How to Detox a Fatty Liver

Fatty liver disease is a build-up of fats, mainly triglycerides, in your liver, This common conditions is normally asymptomatic, but a few people may have slight abdominal pain or fatigue. Your doctor may discover that your liver is inflamed during a routine physical examination. In rare instances the inflammation may lead to scarring or cirrhosis of the liver, which may be fatal. A combination of diet and exercise may help detox a fatty liver.

Step 1

Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome are all risk factors for fatty liver disease. About 20 percent of overweight people have fatty liver disease, according to the Better Health Channel.

Step 2

Lower your dietary cholesterol intake and triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are the form in which fats exist in the body; excess calories that are not used for energy right away are stored as this form of fat in your cells. The American Heart Association suggests substituting mono- and poly-unsaturated fats for saturated and trans fats. For example, use olive oil instead of butter and eat salmon rather than beef.

Step 3

Avoid alcohol and drugs, which tax the liver and add stress on the organ, making detox harder, and alcoholism is a known cause of fatty liver disease, Better Health Channel states. Consult with your doctor about your current medications, as some prescription medications contribute to inflammation of the liver.

Step 4

Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week at a moderate level. This will help keep your weight and insulin levels under control and reduce triglycerides. Fatty liver disease is associated with insulin resistance, even in people at a healthy weight who do not have diabetes, according to a 2000 Italian study from Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology researchers, G. Marchesini et al., at the University of Bologna.

Tip

Pregnancy, polycystic ovarian syndrome and hypothyroidism are rare causes of fatty liver disease. A blood test will confirm your diagnosis, as other liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis and haemochromatosis cause similar symptoms.