Fatty Liver

We don’t have to be drinking copious amounts of alcohol to develop liver disease – we can get it from the dietary choices we make, too.

Linda explains fatty liver

According to the British Liver Trust, liver disease is on the increase due, in large part, to our diet and lifestyle choices. But do you understand what your liver does?

The liver receives nutrients from the small intestine which are then transported to cells and organs. It helps to remove poisons, medicines and alcohol from the body. It makes the proteins that are essential for blood-clotting, and manufactures a substance called bile, which helps digest fats in food. Finally, it makes the cholesterol that the body needs – although too much of the wrong type can be harmful.

If your liver is not in tip-top condition then these processes will be impaired and you will begin to feel very unwell.

It is also important to be aware that if the intestines are not functioning properly and are becoming sluggish and toxic, then toxic substances will be transported to the liver, further burdening the liver and having an impact on our general health.

The condition “Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease”, or NAFLD, is caused by a build-up of fat in the liver. NAFLD can be divided into four stages:

1. A simple fatty liver that usually causes no harm. However, I would still recommend that if you have even a mildly fatty liver, you get advice from a healthcare professional on how to reverse this.

2. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) where excess fat in the liver can cause inflammation and scarring.

3. Fibrosis – scarring of the liver.

4. Cirrhosis, a much more serious condition that leads to the death of liver cells.

If you are getting a nagging, persistent pain in the upper right part of your abdomen, just below the ribs, and you are feeling tired, then you may be in the first stages of fatty liver disease. It is usually confirmed with a blood test.

Linda recommends

It is important not to over-indulge too regularly. An excess of rich food, or alcohol – or both together – can put a lot of strain on the liver. Consider taking a Milk Thistle supplement when you know you’re going to eat, or drink, too much, to help support your liver to eliminate the alcohol and fat from your body the morning after.

If you have already been diagnosed with fatty liver, consider taking a natural herbal remedy to support your liver longer-term. My Milk Thistle tablets are a high quality botanical formula made up of a combination of Milk Thistle extract, herb and seed powders.

A high-strength multi-strain live bacteria (probiotic) supplement, such as my Live Bacteria capsules, will balance the natural gut flora and prevent pathogenic bacteria from putting further strain on the liver.

A natural digestive enzyme taken before meals will help ease the burden on the liver. I’ve added calcium to my plant-derived Digestive Enzymes to give extra support to your digestion.

Sipping my Tummy Tea after meals will further aid digestion and take the pressure off your liver.

Linda’s tummy tips

  • Control your weight. Most cases of fatty liver disease are linked to being obese.
  • If you smoke or take illegal drugs – stop. Your liver is working overtime to eliminate the toxins you are absorbing.
  • If you have diabetes, be disciplined and in control of your blood sugar.
  • Although alcohol is not always implicated in fatty liver disease, even small amounts of alcohol may make it worse, so you’ll need to consider stopping drinking altogether.
  • Cardio-vascular disease is highly implicated in fatty liver disease, so particular attention must be paid to diet, weight and exercise.

For more in-depth advice, our Diet Plans section includes nutrition plans and lifestyle tips, plus my Liver Support Plan.