Fatty liver is diagnosed when 5% or more of the liver’s weight is fat. Just as fat will deposit in our unwanted areas (gut, butt, thighs, etc) when we follow an unhealthy lifestyle, fat will also deposit in the liver.
Alcohol can cause fat to be deposited in the liver, but alcohol is not the cause of NAFLD. Overnutrition with the wrong foods and insulin resistance results in excessive delivery of fatty acids (fat) into the liver cells. This leads to the accumulation of fat in the liver as the delivery of fat exceeds the liver’s ability to utilize it or export it. Exposure to toxins can also cause this…processed food, anyone? Foods rich in carbohydrates and inflammatory fats promote the development of fatty liver. Concentrated fructose in processed foods is particularly damaging as it is converted to fat in the liver without impacting satiety. So, you keep eating more because you don’t feel full.
Yes, many things we put into our mouths can be toxic to the liver. But the good news is, there are many things that we can put in our mouths that benefit the liver and help the liver detox the body. It’s all about making good choices for what goes in our mouths! Food is fuel…or food is toxic. Choose fuel!