The liver is the all-rounder in the body. Its tasks are varied: detoxification, fat digestion, cholesterol regulation, vitamin storage and much more. Almost half of all people already suffer from fatty liver. The most important causes are quickly established: fat, sugar and lack of exercise. Fortunately, the liver can always regenerate itself well, even from severe damage. But although the liver is generally very undemanding, it immediately stops regeneration as soon as ‘sugar’ is eaten – even if an otherwise healthy diet is eaten.

Cause of fatty liver: the usual diet

Fatty liver is not only commonplace for alcohol lovers. The typical Western diet is known to be very fatty, high in sugar and high in carbohydrates – and is, therefore, the most important cause of a fatty liver.

It is the non-alcoholic fatty liver, which has become a widespread disease and affects up to 40 percent of adults, with overweight and diabetics as much as 60 percent who go through life with a fatty liver. Even among overweight children, the number of fatty liver affected is around 30 percent.

In fatty liver, the liver stores excessive amounts of fat. It enlarges and also takes on a yellow color due to the yellow color of the stored fat. Over the years, this can develop into cirrhosis of the liver with subsequent liver failure, liver inflammation or liver cancer.

Unfortunately, the fatty liver does not hurt, as otherwise, a large part of the population would suffer from chronic liver pain.

A traditional diet is bad for the liver

In a study by Oregon State University (OSU), which was published in the online magazine PLOS ONE in January 2016 ( 1 ), scientists were able to show that a low-fat diet can already relieve the liver. The reduced-fat diet leads to weight loss as well as improved metabolism and better overall health. However, if a lot of sugar is still eaten, the liver will never fully recover and the fatty liver will never regress – even if the rest of the diet is quite decent.

“Many people who eat according to the typical Western manner, sooner or later develop liver fibrosis, in which scarred connective tissue forms in the liver, which can lead to impaired liver function and cancer,”

explains Dr. Donald Jump , professor at OSU and co-author of the present study.

The liver may even recover from scarring

Up until now, it had always been believed that scarring of the liver was irreversible, i.e. that it could no longer be reversed. However, recent studies show that the liver has such a fantastic ability to regenerate that it can convert not only fatty liver but also already scarred tissue back into healthy tissue – but only if the diet is optimally designed and thus all the stimulants are avoided that cause damage to the liver.

Meat promotes fatty liver

Since a study published in spring 2017 ( 2 ) at the latest, it has been known that a high consumption of meat can also lead to fatty liver disease. It had been shown that those people who consumed particularly plentiful animal proteins were also more likely to have fatty liver. On the other hand, those who prefer to eat plant-based foods have a healthier liver.

Diet for the liver: low in fat, low in sugar and low in meat

“There is consequently a great deal of interest in finding ways of supporting and promoting the liver in the regeneration of tissue damage. Our study now shows that while a diet low in fat and cholesterol is very well suited to losing weight, it is not enough to lead to comprehensive liver regeneration. In addition, the consumption of sugar must be drastically reduced – possibly with further dietary changes. Attention must also be paid to physical activity. “

Beware of low-fat finished products!

PhD student Kelli Lytle (also OSU) warns:

“It is particularly problematic that many foods labelled as low-fat (ready-made products) are actually low in fat, but contain more sugar in order to improve their taste.”

And sugar slows down the recovery and regeneration of the liver quite significantly.

Fructose can cause a fatty liver

Recent studies have shown that fructose can increase the risk of fatty liver due to its metabolism in fatty acids that accumulate in liver tissue ( 3 ).

How to avoid the causes of fatty liver and promote liver regeneration

If you want to avoid the causes of your fatty liver and promote the regeneration of your liver, you should first implement the following three basic measures:

1. a low-fat and low-sugar diet
2. no alcohol
3. Better to choose vegetable sources of protein instead of meat and other animal products
4. Regular exercise – ideally 1 hour a day and if it’s just a brisk walk

In addition, you can take very simple other measures to relieve your liver, help it with regeneration and reduce your fatty liver. These include bitter substances, probiotics, curcumin, tea made from medicinal liver herbs, milk thistle and artichoke extract.

While you work on improving your diet, having a few colonics can help fast track your success. We can also guide you in doing a liver flush.