Diets to Reverse Disease
Subtitle
Today, more and more people are succumbing to diseases of the liver, such as fatty liver. This infection is also called “hepatic steatosis”, which is the medical term for NAFLD, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Among the major causes for the rise in the cases of fatty liver include obesity, poor diet and lifestyle choices, and medical conditions like hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. If untreated, fatty liver could lead to more serious diseases like fibrosis (liver scarring), which leads to cirrhosis.
Here are a number of helpful diet suggestions on how to reverse fatty liver disease.
Consume Unsaturated Fats
Just
because the disease is called “fatty liver” it does not mean that an individual
should eliminate all types of fat from their daily diets. What actually causes
fatty liver are the trans fats and saturated fats which are commonly-found in
red meat, fried food and high-fat dairy products. These increase the risk
for developing other diseases which are harmful for people who already have
fatty liver.
When consumed in the right amounts, unsaturated fats such as those found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, can help promote healthy brain, heart and liver function, as well as improve overall fitness.
Eat Whole Grains
Whole grains are basically a class of foods that have a low
glycemic index. This indicates that they do not affect blood sugar levels.
Whole grain food items include barley, rye, bulgur, brown or wild rice and
spelt.
Foods that have high glycemic levels include processed food items like sugary cereals, processed snack foods and white bread. Increased consumption of these "white" food types may increase the risks of diabetes, heart disease, and they can also accelerate fatty liver.
Consume Lots of Vegetables and Fruits
While lots of advertisements and healthy-eating programs
give a lot of importance on including greens and fruits in the daily diet, the
added keyword should be eating “plenty” of these. Fruits and vegetables are a
rich source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which strengthen the body's
immune system, and ward off serious infections and diseases.
One should consume fruits and veggies in large quantities, like half a dozen serving of fruits and veggies per day. Veggies like kale, Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, Swiss chard can help enhance liver enzyme production, and reduce toxins in the liver. Veggies like broccoli can also significantly help reduce the development of fatty liver disease.
Other risk factors that lead to the development of fatty liver disease include over-consumption of alcohol, excessive intake of certain medications, lack of exercise, high cholesterol levels, and exposure to environmental toxins like lead, mercury and “organochlorine” pesticides.
To reduce the risks of developing fatty liver, the person should make it a habit to exercise everyday, lose weight, eat lots of fiber-rich foods, and reduce the consumption of typical cholesterol and fat-rich fast-food fare.
Sources:
US National Library of Medicine
Photo Credit:
"Nuts 2" by Steffenz/Flickr