What to do about fatty liver

Yes, it seems there is something toxic about sugar, and it does not matter what its source it.  However, if you want to lose weight and repair your sugar metabolism, eliminating starches which convert to sugar is the way to go.  Potato chips have a lot to answer for - like the western world's obesity problem.  Combine them with softdrink - that is the worst.  Even places like MacDonalds dip their chips, lettuce in sugared water to make them more addictive.  And their bread ....

You are still getting good and necessary carbs from your greens, etc., just not the starchy ones.  There is a lot of misinformation about 'low carb', it is really 'low or no starch'.  You can eat a bucket of non-starch veges if you so desire.

 

I'm really trying to educate myself on the carbs at the moment, coming from Italian background my childhood meals were very carby ie pasta, bread at every meal but I need to do this, a few days of doing this and am already noticing my glucose levels are better.  I have my blood tests next week for my liver function tests and HA1bc for my diabetes so fingers crossed the results will be ok. 

Yes, it is difficult when that is what you are used to.  However, when you notice the good results, you will not want to go back to it.

There are some recipes where they use strips of zucchini or spagetti squash (when cooked whole, the insides are shredded like pasta).

Just keep doing what you are doing, and it will become 2nd nature.

 

So glad you are inspired into action.  Keep following above advice and you will have a new, healthier and better lifestyle.

 

Stick with it, it's a journey and not easy but like the doctor said to me, it's taken 53 years to get where I am so change won't happen overnight.  I am just now very conscious of what I put in my mouth and no sugar for me, I have cut right down, I will only allow the odd treat on a special occasion only.

I used apple cider vinegar for years, usually a tabsp in a glass of water 20 mins before meals.  I had to build up to it!  It is supposed to be extremely good for us.

I do not take milk thistle as I also have haemochromatosis, and it is bad for a liver with haemochromatosis.  It also reduces the effect of venesections.

 

hello sheryl, how did you find out you had haemochromatosis?  is it hereditary?  i don't think i have been tested for that although i have had LFT (liver function tests and had my ferritin levels checked).   Would i have to ask my GP for this test or would my GP have given it to me if he/she thought it was necessary?  I drink one cup of milk thistle tea a week as opposed to taking it in tablet form as i have heard it is very good for the liver but never quite sure as one minute you read something is good for you and the next day it's not.  I have stopped drinking green tea on a daily basis since reading the article about the teenager who contracted hepatitis because of drinking green tea that she bought from the internet and now i feel nervous about drinking it - i want to help my liver not make it worse!

To cut a an awful painful long story short (maybe), I immediately had symptoms of haemochromatosis after my hysterectomy but dr did not diagnose till 9 years later after my hips broke up from osteo necrosis.  My blood was so thick with iron that it blocked the finer capilliaries that fed the hip bone, so the bone broke up.

I had severe fatigue (I was staggering and slurring), whole body pain, hip pain (of course), left side chest pain but still the dr was in denial.  So I had a lot of organ damage because of the late diagnosis and treatment.  Other people might not have such severe symptoms.  Foggy brain, depression, anxiety, moodiness, joint pain are also symptoms.  This was pre google so there was nothing for me to look up.

Yes, real haemochromatosis is hereditary.  You say you have had your ferritin levels checked, if you are menstruating and they are >120 it is a possibility.  BUT, your TS% needs to be >45 for real haemochromatosis.  So your dr needs to do a full Iron Studies/Panel which involves 4 types of iron tests, not just ferritin.  Ask for copies of your test results so that you can see for yourself.  Drs rarely do this test.

Fatty liver can give you a high ferritin level and haemochromatosis can give you a fatty liver.  If you have a fatty liver from other causes, e.g. ingestion of too much sugar/starch, your ferritin may be high. You will know you are being cured of your fatty liver, when your ferritin reduces.

 

Green tea!  I drink green tea every day with a herbal tea mixed in.  I don't know why one would need to buy green tea online - isn't it available in every supermarket?

I would be very careful about ordering stuff I am going to ingest online - some countries sell all sorts of rubbish.

It is often written that milk thistle is good for liver problems - but it is not always necessarily true.  It depends on the problem, like mine.

Some herbal remedies can be dangerous.

 

I came across a celeriac the other day - it is an ugly looking vegetable but very nice.  Thank goodness it is rare and expensive where I live as it is on my borderline of 9g carbs per 100 grams serve.  But it is a potato substitute.  Can be eaten mashed, steamed, chipped, or roasted.

Another one I discovered is roasted radish.  As with the celeriac I roast it (cut into small pieces) sprinkled with olive oil and mediterranean herbs, salt and garlic (a premix for me).

 

Can't help you with your specific question, but ask your dr for a copy of the letter from the specialist and the results of the scan.

Also ask for regular blood checks of your ferritin iron level.  If you follow diet above, your ferritin levels should go down which is an indication that your liver is repairing.

 

Hello, thanks for taking the time to reply to me.  I have heard about the ferritin levels and i have had these tests alongside my other blood tests and the levels seem to be within range but I will keep an eye on things and i have already asked my GP if i can have full blood tests which include liver function tests etc on a 6 monthly or annual basis and she agreed so i will continue with that for the time being.  I have heard of a Fibroscan test which can check for any liver damage but i have not been offered that.  I am due to see my GP next week to discuss all this with her so will wait and see.