Fatty Liver: What It Is and How To Prevent It

Have you heard of fatty liver disease? Approximately 100 million people in the US are living with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, and it’s estimated that up to 90% of heavy drinkers have alcoholic fatty liver disease.¹ 

Here’s what to know about fatty liver disease, and what you can do to support a healthy liver and prevent future health issues.

Fatty liver is an increasingly common condition where fat accumulates in the liver and causes inflammation and long-term damage, with risk of liver failure. There are two main types of fatty liver disease. The most prevalent one is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The other is alcoholic fatty liver disease, and as the name indicates, is caused by long-term consumption of alcohol.  

Fatty liver disease causes inflammation and long-term damage to your liver. A percentage of people that develop fatty liver disease will progress to more serious and deadly forms of liver disease including steato hepatitis (increased amounts of fat and inflammation in the liver), cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and liver cancer.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can be caused by obesity, high blood sugar and insulin resistance, and high levels of fats in the blood.² Research shows that high sugar diets are linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and link this condition closely to insulin resistance and obesity. In addition, NAFLD can be aggravated by oxidative stress, infections in the liver, toxins, and other factors that drive inflammation and liver damage.

Signs of fatty liver can go unnoticed until serious damage and scarring of the liver, or fibrosis, has occurred. Early signs of fatty liver disease can be vague and often overlap with other symptoms, so if you experience any of these issues, it’s important to have your doctor run liver tests to keep an eye on long-term liver function.  

• Fatigue 
• Pain or discomfort in the upper right abdomen 
• Loss of appetite 
• High fasting blood glucose 
• High levels of fat in the blood 
• Abdominal swelling  
• Enlarged blood vessels beneath the skin's surface 
• Itching 
• Enlarged spleen 
• Red palms 
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) 

To minimize your risk of developing liver disease and fatty liver disease, changing your diet and eliminating sugars is a great first step. In addition, emphasizing foods that are low in unhealthy trans fats (like fried foods), can help reduce inflammation and lower fat content in the blood, to help reduce fat accumulation.  

Balancing blood sugar and excess weight with diet and exercise is a key strategy in reducing the risks and progression of fatty liver disease.  

Botanicals and nutrients that enhance liver detoxification and promote healthy inflammation and antioxidant activity, can help promote healthy liver function and help reduce your risk of liver conditions.  

ecoDetox is a complete liver detox supplement containing extracts of milk thistle, dandelion, cilantro, and more natural ingredients that nourish your liver, enhance detox function, and optimize long-term liver health and function. ecoDetox is the ideal daily solution for effective liver cleansing, gut health, and overall vitality.* 

Previous research shows that blocking pro-inflammatory alarm protein galectin-3 can help reduce the development of fatty liver. Blocking galectin-3 with proven galectin-3 inhibitor, PectaSol Modified Citrus Pectin reduced the fat deposition, oxidative stress, and insulin imbalance in the liver. Additional studies show that modified citrus pectin reduces fat accumulation in the liver and enhances liver enzyme activity.^3,4

With over 70 published studies, PectaSol is the original and only proven effective form of modified citrus pectin. Multiple studies show PectaSol actively supports healthy liver function and provides targeted cellular support, detoxification benefits, and promotes balanced immune and inflammation responses throughout the body—for optimal long-term health and aging.* 

With the amount of toxins, stress, and dietary imbalances we face today, it’s never been more important to support and defend your liver—with proven solutions to optimize your long-term health and wellness, naturally.  

Sources:

1. John Hopkins Medicine. Gastroenterology and Hepatology. FAQs about Alcoholic Liver Disease. Accessed 9.10.21 http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/gastroenterology_hepatology/diseases_conditions/faqs/alcoholic_li 
2.  Umpleby AM, Shojaee-Moradie F, Fielding B, et al. Impact of liver fat on the differential partitioning of hepatic triacylglycerol into VLDL subclasses on high and low sugar diets. Clin Sci (Lond). 2017 Oct 17;131(21):2561-2573.
3. Iacobini C, Menini S, Ricci C, et al. Galectin-3 ablation protects mice from diet-induced NASH: a major scavenging role for galectin-3 in liver. J Hepatol. 2011 May;54(5):975-83.  
4. Yang X, Yuan Y, Xie D. Low Molecular Pectin Inhibited the Lipid Accumulation by Upregulation of METTL7B. Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2021 May;193(5):1469-1481. doi: 10.1007/s12010-021-03486-z. Epub 2021 Jan 23. PMID: 33484445.