Having A Fatty Liver Does Not Mean You’re An Alcoholic

Alcohol & Hepatitis

Having A Fatty Liver Does Not Mean You’re An Alcoholic

I saw a lovely lady recently who came to see me most upset because none of her doctors would believe that she was not an alcoholic. This was because she had a very fatty liver and elevated liver enzymes and many heavy alcohol drinkers have the same signs of liver damage. What’s more her whole family was alcoholic and they had all suffered from liver disease.

This poor lady felt demeaned and ashamed and her low self esteem led to great anxiety. I was amazed when she told me that she had begged her local police office to do a breath test every day for 3 months to take back to her doctor. She was so over feeling ashamed like this for more than 10 years.

Really this is an indictment of the medical profession – they do not understand fatty liver disease! This is not good enough as it has become an epidemic and this is why I write books on this subject.

Can excess carbohydrate and lack of good fats and protein wreak the same damage as alcohol? The answer is yes. My patients are often shocked when I tell them that sugar can harm their liver just as much as alcohol. If we were to compare the liver scans of an alcoholic liver with a fatty liver, they look almost identical!

What to do to repair your fatty liver

Eat less carbohydrate
Poor diet is the leading cause of fatty liver disease. The biggest offenders are sugar and foods made of white flour; they need to be avoided completely. However, a high intake of carbohydrate rich foods in general can promote fatty liver, as the liver converts carbohydrate into fat. Foods that need to be restricted include bread, pasta, rice, breakfast cereals, potatoes and any food made of flour. My book Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It contains an easy to follow meal plan to reverse fatty liver. It clearly explains everything you need to do with your diet to reverse a fatty liver.
Drink less alcohol
Excess alcohol consumption will worsen a fatty liver and can prevent your liver from repairing itself. Alcohol can cause inflammation and damage to liver cells, resulting in fatty infiltration. People with a fatty liver should limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day, with at least two alcohol free days per week.
Eat more vegetables, protein and the right fats
Raw vegetables are the most powerful liver healing foods. These raw foods help to cleanse and repair the liver filter, so that it can trap and remove more fat and toxins from the bloodstream. Eat an abundance of vegetables (cooked and raw salads) and fresh fruits. Protein is important because it helps to keep the blood sugar level stable, helps with weight loss from the abdomen and reduces hunger and cravings. Protein should be consumed with each meal. Good sources of protein include eggs, poultry, seafood, meat, nuts, seeds, legumes and dairy products.

Most vegetable oil and margarine can worsen a fatty liver. Healthy fats to include more of in your diet are found in extra virgin olive oil, macadamia nut oil, avocados, oily fish, flaxseeds, chia seeds and raw nuts and seeds.
Drink raw vegetable juices
Raw juices are an excellent source of highly concentrated vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Your juice should be comprised of 80 to 100 percent vegetables, with the remainder comprised of fruit. Do not drink fruit juice; it is too high in carbohydrate and calories. Our book Raw Juices can Save your Life contains numerous raw juice recipes.
Take a good liver tonic
Choose a liver tonic that combines the clinically proven dose of St Mary’s thistle combined with B group vitamins, antioxidants and sulphur rich amino acids. A good liver tonic can promote repair of damaged liver cells and facilitate the fat burning and detoxification abilities of the liver. Livatone Plus contains all of these ingredients and is available in powder or capsule form.