January 8, 2026

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty Liver Disease

By: Noreen Kodula, Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP)

Also known as hepatic steatosis is the excessive accumulation of fat in the liver cells. Having small amounts of fat is to be expected but excessive amounts cause inflammation in the liver, which can damage your liver and lead to serious health complications if left untreated.

As the second largest organ in the body, the liver helps to process nutrients from food and drinks. It also filters harmful substances from your blood. It plays a key role in the body and needs to be preserved.

There are 2 main types of Fatty Liver Disease:

Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (ALD): This type is caused by excessive alcohol consumption. This can lead to fat buildup and liver damage.
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): Formerly known as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). This type occurs even if there is no significant alcohol consumption. It is often associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

Fatty Liver Disease usually has few or no symptoms and when symptoms do occur, they may include.

fatigue
abdominal pain and discomfort, especially in the upper right side. As the disease progresses, it can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, or liver failure.

The following factors may contribute to the development of Fatty Liver Disease.

Excessive alcohol consumption (ALD)
Being obese and overweight
Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
High cholesterol and high blood pressure
Viral hepatitis

The above factors do not guarantee that someone will have fatty liver disease but may increase one’s risk of having it.

One can typically find out they have fatty liver disease through their medical history, physical examinations, blood tests to check liver enzymes, ultrasounds, CT scans or a liver biopsy.

Treatment of fatty liver disease primarily focuses on lifestyle changes which include:

Weight loss through a balanced diet and exercise
Limiting alcohol intake
controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels

In most cases, fatty liver disease can be reversed with lifestyle modifications, regular monitoring, and follow-up with healthcare professionals. If you have one or more risk factors for fatty liver, you can speak with a healthcare professional about prevention strategies. To prevent fatty liver and complications associated with it, we must follow a healthy lifestyle which includes,

Limiting or avoiding alcohol altogether
Maintaining a moderate weight
Eating a nutrient-rich diet that is low in saturated fat, trans fat and refined carbohydrates.
Managing your blood sugar, triglyceride levels, and cholesterol levels
If diabetic, follow the recommended treatment plan.
Exercising
Taking supplements like Milk Thistle, Fish Oil, Krill Oil Advanced, Vitamin E, Probiotics, Bio-curcumin, and Vitamin D, which all help support the liver’s overall function and reduce inflammation.