverse your Fatty Liver.
For you chronic insomnia Dr Cabot prescribes Magnesium powder or tablets to ease your body into peaceful sleep.
Please have your iron and Vitamin D levels checked as deficiency of either can make sleep harder.
Livatone Plus, NAC and OX Bile are prescribed to reverse your Fatty Liver as quickly as possible.
Berberine and Glicemic Balance are prescribed to make saying no to carbohydrate rich and processed foods much easier and keep blood sugar stable and help lower cholesterol levels.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
This article you have read has the most appropriate diet for a person with Fatty Liver, although I would have also added that it is necessary to remove the liver toxin, alcohol, from your diet as well.
Many people find they can reduce their blood sugar, and thereby Fatty Liver by severely restricting carbohydrates, sugars and alcohol and embarking on a daily exercise regimen that increases in intensity as your body adjusts to it.
Supplements are necessary, as well diet and lifestyle changes, and Dr Cabot prescribes Livatone Plus, NAC, Ox Bile, and Vitamin C.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
Is Calamansi juice good for mild to moderate fatty liver?
Thank you
Citrus, including Calamansi, is beneficial to stimulate liver function, but Fatty Liver is often a sign that a carbohydrate rich diet is consumed without sufficient exercise to use all the energy these foods generate.
To make an easy change to a more beneficial eating style, we recommend Dr Cabot’s 15 Day Cleanse and Maintenance Program.
Livatone Plus and Glicemic Balance are prescribed to hasten the return to a healthy, well-functioning liver.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
You’re very welcome.
We’re so glad you have benefited from our advice.
Please let us know if you require any further information.
Kind regards
Jessah
Yes you can, just separate the medications from the supplements by 2 hours.
Kind regards,
Louise
Juice Plus products are compatible with the 8 points in the article, although it is important to remember that it is the healing effects of all the 8 strategies combined that make the difference and the sound supplementation regimen is a core component to have your liver functioning well as quickly as possible.
Kind regards
Victoria
Your mom’s liver needs a lot of help to get it functioning as well as possible.
Hepatitis B can be slowed by antiviral medications and we recommend she also begin taking Selenium to slow replication of the virus.
Fatty Liver is usually caused by a diet high in grain-based foods, sugars, processed foods, damaged or hydrogenated fats or high alcohol intake. To reverse this condition all the offending items need to be removed from her diet and replaced with lots of non-starchy vegetables and good quality protein foods. Livatone Plus as a supplement is a valuable addition. Berberine assists the body lower blood sugars and cholesterol.
Without more information about bile duct obstruction, we cannot provide any advice.
Kind regards
Victoria
It all started with a routine exam indicating that I have hight level of a particulate enzyme (GGT) and cholesterol. An specialist believes that i may have NAFLD and has recommended to do an Ultrasound.
I have not yet done the ultrasound, but since then i have read a lot about NAFLD and have decided to change my diet, because i recognize that my diet is not good. I have cut all sugars from my diet and have cut all carbohydrates (including table sugar, foods with added sugar or maltodextrin, fructose, polydextrose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, golden syrup, molasses, jams, preserves made with sugar, candies, sweet desserts, chocolate and ice-cream, muffins, donuts, pizza, pretzels, chips, pastry, cakes and biscuits) It has been an interesting 10 days, i have lost 10 lbs (unintantionally) even thought i am not starving my self. I have noticed my cravings for pastries, bread as i was too used to them. Thank you to Live Doctors as i find this very informative. I will keep you updated!
Wow, that's fantastic news that you have made all these positive changes to your diet!
You are definitely on the right track making those changes.
Yes, definitely keep us updated.
Keep up the good work :)
Kind regards,
Louise
I have been taking Livatone Plus but struggle with diet. I am most concerned with fruit.... is the fructose and it’s effect on liver health.
So glad to hear you enjoy our podcasts.
High fructose corn syrup found in soft drinks and processed foods are cause for concern when it comes to the liver. Fruit contains fibre and valuable antioxidants.
As your fatty liver is only mild, having one serving of fruit a day would be ok. It would be best to stick to the lower carb fruit such as berries where possible.
Refined carbs such as bread, pasta, rice etc should be avoided or reduced for a few months while you reverse your fatty liver.
There are lots of low-carb recipes in Dr Cabots books - Fatty Liver You Can Reverse It & I Can't Lose Weight and I Don't Know Why.
Kind regards,
Louise
I was diagnosed with NAFLD , non alcoholic fatty liver and large parts of my liver was very fatty, I hadn’t even heard of this disease before. In three weeks I’ve managed to reverse my condition and I lost 10kg in weight.
I would add from own experience to the above that you should start fasting ASAP !! , for minimum 36 hours and take it from there. Doing one large meal once a day (omad) after that where you try and eat wholefoods and as healthy as you can, you will be craving a lot and stuff but resist. Do not put anything in your mouth that you can eat except once a day for your big meal. Drink plentiful, add salt also if you feel dizzy and stay away from sugary drinks.
Do this for five days , then switch to 2 meals a day (IF) and try to eat low carb. I actually ended up doing keto, which Im still on after 3 months so It works , look it up. I’m down to 89 kilos as I write now, from 105 originally.
Also start walking, youll probably start moving around quite a bit as I did once you start fasting though!
Please take this condition seriously , I was in a lot of agony , I didn’t even know what I had, but my liver was so large I had difficulty breathing. And stay away from fructose!!!!!
Thanks so much for sharing your story and what you did to reverse your fatty liver! :)
Kind regards,
Louise
Yes, lemon is good for the liver as fresh lemon juice helps to stimulate and detox the liver.
We recommend having some fresh lemon squeezed in warm water in the morning.
Kind regards,
Jessah Shaw
Nutritionist for Liverdoctor.com
Fatty Liver is most often caused by a diet rich in carbohydrates, and not all the energy these foods provide being used in your day.
We encourage you to obtain a copy of Dr Cabot’s wonderful book, ‘Fatty Liver – You Can Reverse It’ and get your son to follow the recommended eating plan.
If this is not possible we invite you to download Dr Cabot’s generously offered free e-book athttps://www.liverdoctor.com/the-vital-principles-of-liver-cleansing-free-download/ for your knowledge and his treatment.
For Fatty Liver, Dr Cabot prescribes
LivaTone Plus - 1 capsule twice a day to help repair damage to the liver and improve the liver’s ability to metabolise fat.
MSM + Vitamin C – ½ a teaspoon once or twice daily in vegetable juice or water to reduce oxidation, inflammation and boost liver health.
You can order the above supplements and Dr Cabot’s books athttps://shop.liverdoctor.com/
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutritionist for Liverdoctor.com
We recommend you see your healthcare practitioner.
For fatty liver we recommend you eliminate grains, sugar, processed food and takeout meals from your diet.
There is some dietary information in this article:https://www.liverdoctor.com/what-should-you-eat-if-you-have-fatty-liver/
There is some excellent information in Dr Cabot's books 'Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It' and 'Your Thyroid Problems Solved'.
To reverse fatty liver, Dr Cabot recommends you take
Livatone Plus 2 caps twice daily to improve liver function.
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) 2 caps twice daily at least 2 hours away from food, if any upset occurs please take with meals. NAC is the precursor to glutathione; the body's most potent antioxidant. This supplement works well with Livatone Plus to get the liver better faster.
These supplements can be purchased here:https://shop.liverdoctor.com/
Let us know how you get on.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutrition Consultant for Liverdoctor.com
For fatty liver we recommend you eliminate grains, sugar, processed food and takeout meals.
There are some dietary principles in this article:https://www.liverdoctor.com/what-should-you-eat-if-you-have-fatty-liver/
There is an excellent eating plan in Dr Cabot's book 'Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It' or 'I Can't Lose Weight and I Don't Know Why'.
Improving your liver function will naturally lower blood pressure.
Dr Cabot recommends you take
Livatone Plus 2 caps twice daily to improve liver function.
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) 2 caps twice daily at least 2 hours away from food, if any upset occurs please take with meals. NAC is the precursor to glutathione; the body's most potent antioxidant. This supplement works well with Livatone Plus to get the liver better faster.
Magnesium Complete 2 tabs twice daily OR Magnesium Ultra Potent Powder 1/2 tsp twice daily as it can help reduce blood pressure by relaxing the muscles in the walls of your arteries, and can reduce stress which causes blood pressure to rise.
These can be purchased here:https://shop.liverdoctor.com/
Try to get 30 minutes of exercise in a day whether it be walking, swimming, running, cycling or resistance training.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutritional Consultant for Liverdoctor.com
There is some great dietary information in this article:https://www.liverdoctor.com/what-should-you-eat-if-you-have-fatty-liver/
Here is a shopping list for good liver foods:https://www.liverdoctor.com/healthy-grocery-list-for-liver-lovers/
There is plenty of information in Dr Cabot's book 'Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It'.
Dr Cabot recommends you take
Livatone Plus 2 caps twice daily to improve liver function.
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) 2 caps twice daily at least 2 hours away from food, if any upset occurs please take with meals. NAC is the precursor to glutathione; the body's most potent antioxidant. This supplement works well with Livatone Plus to get the liver better faster.
These supplements can be purchased here:https://shop.liverdoctor.com/
Let us know how you get on.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutritional Consultant for Liverdoctor.com