Often asymptomatic, but still a worrying sign: around a third of adults, and sometimes children, in Germany suffer from fatty liver disease. Seven types of fruit are believed to be particularly good for liver health.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in industrialized countries, according to health insurance company AOK. A healthy liver should contain little or no fat. However, if the liver is forced to store more fat than it can excrete, so-called fatty liver disease develops.
Diet for fatty liver disease: seven types of fruit are particularly beneficial
According to the German Liver Foundation, about one third of adults have an enlarged liver due to fat deposition. Men suffer from this disease more often than women. And their numbers are steadily increasing. “One in three overweight children also has a fatty liver,” it goes on to say.
In many cases, the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is linked to poor diet. However, genetic factors and medication intake can also play a role. In contrast, alcoholic fatty liver (AFL) is the result of alcohol abuse. “The causes that usually lead to fatty liver disease together include poor diet, lack of exercise and obesity, heavy alcohol consumption or existing diabetes mellitus,” emphasizes the German Liver Foundation.
“Fatty liver disease is painless but increases the risk of developing other diseases,” say experts at AOK. Therefore, the disease is often only discovered by chance, for example during an ultrasound or blood test. Although there is currently no cure, the liver can usually recover. “A fatty liver without inflammation or fibrosis usually regresses once the cause of the damage disappears,” he says.
“Therefore, the only treatment option is lifestyle changes: lose excess weight, exercise more, avoid alcohol and don’t smoke,” advises AOK. Those affected should reduce the calorie content of their diet and make sure it is low in fat. For diabetics, it is important to control blood sugar levels, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Full recovery is realistic provided that no consequences have occurred.
With successful lifestyle adjustments, the liver can recover and even heal. However, if fatty degeneration of liver cells persists for a long time, it can lead to serious secondary diseases of fatty liver, from inflammation of the organ and cirrhosis to liver cancer.
In this regard, people suffering from fatty liver disease, or those who want to prevent its occurrence, need to follow a few dietary rules. According to the report, the basis of the daily diet in fatty liver disease should be vegetables. Saturating protein in the form of legumes, nuts, eggs, poultry, fish or dairy products, and high-quality vegetable oils such as wheat germ or canola oil should also be part of the daily diet.
Low-sugar fruits can also help detoxify and heal the liver. The following seven types of fruit are particularly beneficial due to their low sugar content:
- Blueberries
- Clementines
- Avocados
- Blackberry
- Apple
- Orange
- Plum
In addition to the above, fruits with low sugar content also include apricots, strawberries, kiwi, grapefruit, raspberries, red currants and sour cherries. On the other hand, fruits such as grapes, pineapple, bananas, mangoes and cherries contain sugar, so they are only recommended in limited quantities if you have a fatty liver. Canned and dried fruits, candied fruits or fruit purees are not good for liver health at all.
Blood tests play a central role in diagnosing an obese liver
According to the AOC, the time it takes for liver obesity to regress depends on how badly the organ is affected and whether all the causes of the damage have actually been addressed. He said it is possible that the organ could fully regenerate in as little as three to four weeks, and in some cases it could take several months. “But as long as there have been no side effects, a complete cure for obesity of the liver is very realistic.”
In this regard, the German Liver Foundation notes that it is important to identify a damaged liver in the early stages of obesity so that it can be positively affected through lifestyle changes. For this purpose, the liver blood test plays a key role. However, he says, this test is not usually part of routine check-ups. In particular, overweight people and patients with diabetes should discuss and clarify possible liver disease when visiting their doctor.
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