Fatty liver is a common health condition that occurs when fat accumulates in the liver, leading to various health problems. In this article, Dr. Jason Fung explains what fatty liver is, how it develops, and how to reverse it naturally through diet.
What is Fatty Liver?
Fatty liver is a condition where fat accumulates in the liver cells, causing them to become swollen. Normally, fat should be stored in fat cells, but if it accumulates in the liver, it can lead to inflammation and destruction of the liver.
The Effects of Fatty Liver
Fatty liver can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition that is becoming increasingly prevalent in North America and other parts of the world. In the early stages, it can cause swelling of liver cells, but as it progresses to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, inflammation increases, leading to liver destruction and cirrhosis. It can even necessitate a liver transplant.
Causes of Fatty Liver
Fatty liver is caused by excessive consumption of carbohydrates, particularly fructose, which the liver cannot metabolize. Instead, it gets converted into new fat and accumulates in the liver cells. A high-carbohydrate diet can also lead to the production of new fat.
How to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease: Explained by Dr. Jason Fung
The Connection between Sugar and Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease is caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver. According to Dr. Jason Fung, this accumulation of fat in the liver is caused by too much sugar, both glucose and fructose. When the liver is overloaded with fructose, it turns it into fat, which is then stored in the liver.
Treating Fatty Liver Disease
To reverse fatty liver disease, the logical solution is to cut down on sugar. Recent research has shown that reducing the consumption of sugar is highly effective in reversing fatty liver disease.
A Study on the Effects of a Low Sugar Diet
In 2019, a study was conducted on teenage boys who had developed fatty liver. They were randomized to a normal diet or a very low sugar diet (less than 3% of calories compared to less than 10% of calories in a normal diet). The results showed that the low sugar diet was effective in reducing liver fat from 25% to 17% on average.
The Effects of Fasting and Low-Carbohydrate Diets
In a study conducted in 2021, people were randomized to two different types of dietary intervention: a fasting diet (a five-to-two diet) and a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. Both diets resulted in better weight loss compared to the usual diet, and more importantly, they reduced the amount of fat in the liver by over 50%.
Cutting Back on Sugar to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease
The logical intervention for reversing fatty liver disease is to cut back on sugar. By using very low carbohydrate diets and/or fasting, it is possible to reverse this blossoming epidemic completely naturally and completely free. It is just a matter of taking the knowledge of how fatty liver disease develops and applying it to our lives.
In conclusion, Dr. Jason Fung's explanation of how fatty liver disease is caused by too much sugar, specifically glucose and fructose, leads to a natural solution of cutting back on these sugars. Recent research has shown that a low sugar diet, a low carbohydrate high fat diet, and fasting can be highly effective in reversing fatty liver disease. Studies have shown that by reducing the amount of sugar in the diet, the amount of fat in the liver can be reduced by over 50%, which makes sense given that fatty liver disease is caused by too much sugar. By applying this knowledge to our lives, we can reverse this blossoming epidemic naturally and for free, without the need for medication or other interventions.