Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Diet

The American Academy of Family Physicians defines Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, or NAFLD, as a range of liver dysfunctions. NAFLD is indicated when fat in the liver causes elevated liver enzymes and/or inflammation and death of liver tissue (necrosis). Losing weight, particularly by changes in diet, can restore the liver's functioning and relieve symptoms like abdominal pain and lethargy, as well as reducing risk of NAFLD developing into more advanced disorders like cirrhosis.

What to Avoid

Although NAFLD is not caused primarily by alcohol, avoid it anyway, since alcohol can further stress the liver.

Clinical nutritionist Leyla Muedin says that partially hydrogenated oils, also known as trans fats, should also be excised from the stressed liver patient's diet. Vegetable oils like safflower and corn oil and processed meat products can also exacerbate fatty liver, according to Muedin.

In addition to fats and oils that stress the liver, eliminate soft drinks and processed sugar snacks, as well as fruit juices that contain high amounts of sugar. The American Liver Foundation reports that, because NAFLD patients also exhibit a tendency towards diabetes, avoiding sugary foods is a necessary dietary change.

What to Eat

Gastroenterologists Dr. Peter W. Gardner and Dr. Stuart Waldstreicher suggest a diet of low-calorie, low-fat foods. Muedin lists foods like salmon and raw vegetables as being relatively easy for the liver to process; whole foods, or ones that haven't been heavily processed, are best. Whole foods are raw vegetables and fruits, seeds and nuts, and meats that haven't been breaded or fried, for example.

Follow a low-glycemic plan, with emphasis on vegetables other than corn and white potatoes, plus skim-milk, chick peas, oat bran breads, and plain yogurt to get on the right track. Preparing balanced meals that have all low-glycemic foods can be surprisingly easy: an example is a baked sweet potato with a side of parboiled rice and kidney beans, plus raw baby spinach. Focusing main courses around rice and beans can help.

Dietary Goals

The goal of a NAFLD patient's diet should be to reduce triglycerides associated with vegetable oils and animal fats. In addition, cutting processed sugars out of your diet will relieve liver stress and help you to lose weight. The American Liver Foundation states that losing weight safely, in the amount of one or two pounds per week, can help to reverse the effects of fatty liver disease. Increasing intake of foods rich in nutrients like vitamin C and zinc, as well as selenium, which is found in nuts and cereals, can aid recovery, according to Muedin.