When your liver contains more than 5 to 10 percent of its weight in the form of fat, this is known as a fatty liver, and 25 percent of people in the United States are affected, reports the American Liver Foundation. With a fatty liver, your liver cannot work at full capacity to remove toxins and supply nutrients to your body. Fortunately, there are natural ways you can reduce your risk of fatty liver.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the contributors to fatty liver disease or poor liver health because alcohol is a toxin. Drinking alcohol can produce scarring in your liver that cannot be reversed, and if there is enough scarring, cirrhosis of your liver will develop. Once cirrhosis worsens, a liver transplant will most likely be necessary. Avoiding alcohol entirely can prevent any alcohol-induced damage to your liver. Also, if you stop drinking alcohol before scarring of your liver occurs, your liver can actually heal and repair itself.
Achieve a Healthy Weight
Being overweight can increase your risk of developing a fatty liver. By eating a low-calorie diet and engaging in regular exercise, you can decrease your weight to a healthy level. This can help keep your liver healthy, and your weight loss will begin to reverse the effects of a fatty liver. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise five days out of each week and eat low-fat and low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains; these will fill you up without contributing to weight gain.
Eat Less Cholesterol and Unhealthy Fats
Consuming high amounts of dietary cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats can increase your blood triglycerides levels and raise your cholesterol. This can lead to an increased risk of fatty liver or worsening of fatty liver disease. Avoid foods high in trans fat such as fast food and processed foods, limit your intake of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol by decreasing your intake of meats and dairy products.
Take Milk Thistle
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the herb milk thistle contains silymarian, which is a group of flavonoids that helps to repair liver cells, keep new liver cells healthy and reduce inflammation. Milk thistle can be taken in the form of a pill. Talk to your doctor before taking milk thistle. You doctor will be able to determine if she feels milk thistle will benefit your liver health and which specific product and dosage level you can take. Also, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about other drugs you are taking, because milk thistle has been known to negatively interact with some drugs.
Use Prescription Drugs and Over-the-Counter Drugs Wisely
The liver filters toxins from your body, and the misuse of drugs can compromise the health of your liver even if you do not have fatty liver disease. Some drugs, such as acetaminophen, when taken in quantities even slightly over the recommended dosage, can lead to acute liver failure. Follow your doctor's recommendations when taking any medications and tell him about any over-the-counter medications you are taking. This will help you avoid any negative interactions, decreasing your liver function even further. Avoid taking medications with alcohol, which can make the negative side effects even worse.
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