A query from a faithful subscriber.
I am a male of 33 years of age,recently diagnosed with Grade 1 fatty liver. How can I get rid of this problem? Besides I am gaining weight around the mid section. Kindly advise me the treatment and food I should follow.
My reply:
Fatty liver is a common problem seen in many urban parts of India. Most of the time it goes untreated or doctors fail to advise on this condition. This does not produce any visible symptoms , but can put you at the risk of liver inflammation which ultimately can lead to jaundice( hepatitis), liver failure and liver cancer. Initially it stays as a benign condition and is really harmless. But it can progress to a potential slow killer.
Commonly seen in overweight persons and mostly above the ages of 30 and any liver problems are associated with alcohol. But Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease(NAFLD) is commonly seen rather than the Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. So non alcohol drinkers too can get afflicted.
In this condition, the liver consists of excess of fat and the healthy tissues are replaced by unhealthy fats. This makes the liver larger and heavier. This can possibly lead to gall stones.
What can be the various causes for a person to have fatty liver?
- Being Overweight or obese especially in the abdominal area
- Poor diet- high sugar intake, high fat intake
- Elevated cholesterol levels and triglycerides in the blood
- If suffering from metabolic syndrome
- Diabetic for over a long period of time and taking medications for the same
Now the question arises whether is it possible to reverse it?
Yes, it is definitely possible to reverse the condition of fatty liver if the following tips are followed.
Diet modifications
- Reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates in your diet such as white bread, white rice, pasta, noodles, cakes, biscuits, desserts, soft drinks, sweetened fruit juices and also that of table sugar. Avoid breakfast cereals too.
- Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in the diet.
- Eat whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat products, oats, ragi, bajra, jowar etc and Pulses and legumes.
- Avoid all kinds of fried food, processed food, high fat foods in general all junk food.
- Avoid red meats such as mutton, beef, pork and opt for fat trimmed meats and white meats such as fish, chicken, turkey. Avoid processed meat or cured meats.
- Switch over to low fat milk products from full cream or full fat milk products.
- Avoid margarine, mayonnaise as much as possible.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners as well. They do not help in the long term.
- Use oils which provided monounsaturated fatty acids.
Other influences
- Control diabetes with diet, medications and exercise.
- Keep your cholesterol levels in check and reduce triglycerides in the blood.
- Avoid alcohol as much as possible.
Exercise daily to reduce weight and to keep weight in check. Reduce the abdominal fat content by eating smaller meals and by exercising daily by walking, jogging and also bu incorporating yoga in your diet.
You may also like to read:
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- Triglycerides – Lets maintain our system ...
- Ways to beat “Stress fat” aka Belly fat ...
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- Why is Refined Sugar – Known As White Sugar – Bad for You? ...
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Hi Sanjana,
I am a regular visitor of your website.I have a query regarding sinus and piles.My husband is having some symptoms like headache, dizziness, dull feeling ,heavy breathing and snoring in the night.The doctor has diagonized
his condition as sinusitis and prescribed antibiotics Amoxillin.Its a heavy dosage of 3 times a day for 7 days , each of 500mg.No vitamin tables have been prescribed .
What are the food restrictions for a person suffering from sinus?Can he have curd?His intake of antibiotics is causing lot of trouble due to heat.Moreover he is feeling a irritating sensation in rectum and is using Anusol for relief.Will this intake of antibiotics aggravate his condition? When he consulted the doctor for sinus, he hadn’t informed about the problem in his anal area.
Please advise.
Regards
Vineeta
[Reply]
Sanjana - Dietitian Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:22 am
Hi Vineeta
There are no food restrictions for sinusitis. But a good diet can help through the inflammation. Exercise can help to ease up the breathing, so a 30 minute walk daily can do wonders.
I agree the antibiotic dosage is high. He needs to be well hydrated and has to include probiotics in his diet. For the anal pain, he should immediately meet a gastroenterologist and get it treated as soon as possible. Self medication is not advisable now.
He can include curds in his diet. If he feels that the symptoms of sinusitis are aggravating, then he can avoid it. Probiotic supplements are easily available in the form of tablets. It is available in any pharmacy. These tablets contain lactic acid. Preferably get a prescription for this supplement although this can be safely taken off the counter.
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Vineeta Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Thank you so much Dr.Sanjana for throwing light on this. I will definitely include curd in his diet and consult doctor regarding his problem.
Thank you so much!
Have a nice day!
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This is a good basic recipe for anyone for improved health. Re: sinusitus – I have never heard probiotics for that condition, but I suppose they are good for everything as well. I stopped having sinus infections when I began taking a supplement with spirulina in it. Also I had a good doctor who did not want to overprescribe antibiotics. It worked! No antibiotics now for almost 10 years! And no sinus infections!
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Sanjana - Dietitian Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Hi Carol,
Thanks for your valuable comment. In India there is a common belief that milk and yogurt can cause mucus accumulation and cause a cold. This myth has been coming down from generations. Hence, very difficult to change this. I usually advise an alternative to people who get these symptoms. There is a concept of “cold foods” which can cause a cold or give a congestion and “heat foods” which make make people hot and make them break out into sweats. Milk and milk products are considered cold foods.
Vineeta asked me if her husband can eat yogurt for his sinusitis, while yogurt would have helped him for his piles condition,as she feels his sinusitis can aggravate by eating yogurt.
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Hey Sanjana,
I am so delighted to see this feed. I was detected fatty liver about 4 years ago. I am neither overweight or alcoholic (at that time I was 160lbs with 5-6″ height). The doctors couldnt advise me anything. I think immediately afterwards, I found that I had high cholesterol too.
I follow your blog and since I have lost about 14lbs. I also watch my food closely. I completely believe that my next numbers will fall down without taking any cholesterol medication which would have hampered my liver further.
Re:Vineeta-If you let me I would suggest something for piles. I used to have some problem in past and I found that Triphala Churna (from Himalaya), 1tab before meals and warm bath with few drops of castor oil helps great. Ofcourse one has to control diet and take advice of specialist.
-Vikram
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Sanjana - Dietitian Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Wow Vic…..
That’s great!!!! You are skating towards good health.
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Thank you so much Sanjana,Carol and Vikram for sharing your views on my problem.I will include loads of curd and vegetables in his diet and also advise him to consult a doctor for his problem,He had been using Anusol for about a week now and still feels the lump.So I think a doctor only can advise more on this. Thank you for all your suggestions.
Have a nice day!
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Dear Sanjana,
I’m Priya, 26yrs(delivered my first baby 2 months back) and recently diagnosed with Grade 1 fatty liver. Also, it looks like i have multiple tiny mobile gallstones. I wonder whether these are due to my pregnancy. coz, i had a health checkup 4 months before i got pregnant and was in good health. My SGOT and SGPT were only 14 and 17 then; but now its raised to 119 and 423 which i know is toooo high. Also my triglycerides are only 140, cholesterol levels are good. I do not have diabetes, my BMI is 23.8, have never consumed alcohol, now taking lots of milk as I’m lactating. I consulted a physician here and I’m given Ursodiol tablets. Kindly advise on what I should do and a diet to follow as I’m breastfeeding.
Thanks in Advance..
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Hi
haviing pain in right abdomen for 4-5 months. liver enzymes varying from normal to levle of 90. Doctor says it is fatty liver.
Kindly advise how to cure without any medicine beacuse allopathy does not suit me and rather increases pain.
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Hi,
Follow the above tips in the articles.
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Dr. Sanjana,
I was searching the web for facts of the FATTY LIVER as I was detected for the same while undergoing for a CT Scan for my kidney stones as I had undergone PCNL for my kidney. The radiologist deteceted fatty liver in the CT scan and and also in the Ultra Sound Scan. I don’t have gall bladder stones as they were not detected in the 2 scans.I am diabetic and under treatment from a very good diabetalogist in Mumbai. I am a vegetarian and don’t take alcohol. a year back my weight was 84 Kgs and now it is 89 Kgs. my belly portion is too large just like an Obese person but I am not obese person. My diet intake is very simple NO sugar / No areated waters / No startchy foods / No junk foods / take only rotis for my lunch & dinner / OATS for my brakfast and milk products like Probiotic dahi & low fat milk.
What should I do for my day by day increasing waist ( belly) line my legs are very thin . CT Scan shows my intestines are very normal except for a large mass of fatyy deposits on the internal organs of my belly and fatty liver. Kindly advise.
I live in Mumbai. And I commute daily to office by two wheeler- train- walk which is about 35 KMs onway. I mean I am very active every day.
Kindly advise what can I do to reduce my weight / fatty liver. I am 45 yrs old. Diabetic since last 10 yrs. height 5’8″ weight 89 Kgs ( increased by 5 kgs in last 1 yr period.) ***** MUMBAI / 05.02.2010
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Shankar Banerjee Reply:
February 10th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Dr. Sanjana,
Thanks for your great writing on Fatty Lever. I am also suffring from the same. I was treated earlier as migrane. It is discovered in last year that I have Fatty Lever through sonography at Kolkata. Is that sign of Cancer? I am 50 years old weight 80 Kg and hight 5′10″. My sexual life is also distrubed, feeling lazyness all the time and continious digestive problems but luckely I am not diabetic. I offenly take Ibugesic Plus, Gelusil MPS, Tetramycin and Pentop-40. Kindy suggest me.
Shankar
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Vik Reply:
February 10th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Sudhakar:
I am not a dietician but I couldnt resist replying to your situation.
Basically you are in the same boat as I was 1 year ago. Difference- I was 30 years old and was 160 lbs with 5-6″, non-alcoholic and non-diabetic. Still I had a fatty liver! Fatty liver as such is not a serious disease in short-term but it can have long term effects on your health. In extreme cases liver cirossis..but it would certainly raise your triglycerides.
First priority in your case would be drastically reducing your weight. While you are already doing good job in your lifestyle, I think there is more to be done. I think it will be good to reduce the amount of food. Also it would be good to take out rotis once in while in your meals. Eat lots of salad. Avoid deep fried food and any type of junk food. Write down a diary of what you eat every day and you will know more about your meals. Avoid caffine (coffee, tea) because it slows down your metabolism. Eat lots of food and if possible do not drink non-fat milk. Its a contradictory statement, but its a processed milk and it wont do good to your health.
Last but not least you will have to exercise. Walk and commuting wont count towards your exercise. You have to exercise so that all of your muscles are getting trained. Treadmill, running, crunches..something that will increase your heartbeat to 135+ for 30 mins would be of great help.
– but once again, I am not a doctor or a dietician, I am writing this based on my personal experience through which I completely gotten rid of my fatty liver within 9 months which stayed with me for 5 years.
[Reply]
karan Reply:
February 12th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
hey even my father is suffering from fatty liver,sinus and migraine.we are vegetarian,no alcholic drinks,he got diabets since 1 year. so please can u advise me how to cure this disease.
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Sanjana - Dietitian Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Diabetes cannot be cured but can be controlled. Hence you will need to see that he eats a healthy diet with good carbs.
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Correction:
Eat lots of “food”, should be read as “Fruits”.. but since you are diabetic you will have to watch it too
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FATTY LIVER.
Your Liver is as vital to your health as your heart and lungs are.. But nobody cares to keep it healthy and one fine morning you go to a doctor to hear from him that you have some problem with your liver.
You can keep your Liver healthy by living clean, by eating crunchy veggies and also by having an eye on the nutritional supplements you may be having on your dining table. May I elaborate this para for the benefit of all ?.
Liver is a vital part of one’s body. It is not just a place to work as a filter mechanism. All of the blood that has visited your small intestine flows through the liver where it gets detoxified. It is a big job, and Liver is doing it. Having said this much, some tips are given below for helping your Liver to help you and these need your cooperation.
1) To give less work to the liver and live clean, drink filtered water always, eat
unprocessed foods, choose veggie protein over red meat,
2) To add crunchy veggies, have broccoli and cabbage, then B-rich foods like whole grains, and high C items such as citrus fruits and green leaves. All these, if regularly consumed assist the Liver’s detoxifying process.
3) Consider a supplement. Lecithin ( Soya beans and egg yolks are good sources ) and Zinc support Liver function. Herbs like Milk thistle and dandelion may help liver function too., but please consult your doctor before taking them.
4) Do not take too much of vitamin “A”. If you do, you risk liver problems including Cirrhosis.
5) Remember always that liver does a lot of jobs in the body and if one job fails from any one of the major ones, one had better start making funeral arrangements. It is very necessary therefore one has to watch his or her weight, When you get fat, liver also gets fat too. Further, low alcoholic intake( if stopped altogether ,the better) and a sensible diet are the best bets for the liver and given maximum care, the liver will do its functions properly.
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Vik Reply:
March 5th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
great article by Sundaram. Thanks
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To Vik.
Thank you for your kind words. T. S. Sundaram.
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Very good words Mr.Sundaram. Actually visiting Nutrihealth has become a habit… and reading your article has become another. I think you should also write for this blog as well.
Dr. Sanjana Please publish articles of Mr.Sundaram as well..
Looking forward to read more from you as well sir.
Thanks and Regards,
Nithin Ahuja
Indore
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thanks for this website, i found the article on fatty liver through google. i dont usually reply to websites like this but it seems like the effort you put in helps a lot of people. thank you!
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Sanjana - Dietitian Reply:
March 31st, 2010 at 9:56 am
Thanks Sean.
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Yaseen Reply:
April 20th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Dear Sanjana,
I am suffering pain in right side of my Stomach and lower abdominal since year 2000. I am facing the problem since last 10 years. I am diagnosed as a FATTY LIVER & detected for the same while undergoing for a CT Scan. The radiologist detected fatty liver in the CT scan and and also in the Ultra Sound Scan. I have calcium formation/Polib in gallbladder stones as they were not detected in the 2 scans. Last month (March-2010) I also operated and remove the Gallbladder. After operation and I also suffering the same problem and pain .
Kindly suggest me. I am a non-vegetarian and don’t take alcohol. A year back my weight was 75 Kgs. My diet intake is very simple NON-VEG (meat mutton & chicken), NO sugar / No aerated waters / No starchy foods / No junk foods / take only rotis for my lunch & dinner / OATS for my breakfast and milk products like Probiotic dahi & low fat milk.
M.YASEEN, JAIPUR
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plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz giv me the list of fruits n vegetables should b eaten during fatty liver.
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Sanjana - Dietitian Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Shabina,
Any fruits can be eaten for fatty liver as fruits are low in fat…
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can u plz tell me the perfect diet to be taken by fatty liver patient. pla mention the names
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Sanjana - Dietitian Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Hi Shabina,
Online consultation will be starting soon in another 2-3 months…You can register and consult. For now follow all the tips given in the article on fatty liver.
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my brother got fatty liver,but he also got gastric problem which mean gastric juice coming in into oesophagus, is it due to fatty liver problem ah,.
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respected sir i am suffering from non alcohlic fatty liver since last one year, my SGOT & SGPT always near about 100 and 125 respectively. UD-liv 150 and liver tonic also taken three or four months but no response or recovery is seen. also i am suffering with over weight. my age is 34 year. please send the treatment and diet chart.
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I think you need to rethink some of your advice of diet re fatty liver. Too much fruit is not good. Fruit is nearly pure sugar (fructose) which converts to fat in the liver.
This is also true to for veg juices, in particularly carrot and beet, high in sugar.
Carbs need to be avoided and there are soem recent double blind studies which confirm low carb diet will reverse fatty liver disease.
http://www.medindia.net/news/Low-carb-Diet-Beneficial-for-People-With-Non-alcoholic-Fatty-Liver-Disease-43187-1.htm
Fruit is carb = sugar
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Hi,
I have been diagnosed with Fatty Liver for last 1 yr.
Just got the test conducted after 1 yr.
SGOT = 106.40
SGPT = 240.90
Cholesterol Total = 88
LDL Cholestrol = 36.90
TC/ HDL ratio = 0.86
I am 39 yrs old and overweight.
I am Vegiterian and Non – Alcholic.
Along with Excersie, what diet shall I have to cure my Liver.
If you can please elaborate on the Vegetables, pluses and other foods which we can take / avoid, that would be much helpful.
Thanks
Saurabh
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thanks for brief discription about Fatty liver
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Hello, My son was dignosed with a fatty liver. He’s 12 years old and he’s overweight. I’m freaking out and i know he has a poor diet. I need help.. please help me to help him to recover from this illness.. Im so worried for his well being. I love him so much and don’t want to lose him. PLease, please help me.
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hi
i am 22 years old.i drink on regular basis but i also eat a good healyhy diet.
i am having grade 1 liver problem since last 2 years.it is consistent.i also have pain but it is not so severe.
please suggest me ways how to get rid of it.
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Hi, i used to drink earlier, around five months back i started to gain weight.i have just quitted alcohol a week back, i keep on having irritation in the abdomen area. can i be having a fatty liver?if so is it late to stop alcohol?
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