The human body anatomy is a rather complex one with numerous organs and distinct functions. But it is also greatly interesting because each organ serves a different but equally important purpose as any other organ. But the liver is a more unique organ than any other due to its specifications as well as its special ability to grow back. And due to that, we tend to abuse our liver and take it for granted.
And developing a fatty liver is the major problem that arises out of not taking proper care of the liver. Although there are many other liver-related risks and diseases, this one is the most commonly seen but that still does not make it any less dangerous.
What Exactly Is Fatty Liver Disease?
When too much fat accumulates in your liver cells, i.e., more than 5%, then fatty liver tends to be the result because then it is unable to break down the fat which the liver normally does. It is also known as hepatic steatosis.
The most commonly seen yet major risk factors which can lead to fatty liver disease are obesity, diabetes, and excess alcohol consumption. But then again, there can also be another type of fatty liver disease that has absolutely nothing to do with alcohol. Although symptoms rarely occur in this, when they do, it’s mostly on the lines of abdominal pain and fatigue. And in the case of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol might be additional symptoms along with the other common ones.
How To Treat Fatty Liver At Home?
The principal reason why this is a serious health concern and dangerous is that it can last for years or even for the rest of your life, as it is chronic. So, you must take all the necessary precautions and steer clear of any fatty liver causes because as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. But, in case you do develop fatty liver disease, then don’t worry because, with the help of these amazingly effective home remedies, you would be able to treat it in the quickest and the most hassle-free way possible.
1. Weight loss
One of the main reasons for developing a fatty liver is consuming excessive calories that lead up to more and more fat building up in the liver cells. So naturally, the best way to treat it would be by getting rid of those calories and losing some weight!
Here are some of the easiest and highly effective ways to lose weight:
- Get on a healthy and balanced diet.
- Avoid junk food at all costs and cater to healthy food choices only.
- Say no to food with added sugar and excess fat like candies, soft drinks, sweetened dairy products, baked products, etc.
- Skipping meals and intermittent fasting is not going to help; don’t choose unhealthy options to speed up your weight loss process because that will only worsen your health in the long run.
2. Drink more Coffee
Caffeine has always been everyone’s best friend, and in this case, it only proves to be even more beneficial. Whether it is regular coffee or decaffeinated, it is going to be immensely helpful in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. And if you are opting for black coffee, then it would help in reducing the overall liver damage even more effectively, specifically because of its sugar-free aspect.
3. Stock more Herb Supplies
Herbal remedies have been the go-to option since ancient times so there’s no reason why you cannot resort to that either. Ingredients like turmeric, green tea, and thistle in milk form tend to be greatly beneficial and will help with the improvement of your condition. You could even infuse these ingredients into your daily diet and consume them the way you want them to for a better taste.
4. Shift to Olive Oil
According to recent studies, olive oil has proved to effectively reverse the effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This is because not only does it help in reducing the level of fat, but it is also of monumental help in improving the liver enzyme levels and increasing blood flow. So, start cooking your food with olive oil instead of the vegetable oil that you normally tend to use.
5. Increase Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
This is one of the most common yet highly-effective techniques when it comes to improving one’s health. And consuming more fruits and vegetables tends to help with fatty liver in quite a significant way. Recommended fruits:
- Avocado
- Banana
- Kiwi
- Apricot
- Berries
- Apple
Recommended vegetables:
- Peas
- Broccoli
- Sweet potato
- Cucumber
- Carrot
- Tomato
You could also get creative with your fruit and vegetable supplies; make salads and/or smoothies for a better taste and voila, both your palate and health are looked after!
6. Go for Whole Grains
Choosing whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates reaps innumerable health benefits. It increases the intake of nutrients, provides your body with more fibers and antioxidants, and has many other complementary mechanisms that reduce the risk of liver diseases in general as well. Some wise whole-grain product choices include:
- Quinoa
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
- Whole-wheat bread
- Couscous
7. Get Active
Start exercising regularly and develop a proper workout routine. You could start with small steps like going for a jog early in the morning or brisk walking in the evening, doing yoga, stretching, etc., and then gradually improve your fitness game by working out and exercising daily. Besides these, other factors such as cutting down alcohol consumption, avoiding liver irritants, consuming more fish, nuts, legumes, etc., are also greatly helpful.
But it is important to note that these are just home remedies to treat fatty liver and that medical treatments exist too; consult your doctor once before any change in your diet or any change in general because there may or may not be any side effects depending on the way your body functioning.
Also read- Liver Blow