A large percentage of population is known to be suffering from liver problems and fatty liver problem is one of them. Fatty liver is a condition that arises when unusually large amounts of fat get deposited inside the liver. The liver is said to be fatty when the fat content exceeds more than 5% by weight.
The causes of a fatty liver
The fatty liver condition can either be alcohol or non alcohol induced. Excessive consumption of alcohol damages liver tissues thereby interfering with metabolism and allowing fat build up inside the liver cells. In non alcoholic cases, the fat deposition occurs not because of consumption of alcohol but because of metabolic disorders of the liver cells. The reasons can be drugs and medication, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, hypertension and obesity. All these interfere with the normal liver functions and processes that eventually lead to fat accumulation.
The importance of correct diagnosis
All in all, fatty liver is a condition and not a disease; it can be reversed if the causing factor can be identified. To reverse this process, however, requires the right diagnosis. Physically it may not be easy to distinguish alcoholic fatty acid and non alcoholic fatty acid. The first among many liver function tests to show fatty liver are elevated liver enzyme activities. Thereafter, tests conducted should eliminate the presence of any infection like hepatitis. An imaging report should also corroborate the presence of fat deposits on the liver tissue. Consumption of more than 25 g of alcohol per day will point to an alcohol induced fatty liver and vice versa.
Despite being a condition that is reversible, it is noteworthy that fatty liver, if not checked, can lead to terrible consequences like cirrhosis, liver cancer or even liver failure. The fat filled cells form cysts and lesions that are irreversible leading to liver damage or scarring. Fatty liver that results from excessive consumption of alcohol however is easier to deal with because one just needs to stop taking alcohol to reverse the process. On the other hand non alcoholic fatty liver cases are more complicated because of their myriad causes. Obesity, diabetes, especially type 2, hypertension, malnutrition, drugs and medication, GI tract operations and diseases and liver diseases may be some of the causes.
Non alcoholic fatty liver therefore requires more analysis by a physician to establish the real cause. A patient’s medical history and other health conditions can be used as good leads to diagnose non alcoholic fatty liver disorder. Diagnosing it from diabetics and obese people can be done through liver function tests that can be carried out on the blood.
How to reverse fatty liver once the correct cause is diagnosed
If the cause of fatty liver is established as obesity, efforts must be made specifically to induce diet change that will bring down the obesity. Also to reverse it one needs to consume large amounts of fresh and unprocessed foods that are easy to digest. One should also use olive or coconut oil for cooking purposes which are also natural and unprocessed. Processed and pre-packaged foods such as canned meat and vegetables should be avoided.
In case fatty liver is caused by strong medication, one needs to consult a doctor and ask for alternative medicine that is liver friendly. This is the only way they can reverse it. Fatty liver that is caused by obesity on the other hand requires weight loss through exercise and proper dieting. Such kind of weight loss should be gradual so as not to incur more losses. In the end this condition does not need any drugs to be taken to reverse it. It boils down to healthy living through intake of small amounts of alcohol and maintaining a fatty liver diet before or after diagnosis.
