Fruits are good for your liver. Fruits are very good sources of natural antioxidants and vitamins, which can help fight oxidative stress on the liver.
Fruits are also rich in fiber, which is essential to maintain a healthy digestive system and bowel movement.
Some fruits that you might want to consider including in your diet include:
Blueberries – Blueberries contain anthocyanins, which have been shown to reduce inflammation associated with fatty liver disease. They also contain polyphenols, which have been shown to improve blood lipid levels and lower cholesterol.
Cranberries – Cranberries contain flavonoids called proanthocyanidins (PACs), which prevent fat from accumulating in the liver by preventing the absorption of cholesterol into cells. The PACs also prevent fat from being converted into triglycerides and being stored as fat within cells.
Grapefruit – Grapefruit contains limonoids, which help inhibit an enzyme needed to convert sugar into fat in the liver. This helps prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver and reduces insulin resistance by helping regulate blood sugar levels.
How to reduce fatty liver
For those with nonalcoholic fatty liver, or NAFLD, reducing the amount of fat in the diet is key. That means eliminating fried foods and red meat and switching to lean proteins such as chicken, fish and tofu.
You should also cut back on saturated fats found in dairy products and baked goods. The best way to do this is by sticking with low-fat versions of these items. Some good sources of healthy fats include avocados, nuts and olive oil.
New treatment for fatty liver disease
A new treatment has been developed for patients with severe nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead to cirrhosis. The treatment involves administering a drug called ceritinib via an IV drip once every two weeks for six months. The drug works by blocking cancer growth signals that are overactive in NASH patients. It’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat lung cancer but not yet approved for NASH patients.
A healthy diet can help to protect the liver from damage and reduce the risk of developing fatty liver disease. However, it is important to remember that there are a number of factors that can contribute to fatty liver disease, including alcohol consumption and obesity.
The following foods have been shown to improve liver health:
Fatty fish – Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish such as mackerel, trout, sardines and salmon are thought to be beneficial for the liver. Omega 3s help to reduce inflammation and cholesterol levels, both of which are associated with fatty liver disease. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends eating two portions of oily fish per week (equivalent to one portion being two tins of sardines or four fillets of fresh tuna).
Vegetables – Vegetables contain many essential vitamins and minerals that help with detoxification processes within the body, which may help reduce inflammation associated with fatty liver disease. Vegetables include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and spinach.
Berries – Berries are high in antioxidants which have been linked with a decreased risk of developing cancer cells in the body. Research has also shown that berries may help protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure
Fatty liver disease is a serious condition that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
In addition to alcohol consumption, other factors that contribute to fatty liver disease include:
Chronic hepatitis C infection
Obesity
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat builds up in the liver. It can be caused by obesity, alcohol abuse and type 2 diabetes.
Fatty liver disease, also called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affects about one-third of Americans and is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
If you have fatty liver disease, your liver becomes enlarged and contains too much fat. This can lead to scarring, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or even cancer. Fatty liver disease is not usually serious — but if you don’t treat it, it can be fatal.
Your doctor may diagnose fatty liver by performing a physical exam and blood tests that measure your liver enzymes and triglycerides (fats). A biopsy of your liver tissue may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
A fatty liver is a build-up of fat in the liver. It’s not usually serious and often clears up by itself.
If your liver is worse than normal, it may be due to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This can lead to scarring (cirrhosis) and other problems.
In most cases, there are no symptoms of fatty liver disease. However, you may notice:
feeling nauseous or having an upset stomach
being tired all the time
a swollen, tender abdomen
having dark urine or pale stools