People who have consumed alcohol heavily in their life are at an increased risk of suffering from liver problems, such as alcoholic liver disease.
Yet, those who do not drink alcohol excessively may also experience a liver disease, known as a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
It may range in severity, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the condition when there is an inflammation of the liver, which is really serious and might lead to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease.
Statistics suggests that more than twenty percent of the population in the United States is affected by NAFLD, and 2-3% by NASH. In the case of NAFLD, patients do not have any symptoms or very little, such as weight loss, malaise, fatigue, and pain in the upper right abdomen.
NAFLD occurs in the case of fat accumulation in the liver, which is not a result of alcohol, but the reason may be malnutrition, insulin resistance, rapid weight loss, diabetes, high cholesterol, viral hepatitis, and some medications like aspirin, diltiazem, corticosteroids, amiodarone, tetracycline, or antiviral drugs.
The treatment of NASH and NAFLD tends to remove the potential causes, or risk factors, like weight loss, stopping the use of drugs, or diabetes control.
Drug treatments have been shown to fail to treat the issue but include ursodeoxycholic acid, glucagon, metformin, glutamine infusion, and metronidazole.
Moreover, there are natural treatments for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which have provided excellent effects, such as:
1. Low-glycemic diet
In order to treat and prevent this disease, it is of great help to avoid high-glycemic-index (GI) foods, as they raise blood sugar levels, like brown rice, potatoes, watermelon, and processed foods such as beer, chocolate bars, and sweetened cereals.
A 2008 study published in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology showed that sugar leads to NAFLD, and 80% of NAFLD patients consumed sufficient amounts of juices and soft drinks that equaled 12 teaspoons of sugar.
Therefore, you should consume low GI foods, like onions, apples, garlic, eggs, legumes, pears, artichokes, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and green leafy vegetables.
2. Exercise
One of the most effective treatments for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is weight loss. According to a systematic review published in the Journal of Hepatology in 2012, exercise is an inexpensive and effective therapy for NAFLD.
Namely, this review involved 12 studies that examined the effects of aerobic exercise and progressive resistance training in the case of a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults.
40 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise for 5 days in a week effectively helps in the treatment of this disease, as it will enhance the liver quality and balance enzyme values.
3. Flaxseed
Flaxseed contains phytoconstituents which effectively prevent harmful hormones straining the liver.
The journal Lipids in Health and Disease published a 2013 study which indicated that the mixture of flaxseed oil and alpha-lipoic acid improve the function of the liver and prevent fat accumulation and oxidative stress, so it protects from this disease.
For best effects, in order to preserve the freshness of flaxseed oil, and avoid rancidity, you should ground it using a coffee grinder. Then, you can add it to your salads.
4. Dandelion
Dandelion leaf or root (Taraxacum officinale) is an extremely beneficial as it enhances liver functions and cleanses it in the cleanses it in the case of NAFLD. It purifies and metabolizes the fat deposited in the liver.
The journal Food and Chemical Toxicology published a study which discovered that the extract of dandelion leaf prevent and treat obesity-related NAFLD, and efficiently reduces the accumulation of fat in the liver and lowers insulin resistance.
The tea of dandelion root is of great help in this case. You should add a teaspoon in a cup of boiling hot water, cover and steep for 10 minutes. Then, strain and drink a cup of it 3 times a day for 3 weeks.
5. Cilantro
Cilantro or coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an effective herbal treatment, which is high in antioxidants and has powerful antihyperglycemic effects. It provides great effects in the case of liver issues, and conditions linked to NAFLD, especially diabetes.
6. Amla or Indian gooseberry
Indian gooseberry (Emblica Officinalis), or amla, Amalaki fruit, is a popular herb in the Ayurvedic medicine, that has powerful rejuvenating properties and is extremely useful in treating fatty liver disease and diabetes.
It is rich in antioxidants which support the function of the liver, such as ellagic acid, vitamin C, corilagin, gallic acid, and gallotannin. It has also been found to help in the case of hepatotoxin-induced liver inflammation, which is a common symptom of NASH.