Health Diet for Fatty Liver

Fatty liver disease, as the name implies, is caused by the build up of of excessive fat in the liver. A person with a liver composed of more than 10% fat by weight may experience symptoms such as inflammation, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and pain in the upper right side of the abdomen. In some cases inflammation can cause scarring of the liver, leading to decreased liver function and possible liver failure. People who are diabetic, obese, abuse alcohol, are malnourished or have high triglycerides have a higher risk of developing fatty liver than the general population.

Effective Diet for Treating Fatty Liver Disease

• According to the American Liver Foundation at liverfoundation.org, "There are no medical or surgical treatments for fatty liver..." A low-glycemic diet, in addition to exercise and slowly losing weight, may help to prevent or even reverse damage to the liver caused by excess fat build up. The glycemic index (GI) measures the effect of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Foods higher on the index increase both blood sugar and insulin levels in the blood. Increased insulin levels stress an already diseased liver. Eating foods lower in carbohydrates and fat is a healthy diet for people suffering from fatty liver disease.

Guidelines

• An effective diet for fatty liver will be high in fiber and low in refined carbohydrates, processed foods and sugar. High fiber, low GI foods include non-starchy vegetables, fruit (especially berries), and whole grains such as amaranth, barley, brown, red or purple rice, bulgur, flaxseed, millet, oats, rye, quinoa, spelt, wild rice and wheat berries. Some starchy vegetables that can be enjoyed in moderation are carrots, corn, beets and peas. White rice, parsnips and white potatoes are high GI foods are not recommended for this type of diet.

  Protein is used by the body to heal and repair cells. Meats and dairy products, while significant sources of high quality protein, also contain high amounts of fat. Total fat intake for the day should not excess 30% of total calories eaten. The amount of meat and dairy consumed on a fatty liver diet should be limited. Organic meat and dairy are preferred to non-organic because organic products do not contain antibiotics, steroids and artificial growth hormones. Soy beans and other legumes are low fat, high protein foods that can help meet the need for protein without added fat. Soy milk and cheeses offer low fat alternatives to tradition dairy products.

  Drink eight to 12, eight-ounce glasses of filtered water a day. Alcohol and artificial sweeteners contain compounds that will put unnecessary stress on an already unhealthy liver and should be completely eliminated from the diet of a person suffering from fatty liver disease.

Lose Weight Slowly

• Rapid weigh loss can put stress on the liver. It is best to lose weight slowly--one to two pounds per week.