Are Fatty Liver Detox Diets All Hype Or Do They Actually Work?
Fatty liver detox diets function by eliminating undesirable poisons and fat accumulations from liver cells (hepatocytes). Although often found in conjunction with obesity, fatty liver disease (FLD) can also be the result of diabetes, unregulated alcohol consumption, some toxins, unnatural weight loss, and, in many cases, bad dietary choices that result in excessive fat consumption.
Fatty liver disease is most commonly remedied through a diet composed of no more than 30% fat and exercise. If caught early, this is often all that is required to reduce fat in your liver and regulate or even reverse the condition. However, a fatty liver is often symptom free in its initial stages, so a definitive diagnosis is not always as easy as it may sound.
FLD is often observed by doctors during tests for other medical conditions or during yearly exams when increased liver enzymes in the blood may reveal a potential problem. If patients do experience early symptoms, it is most often mild discomfort along the right side of the body just underneath the ribcage. The pain results from triglyceride accumulations that force the liver to grow bigger and press against other organs and areas of the body.
FLD is not normally fatal, but it can become extremely dangerous if left unregulated. Second in size only to your skin, the liver is a central hub for your body. Without your liver, you cannot survive.
When triglyceride fats accumulate in the liver, the liver can no longer effectively remove unwanted substances from your blood or metabolize fat properly. Taking certain drugs such as tamoxifen,tetracycline, and steroids can also decrease liver efficiency and effectiveness. Allowing a fatty liver to go unregulated can be an extremely dangerous situation. Inflammation of the liver can occur and liver cells can actually blow out their cell walls.
Whenever possible, the best thing to do is to focus on prevention through a proper fatty liver diet and exercise.
A fatty liver detox diet should try to cut out fat and derive energy from complex carbohydrates. Fiber becomes extremely important for digestion. Fruits and vegetables are also extremely important.
So what types of food promote liver health? Turn your attention to things like beans, lentils, citrus fruits, broccoli, and leafy greens that are proven to be healthy for the liver. Try to limit dairy intake and replace 2% milk with skim milk or opt for soy, almond, or rice milk. Meat consumption needs to be controlled as well. Stay away from processed meats such as hot dogs and sausages. Instead, opt for trim cuts of white meat (chicken and turkey).
