There are two primary types of fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic induced fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic induced fatty liver disease. NAFLD is currently the most prevalent form of chronic disease that affects between 10-20% of the general pediatric population globally. Some researchers predict that NAFLD will turn out to be the biggest cause of liver failure and liver transplants in children over the course of the next decade.
What Causes NAFLD
Researchers do not yet know the exact causes of NAFLD, but there are factors that can make you more prone to developing NAFLD:
- Being overweight or obese
- Having insulin resistance
- Having abnormal levels of fat inside your blood
- Having metabolic syndrome
How to Treat NAFLD
One of the best ways to treat NAFLD is to make good changes to your diet. Essentially, NAFLD occurs when there is too much fat in your liver. A fatty liver isn’t able to effectively carry out its function to remove toxins from the body and produce bile. To prevent or treat NAFLD via your diet, you want to focus on reducing the amount of fat your body is storing. Generally speaking, the ideal NAFLD diet should include:
- A lot of fruits and veggies
- Foods high in dietary fiber, such as whole grains and legumes
- A minimal amount of added sugar, trans fat, salt, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fat
Foods to Eat On Your NAFLD Diet
Typically, you can find these benefits in the following foods:
- Coffee to lower abnormal liver enzymes
- Greens to prevent fat buildup
- Tofu to reduce fat buildup
- Fish for inflammation and fat levels
- Oatmeal for energy
- Walnuts to improve the liver
- Avocado to help protect the liver
- Milk and other low-fat dairy to protect from damage
- Sunflower seeds for antioxidants
- Olive oil for weight control
- Garlic to help reduce body weight
- Green tea for less fat absorption
