Many diseases have diet as an integral part of their treatment, and fatty liver disease is no exception. Fatty liver is, after all, largely due to dietary habits. Many patients and even healthcare professionals think of pharmacological treatment as the ultimate one for any disease. However, lifestyle changes are continuing to prove that they are the more effective on the long term both for the prevention and treatment of many ailments.
Why diet is an important part of fatty liver management?
The liver is the main site of processing food constituents, be they proteins, carbohydrates or fats. Any derangement of such processing is reflected first on the liver. Our diet controls how our bodies look and how our organs function. Balancing our diet is key to achieving optimal function of our organs. It has been proven that excess fats inside and outside liver cells can damage them through inflammation, a condition called steatohepatitis. This can then progress to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease.
Alcohol is also implicated in the development of fatty liver disease. People who consume excess alcohol are more liable to develop the condition, and their condition is more likely to get worse. It has also been proven that the incidence of fatty liver disease has increased exponentially after our meals started becoming richer in saturated fats and refined sugars. All these indicators are strong proof that fatty liver can be managed effectively at least with diet as a main part of treatment, if not the only one.
