Diets for people with fatty liver are not only healthy for the liver, but also for the rest of the body. In fact, a good fatty liver diet is not much different than a good, healthy diet for the average person. However, it's important to know what you're up against because making a few minor changes in the foods you eat can make a huge, long-term difference in maintaining proper liver function.
Fatty liver (sometimes referred to as fatty liver disease or FLD) simply refers to an overabundance of fat, specifically triglycerides, in the liver. The end result of fat accumulation is a liver that is much larger and heavier than that of a healthy individual.
You might also hear the term, "steatosis", tossed around when researching this condition. Steatosis simply refers to the process by which the fat accumulates in and around liver cells (hepatocytes). It is also used to describe the first of four stages of FLD that range from steatosis to steatohepatitis (fatty liver coupled with inflammation).
Early stages of FLD are often benign and asymptomatic. However, if the condition is left undiscovered and uncontrolled, then it can become life threatening in the form of cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Definitive confirmation of the presence of FLD can only be done through a liver biopsy procedure. The condition is closely tied to obesity and, in the case of AFL (alcoholic fatty liver), excessive alcohol consumption, which is why proper diet and exercise are critical to improving and reversing the disease.
A good diet plan for fatty liver often focuses on 4 central ideas: high fiber and complex carbohydrates, control and monitor calories, reduce fat intake, and go heavy on fruits and vegetables.
Pasta, brown rice, and other foods rich in complex carbohydrates are generally recommended to make up the main energy source for people with excessive fat in the liver. Approximately 60-70% of the diet should come from complex carbohydrates and foods high in fiber.
These foods help provide your body with a useable energy source so it doesn't have to resort to breaking down fats that can accumulate in the liver. They also aid digestion which helps remove excess fat.
By reducing calories, you can reduce weight. This in turn helps take some of the stress off your liver. A 1200 to 1500 calorie meal plan should be a good diet for reducing a fatty liver, so long as the proper foods are consumed.
The most important part of a good diet plan for FLD is reducing your overall fat intake. Shoot for gradual weight loss and keep fat from ending up in your liver by shooting for a diet low in saturated fats. Fat should not make up more than 30% of your daily caloric intake.
Lastly, remember when your mom used to tell you to eat all your fruits and vegetables? Now is the time to start listening to her if you haven't already. A fatty liver disease diet should be rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly those containing large amounts of vitamin C (citrus fruits) and folate.
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