FATTY LIVER

Why is the liver important?

The liver is the second largest organ in your body and is located under your rib cage on the right side.

The liver performs many jobs in your body. It processes what you eat and drink into energy and nutrients your body can use. The liver also removes harmful substances from your blood.

What is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the buildup of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat. However, if more than 5% - 10% percent of the liver’s weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).

Who is likely to have NAFLD?

NAFLD tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. Rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD.

However, some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors. NAFLD affects up to 25% of people in the United States.

What are the risks linked to NAFLD?

NAFLD may cause the liver to swell (steatohepatitis). A swollen liver may cause scarring (cirrhosis) over time and may even lead to liver cancer or liver failure. The more severe form of NAFLD is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH causes the liver to swell and become damaged. Most people with NASH are between the ages of 40 and 60 years. It is more common in women than in men. NASH often has no symptoms and people can have NASH for years before symptoms occur. NASH is one of the leading causes of cirrhosis in adults in the United States. Up to 25% of adults with NASH may have cirrhosis.

What are symptoms of NAFLD?

NAFLD often has no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, spider-like blood vessels, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), itching, fluid buildup and swelling of the legs (edema) and abdomen (ascites), and mental confusion.

How is NAFLD diagnosed?

NAFLD is initially suspected if blood tests show high levels of liver enzymes. However, other liver diseases are first ruled out through additional tests. Often, an ultrasound is used to confirm the NAFLD diagnosis.

How is NAFLD treated?

There are no medical treatments yet for NAFLD. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly may help prevent liver damage from starting or reverse it in the early stages. Lose weight, if you are overweight or obese.  Lower your cholesterol and triglycerides.  Control your diabetes.  Avoid alcohol.
 

Intermittent Fasting

Methods

There are several different ways of doing intermittent fasting — all of which involve splitting the day or week into eating and fasting periods.

During the fasting periods, you eat either very little or nothing at all.

These are the most popular methods:

The 16/8 method: It involves skipping breakfast and restricting your daily eating period to 8 hours, such as 1–9 p.m. Then you fast for 16 hours in between.

Eat-Stop-Eat: This involves fasting for 24 hours, once or twice a week, for example by not eating from dinner one day until dinner the next day.

The 5:2 diet: With this method, you consume only 500–600 calories on two non-consecutive days of the week, but eat normally the other 5 days.

FATTY LIVER

Why is the liver important?

The liver is the second largest organ in your body and is located under your rib cage on the right side.

The liver performs many jobs in your body. It processes what you eat and drink into energy and

nutrients your body can use. The liver also removes harmful substances from your blood.

What is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the buildup of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by

alcohol. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat. However, if more than 5% - 10% percent of the

liver’s weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).

Who is likely to have NAFLD?

NAFLD tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese or have diabetes, high cholesterol or

high triglycerides. Rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD.

However, some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors. NAFLD affects up to

25% of people in the United States.

What are the risks linked to NAFLD?

NAFLD may cause the liver to swell (steatohepatitis). A swollen liver may cause scarring (cirrhosis)

over time and may even lead to liver cancer or liver failure. The more severe form of NAFLD is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH causes the liver to swell and become damaged. Most people with NASH are between the ages of 40 and 60 years. It is more common in women than in men. NASH often has no symptoms and people can have NASH for years before symptoms occur. NASH is one of the leading causes of cirrhosis in adults in the United States. Up to 25% of adults with NASH may have cirrhosis.

What are symptoms of NAFLD?

NAFLD often has no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, spider-like blood vessels, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), itching, fluid buildup and swelling of the legs (edema) and abdomen (ascites), and mental confusion.

How is NAFLD diagnosed?

NAFLD is initially suspected if blood tests show high levels of liver enzymes. However, other liver

diseases are first ruled out through additional tests. Often, an ultrasound is used to confirm the NAFLD

diagnosis.

How is NAFLD treated?

There are no medical treatments yet for NAFLD. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly may

help prevent liver damage from starting or reverse it in the early stages. Lose weight, if you are overweight or obese.  Lower your cholesterol and triglycerides.  Control your diabetes.  Avoid alcohol.

Intermittent Fasting

Methods

There are several different ways of doing intermittent fasting — all of which involve splitting the day or week into eating and fasting periods.

During the fasting periods, you eat either very little or nothing at all.

These are the most popular methods:

The 16/8 method: It involves skipping breakfast and restricting your daily eating period to 8 hours, such as 1–9 p.m. Then you fast for 16 hours in between.

Eat-Stop-Eat: This involves fasting for 24 hours, once or twice a week, for example by not eating from dinner one day until dinner the next day.

The 5:2 diet: With this method, you consume only 500–600 calories on two non-consecutive days of the week, but eat normally the other 5 days.

FATTY LIVER

Why is the liver important?

The liver is the second largest organ in your body and is located under your rib cage on the right side.

The liver performs many jobs in your body. It processes what you eat and drink into energy and

nutrients your body can use. The liver also removes harmful substances from your blood.

What is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the buildup of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by

alcohol. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat. However, if more than 5% - 10% percent of the

liver’s weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).

Who is likely to have NAFLD?

NAFLD tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese or have diabetes, high cholesterol or

high triglycerides. Rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD.

However, some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors. NAFLD affects up to

25% of people in the United States.

What are the risks linked to NAFLD?

NAFLD may cause the liver to swell (steatohepatitis). A swollen liver may cause scarring (cirrhosis)

over time and may even lead to liver cancer or liver failure. The more severe form of NAFLD is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH causes the liver to swell and become damaged. Most people with NASH are between the ages of 40 and 60 years. It is more common in women than in men. NASH often has no symptoms and people can have NASH for years before symptoms occur. NASH is one of the leading causes of cirrhosis in adults in the United States. Up to 25% of adults with NASH may have cirrhosis.

What are symptoms of NAFLD?

NAFLD often has no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, spider-like blood vessels, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), itching, fluid buildup and swelling of the legs (edema) and abdomen (ascites), and mental confusion.

How is NAFLD diagnosed?

NAFLD is initially suspected if blood tests show high levels of liver enzymes. However, other liver

diseases are first ruled out through additional tests. Often, an ultrasound is used to confirm the NAFLD

diagnosis.

How is NAFLD treated?

There are no medical treatments yet for NAFLD. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly may

help prevent liver damage from starting or reverse it in the early stages. Lose weight, if you are overweight or obese.  Lower your cholesterol and triglycerides.  Control your diabetes.  Avoid alcohol.

Intermittent Fasting

Methods

There are several different ways of doing intermittent fasting — all of which involve splitting the day or week into eating and fasting periods.

During the fasting periods, you eat either very little or nothing at all.

These are the most popular methods:

The 16/8 method: It involves skipping breakfast and restricting your daily eating period to 8 hours, such as 1–9 p.m. Then you fast for 16 hours in between.

Eat-Stop-Eat: This involves fasting for 24 hours, once or twice a week, for example by not eating from dinner one day until dinner the next day.

The 5:2 diet: With this method, you consume only 500–600 calories on two non-consecutive days of the week, but eat normally the other 5 days.