A fatty liver is an excess of fat in the liver cells, according to the American Liver Foundation. A fatty liver can lead to inflammation called steatohepatitis. The inflammation then leads to scarring and hardening the liver and is called cirrhosis. The American Liver Foundation says a fatty liver can be caused by an excessive calorie intake. It can also result from chronic illness, such as diabetes, high triglycerides and obesity. Alcohol abuse is also a common cause. The American Liver Foundation says there are no medical or surgical treatments for a fatty liver, but changing the diet can help prevent or reverse damage.
American Heart Association Diet
The American Heart Association Diet, AHA, recommends vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy foods. It recommends eating less than 300 mg of cholesterol and 1500 mg of sodium a day. The diet also encourages eating fish twice a week for the omega fatty acids and lean meats and poultry prepared without added saturated fat. The AHA diet encourages foods high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. The authors of Diets for the Metabolic Syndrome: Implications for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, NAFLD, say the AHA diet is appropriate for someone with a fatty liver.
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet is high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The diet encourages more plant based foods, recommending nine servings of antioxidant rich vegetables daily, says the Women's Heart Foundation. Fish is the primary protein of the diet and recommended several times per week, while red meat is consumed sparingly. The Mediterranean Diet is higher in fat than the diet recommended by the USDA, but the fat choices are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. The Mediterranean Diet is suitable for those with a fatty liver, say the authors of "Diets for the Metabolic Syndrome: Implications for NAFLD".
Zone Diet
The Zone Diet is a moderately low carbohydrate, high protein, low fat diet. According to Health Services at Columbia, the Zone Diet discourages the intake of refined carbohydrates and sugars to limit the over-production of insulin. The Zone Diet also encourages low glycemic foods and foods high in monounsaturated fatty acids. Low glycemic foods cause a minimal rise in blood sugar. The authors of "Diets for the Metabolic Syndrome: Implications for NAFLD" say the high monounsaturated fatty acids and low glycemic food choices make the Zone Diet a good plan for those with a fatty liver. However they do go on to say the high protein recommendations of the Zone Diet is not recommended for those with a poor-functioning kidney.
References
- American Liver Foundation: Fatty Liver
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Comparative Review of Diets for the Metabolic Syndrome: Implications for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- American Heart Association: Simple 7
- Women's Heart Foundation: Mediterranean Diet
- Health Services at Columbia: The Zone
