Did you know fatty liver could be related to gallstones?
Some of the factors that contribute to gallstones such as high cholesterol, insulin resistance and obesity, are also found concurrently in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Facts we all know: High cholesterol causes fatty liver. Obesity causes fatty liver. CVD or cardiovascular disease creates a fatty liver. And gout results eventually in fatty liver. Right?
WRONG! It's actually the other way around, according to research. Fatty liver is at the root of all of those conditions. It causes them rather than the other way around.
What is Fatty Liver?
Just like it sounds, fatty liver is a build up of fat within the liver which doesn't belong there. The fat in the liver causes inflammation and irritation which in turn causes scar tissue - a hardening of tissue cells called fibrosis.
When the fibrosis spreads it eventually leads to cirrhosis of the liver which interferes with and eventually stops it from functioning. Without a liver transplant, death results.
What are the symptoms?
The most important symptom to take note of is NONE. You can have absolutely no symptoms at all, especially in the early stages ā and some people remain symptom-free until the disease has progressed quite far.
Some of the symptoms could easily be overlooked, like fatigue, weakness and nausea. And remember, all symptoms do not need to be present, even when they do show up.
Symptoms of Early-Stage Fatty Liver Disease:
- fatigue
- weakness
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- abdominal pain in the upper right side or upper center
Symptoms of Late-Stage Fatty Liver Disease:
- spidering of capillaries - tiny blood vessels
- yellowing or jaundice as bile backs up - skin and eyes
- itching
- edema - swelling in legs and abdomen
- mental confusion
- weight loss
- enlarged liver which your doctor can feel on palpation
Hereās another commonly known āFactā ā¦
"Alcohol causes fatty liver." NOT WRONG! But ... sugar is just as much of a problem as alcohol for fatty liver disease, so much so that there is a term for that: NAFLD - or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
And you might as well call that Sugar-Related Fatty Liver Disease or Carbohydrate-Caused Fatty Liver Disease.
Not so surprising, actually, considering that refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup and refined carbohydrates like bread, pasta, crackers, cookies, etc. all turn into fat.
And this is not new information. A study in 1949 (!!) found that mice fed sugar had more fat stored in their livers than mice fed alcohol.
So if you already have type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, high triglycerides or metabolic syndrome, and even gout and CVD, just assume that you have a fatty liver already.
We all need to get with the program here and stop eating all those refined carbs!
Turning around a Fatty Liver...
Number 1. - Cut out the Sugar/Carbs - Cold Turkey
Herbal Digestive Bitters taken after meals may help to control the carbohydrate cravings. But the truth is, the best way to cut out carb cravings is to force yourself to stop eating them. (Vegetables are also carbs, but I'm taking about the refined sugars listed above as well as sugar, honey, agave, etc.) Go cold turkey because even eating a little carbohydrate (sugar) increases the cravings. So, changing your diet is paramount.
Number 2. - Moderate Exercise
It is really helpful for lowering high blood sugar levels which can cause both inflammation and fatty liver disease. But if you are too inflamed or too obese exercise, start with diet and with choline.
Number 3. - Take Choline - 500 mg Daily
Although there are other supplements that are helpful such as resveratrol and Pro-EPA-Xtra omega 3s and betaine (which you are getting in your Betaine HCL and Beet Root already), by far the most well-researched supplement for fatty liver is choline.
Studies from 1933 up to 2016 are proving how this single nutrient can help to reverse fatty liver disease.
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