Global Fatty Liver Day: 3 Simple Lfestyle Changes That Can Help Reverse The Condition
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It is also important to get adequate sleep, manage your stress, and bring diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol under control to avoid damager to the liver.
The liver is a resilient organ but shouldn’t be taken for granted.
The presence of fatty liver has been traditionally observed only in individuals who suffer from extreme obesity or health issues for extended periods of time. However, this condition is becoming common in young adults and office employees. The increase in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and inactive lifestyles has been correlated with a rise in MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease), previously known as NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease).
Annually, Global Fatty Liver Day (formerly known as International NASH Day) is observed on the second Thursday of June. It is meant to create awareness and while highlighting the symptoms, and sharing care pathways for this disease.
The best news regarding fatty liver disease is that, unlike most other chronic diseases, it can be reversed easily when diagnosed at an early stage. We speak to Dr Nitin Pai, Consultant and Director of Gastroenterology and GI Endoscopy, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, to understand what steps people can take.
Here are the 3 main lifestyle changes you should make:
Reduce weight
The key intervention which yields a lot of benefits is weight reduction. It has been reported in various studies that losing even 5-10% body weight can help significantly reduce the amount of fat in the liver and also diminish the inflammation in the organ and risk of disease progression. These small improvements when continued for long term, make a huge difference.
Avoid Junk Food
Diet is another major component that needs significant changes in lifestyle. The excessive intake of sugary drinks, processed food, refined carbohydrates and energy dense snacks tends to increase the fat deposition in the liver. A balanced diet with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and good quality fat sources is a sure shot way to boost metabolism and reduce stress on the liver.
Get More Active
Physical activity also plays an integral role in preventing the exacerbation of fatty liver disease. Exercise enhances the efficiency of insulin in the body and helps in burning the surplus fat thereby promoting liver health. Doing exercise for a minimum of 150 minutes weekly, whether it be walking at a brisk pace, swimming, cycling or strength training for a reasonable amount of time in a week, would benefit people with fatty liver significantly.
In addition to all these lifestyle changes, it is also important to get adequate sleep, manage your stress, bring diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol under control. These things are also very essential to reduce the progression of damage to the liver.
About the Author
Abigail Banerji is a Senior Sub Editor with News18’s English desk. She brings 6 years of experience across both print and digital newsrooms, spanning editorial planning, reportage, copy editing, conte…Read More
