What is it?
Fatty liver is also known as NASH, which stands for Non- Alcoholic Steatorrhoeic Hepatosis or Non-Alcoholic-Fatty-Liver-Disease (NAFLD) but don’t be put off by these big terms – they just mean that your liver is being invaded with fat! Fatty liver or NASH, is very common in overweight persons, over the age of 30.
It contains an excessive amount of fat and the normal healthy liver tissue is partly replaced with areas of unhealthy fats. In such a liver, the liver cells and the spaces in the liver are filled with fat so the liver becomes slightly enlarged and heavier. The liver has a yellow greasy appearance. There may be discomfort over the liver, which is situated in the right upper abdominal area. There may be gallstones composed of cholesterol and bile salts. It is often possible to see the excess fat in the liver in an ultrasound scan of the liver. There may also be elevation of the liver enzymes.
Liver dysfunction is very common and an increasing problem.
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The healthy liver is much redder in color and has a uniform texture. If we cut the liver up into tiny slices and magnify it many millions of times you will see that it is full of spaces that are red-pink color because they are full of blood. The rows of liver cells form the walls of the spaces. As the blood flows through these spaces the liver cells remove the toxins, dead cells, micro-organisms and fat from the blood stream. Thus we call the liver the filter and cleanser of the blood stream. If the liver spaces and liver cells are full of fat, then the liver is not able to filter and cleanse the blood stream efficiently and the blood stream will become overloaded with toxins and fat. It is best to work on reversing this problem as if left unchecked poor liver function can lead to further problems such as autoimmune conditions and Diabetes type 2
How do you know if you have a fatty liver?
• You will probably be overweight, especially in the abdominal area
• You will find it very hard to lose weight
• You may have elevated cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood
• You may have Syndrome X
• You may have diabetes type 2
• You will be very tired
• You may have problems with your immune system
The consequences of a fatty liver
The healthy liver regulates fat metabolism and is the major fat-burning organ in the body. Indeed the healthy liver not only burns fat, it can pump excessive fat out of your body through the bile into the gut. Thus, if your liver is healthy you will not have much difficulty in controlling your weight. Conversely a liver which is fatty is doing the opposite of what it should be doing. A fatty liver is storing fat when it should be burning fat and removing excess fat from your body. Indeed a fatty liver becomes a warehouse for fat and if it is allowed to progress for many years, the liver may finally become just a “bag of fat” with dire consequences for your health and longevity.
How common is fatty liver?
In the
Can you reverse a fatty liver?
Yes indeed you can and you will find inspiration in the testimonial from Dr Eanelli. Click here for his inspiring testimonial. Conventional or orthodox medicine has no specific therapy or drug treatment to reverse a fatty liver. Indeed many drugs such as cholesterol lowering drugs can exert toxic effects on the liver cells.
The article in the Journal Medicine Today encouraged a gradual reduction in weight which has been shown to improve liver function and reverse liver damage. However the authors warn against very rapid weight loss from fad diets or radical surgery which may have a negative impact upon the progression of liver injury. The good news is that gradual weight reduction , with as little as a 5 to 10% loss of initial body weight over 6 months is recommended. In general the treatments discussed in the Medicine Today article were somewhat uninspiring and I am pleased to tell you that in reality there is much that can be done to reverse the condition of fatty liver.
So, fatty liver can be reversed but this can take some time - years in some cases. If you are overweight & find it very difficult to lose the excess weight it is important to look at all the factors relevant to your present weight & state of health.
Apart from diet and nutritional deficiencies, the most important factors are –
• Insulin resistance or Syndrome X
• Fatty Liver Syndrome
The liver contains an excessive amount of fat and the normal healthy liver tissue is partly replaced with areas of unhealthy fats.
• Toxicity
You may have a build-up of fat-soluble toxins (such as insecticides & pesticides), drug metabolites or waste products of metabolism in your fatty tissues and liver. This slows down the metabolism of the fatty parts of your body & also over-burdens your liver. This means that the liver burns fat less efficiently. Gentle and regular detoxification is very helpful when trying to lose weight. Drinking plenty of water, raw vegetable juices and Livatone formulas will help the detoxification process.
How long does it take to see results?
The liver has become a fat storage organ rather than a fat burning organ - so this situation must be reversed before actual weight loss can occur. Obviously this will depend on the extent of the fatty liver as to how long this will take. Also be prepared for the fact that you will more than likely hit a 'plateau' - where weight loss will stop or slow right down - this may go on for weeks or a month or two - Don't be discouraged at this time - the fat loss is occurring - but is going from within your liver so you may not see any visible fat loss from the body - stick with it! It is at this time that people will tend to give up thinking that that's it - they won't lose anymore - not true! - you must be diligent and patient - the symptoms you are experiencing have taken years to develop and cannot be reversed by a couple of weeks of "dieting" Yo Yo dieting is not advisable as the weight lost will return plus more and the metabolism will slow.
My Doctors said there is nothing that can be done?
Many Doctors still do not make the link between the traditional western diet and fatty liver. Many simply brush over the condition, telling patients there is nothing that can be done and that it will simply be ‘monitored’. Meanwhile the condition gets worse and worse as the functional liver tissue slowly gets replaced by fat over the years. If left unchecked, a severe inflamed fatty liver can lead to scarring of the liver tissue (cirrhosis).
Is the Doctor correct? Can nothing be done? The answer is a resounding ‘NO!”
Thankfully the liver is one of the most resilient organs in the body. It is capable of much self healing if given a chance.
My "enzymes" are raised what does this mean?
The elevated liver enzyme results indicate that there is inflammation and damage to the liver cells and their membranes. Liver enzymes are normally contained within the liver cells, and only when the cells are damaged and/or inflamed, do the enzymes leak into the blood stream. This can occur due to a fatty liver, alcohol excess, some medications such as long term antibiotics, and pain killers, oral synthetic Hormone Replacement, viral infections of the liver such as hepatitis C & B, auto-immune hepatitis, hemachromatosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, exposure to toxic chemicals such as insecticides, pesticides, organic solvents and incorrect diet.
Luckily the liver cells are very resilient and with proper diet and supplements they will repair and the enzyme levels will slowly come down over time in the case of simple fatty liver. This may take some months. It is also not uncommon for the enzyme levels to fluctuate up and down before they decrease.
What to do about fatty liver syndrome
Treatment
The body needs to be provided with the correct nutrients required by the metabolic and detoxification pathways to effectively improve the liver function. This needs to be a combination of correct eating principles that should be followed generally as a way of life and the correct supplementation to give the liver/thyroid etc what it needs and nothing that it doesn't need as these 'extras' will only weigh it down even more.
Diet
• Follow the 12 week eating plan in "Can't Lose Weight? Unlock the secrets that are keeping you fat" by Dr Cabot to kick start the metabolism. Then maintain the 12 vital principles of eating for a healthy liver found in Dr Cabot's "The Liver Cleansing Diet" as a way of life.
• Reduce the consumption of refined carbohydrates from sugar and bread, pastry, pasta, noodles, cakes, biscuits and desserts. This will easily be achieved by following "Syndrome X" eating Plan which helps to prevent cravings for these foods.
• Increase the amount of raw fruits and vegetables
• Use raw vegetable juices – see my book titled “"Raw Juices Can Save Your Life"”
• Avoid deep fried and processed foods
Raw
Dr
Appropriate juice recipes found in Dr Cabot's "Raw Juices Can Save Your Life" book. Recommended juices are:
• ‘Liver Tonic Juice’ page 116
• ‘Liver Cleansing Juice’ page 116
• 'Antibiotic juice' p 45
• 'Immune Dysfunction' p103
• 'Infections' p105
Dairy
To lose weight, improve your liver function you must avoid ALL dairy foods including milk, cheese, cream, butter, ice cream, yogurt, chocolate etc the fat content of milk is actually quite negligible in terms of weight loss. - dairy foods contain high levels of antibiotics, steroids and artificial growth hormones as this is what the herds are treated with in today's high tech dairies to prevent disease and boost milk production. As with humans where substances go through into breast milk it is the same for cattle - only they neglect to tell you this in the advertisements when they are telling you how great milk is. If you need further info on this please visit www.notmilk.com.
Try some different brands and varieties of soy as they vary greatly. The fresh soy products in the dairy cabinet are much lighter and not as strong in taste as the long life products. There are also rice milks and oat milks to try
• Avoid ALL margarines and similar type spreads
• Avoid deep fried and fatty foods.
• Avoid sugary processed foods and drinks
• Limit chicken and turkey that is not free range as this contains artificial growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids that increase the livers workload.
• Drink 2 liters of water each day.
• Avoid artificial sweeteners see www.dorway.com
Healthy Sweetener Use Guide
Sweeteners to avoid:
Aspartame
Neotame
Sucralose (Splenda)
Acesulfame-K (Sunette, Sweet & Safe, Sweet One)
Cyclamates
Saccharin
Sweeteners to Use:
Stevia *
Barley Malt
Evaporated Cane Juice
Fruit Juice
Rice Syrup
Honey
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) *
Amasake
* Safe for Diabetics
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Dr Cabot's recommended supplement program for fatty liver
• Liver tonics
Essential is a specific and heavy duty liver tonic, one which contains a high dose of the herb Milk Thistle with a high standardised concentration of the active ingredient Silymarin. This heavy duty liver tonic would also contain additional supporting nutrients such as other herbs, amino acids, vitamins and minerals and vegetable extracts to improve the liver's ability to detoxify and burn fat.
This tonic could be combined with a general liver tonic that contains all the vital ingredients to enhance liver function. A good, all-purpose comprehensive herbal liver tonic consists of specific herbs and amino acids which will improve elimination and the reduction of waste via a cleansing effect on the bowel.
• Fiber
Increased consumption of fiber will speed up the passage of toxins out of the bowels and reduce the ability of these toxins to recirculate back to the liver. It will also assist the action of pumping fats and cholesterol out through the bowel actions. You can ensure you are getting enough fibre by taking a soluble fiber supplement. A good fiber product will contain soy fiber, rice bran, vegetable powders, slippery elm and peppermint will gently allivate any constipation symptoms while improving bowel tone and function. It can be added to soy, rice or oat milk, and fruit smoothies, or added in with the favorite breakfast cereal. Start on a small dose and gradully increase the amount. It is also important to drink at least 8 glasses of purified water everyday and some people will need to drink up to 12 glasses daily. Water should be drunk gradually throughout the day, in-between meals.
• Selenium
Selenium is a powerful antioxidant mineral that works synergistically to assist in protection against further damage to liver cells. A good selenium product should be combined with other other antioxidant nutrients; this may help to protect the liver from damage. It may be helpful for those with viral infections of the liver or auto-immune diseases of the liver as well as fatty liver. You would need to consume at least 200mcg daily.
• MSM with Vitamin C
MSM (Methyl-Sulphonyl-Methane) is an organic form of sulphur, which may assist in softening and preventing further scar tissue.
Absorption of vital nutrients & active ingredients is superior from powders, as compared to compressed tablets which often pass through the gut without being dissolved or absorbed. Start slow with the supplements at only a 1/4 of the dose and build up to the full dose recommended, over 2-3 weeks.
Other supplements that may be of assistance:
• Weight loss or blood sugar supplement
A specific combination of herbs such as gymnema and bitter melon, combined with minerals such as chromium, zinc, selenium and lipoic acid, may help to stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels; thereby reducing hunger and cravings. Try and use a supplement that contains ingredients at therapeutic doses and does not contain any caffeine. We recommend you avoid thermogenics based on caffeine, as this will aggravate unstable blood sugar levels and fatigue.
• Protein Powder
The most effective quality whey protein concentrate should have extra amino acids added; the most important are taurine and glutamine along with the trace mineral chromium, which will assist with sugar cravings. Consuming a powdered protein concentrate is a low fat and low carbohydrate alternative that is easily digestable and will provide you with instant energy. It may be added to breakfast cereals, used to make 'smoothies' or mixed with water or non dairy milks such as soy, almond, oat or coconut. A good protein concentrate is sweetened with the natural herbal sweetener 'Stevia' and may be enjoyed at any time of the day giving an invaluable alternative to a high carbohydrate snack or meal.
Recommended books by Dr Cabot
• “Can’t Lose Weight? Unlock the secrets that are keeping you fat" By Dr Cabot 
This new book contains a 12-week metabolic weight loss plan to overcome the fat storing chemical imbalance of Syndrome X. This revolutionary new book is the only book that covers ALL THE HIDDEN CAUSES that stop you from losing weight including fatty liver.
• “"Raw Juices Can Save Your Life"” by Dr Cabot
Dr Cabot’s new book contains carefully designed juices to help with common health problems such as-
• Chronic fatigue
• Liver problems including fatty liver and hepatitis
• Weight excess
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol
• Skin and hair problems
• Allergies and immune dysfunction
• Asthma
• Arthritis
• Recurrent infections
• Irritable bowel syndrome & constipation
• Headaches & migraines
Raw juices are an incredible powerful healing tool and can improve the function of the liver, bowels and kidneys. This increases the elimination of toxins and waste products from the skin. The fresh raw vegetable juices are vitally important. It is good to use both whole fruits and vegetables in the diet as well as the juices as the juices provide an easily absorbable form of nutraceuticals that are very beneficial for the liver.
Juices made freshly from raw fruits and or vegetables have unique healing & rejuvenating properties. For those who feel they need an extra boost there is nothing better than having a raw juice everyday. It will brighten up the day by providing extra energy & endurance. Juices are unique because they allow the gut to receive very concentrated amounts of phyto-nutrients that could not be obtained by eating a normal amount of raw vegetables & fruits.
Juices are high in --- Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, carotenoids, living plant enzymes to aid digestion & vitamin K in green leafy vegetables
Dear Dr Cabot,
My son who is 18 years old has a fatty liver and is 30 kilograms overweight. We have a family history of type 11 diabetes and I am worried that he is heading in that direction. He craves sweet foods like biscuits, ice-cream, cakes and candies. He seems to be always hungry and tired. I had no idea that he could have a fatty liver at this young age but the doctor found it on an ultrasound scan. The doctor also surprised me when he told us that he sees fatty livers in children as young as 10 to 12 years of age! There were streaks of fatty infiltration through his liver, which the doctor pointed out to us on the ultrasound scan. His liver enzymes were slightly raised. The doctor told us that he must lose weight and start to exercise, but it is very difficult because he is always tired and hungry. What do you suggest?
Thank you
Answer from Dr Cabot:
Your son has the condition called “NASH”, which stands for “Non-Alcoholic- Steatorrhoeic Hepatosis”. Due to modern day diet and lifestyle factors this condition has become very common. I often say it is because the “food keep getting faster and faster, and we keep getting slower and slower”
It is true that your son must lose weight and start to exercise, but special techniques are required to achieve this easily.
They are –
Improve the liver’s ability to burn fat
Follow the 12 week eating plan in "Can't Lose Weight? You Could Have Syndrome X" to kick start the metabolism
Avoid all fatty foods such as deep fried foods, processed meats.
Avoid refined sugars as found in cakes & biscuits.
Take raw vegetable juices every day – see juice recipes in the ""Raw Juices Can Save Your Life"" Book
Take a strong liver tonic, a fiber supplement and MSM with Vitamin C at recommended doses everyday.
By improving his liver function and stabilizing blood sugar he will have the energy to exercise. In those with a fatty liver, there is often excessive and constant hunger because of high blood sugar levels, which cause high blood insulin levels. High levels of insulin make you feel hungry. Thus we need to reduce his levels of blood sugar and insulin.
To do this he needs to do the following:
Ensure that he eats first class protein with every meal (3 times daily) – such as lean red meat, free range chicken, eggs, seafood, or legumes.
Make sure that this is combined with cooked vegetables and raw vegetable salad. Dressings may consist of cold pressed oils, balsamic vinegar or citrus juices. It is best to minimize the ingestion of carbohydrates especially those containing refined flour and sugar such as many breads and breakfast cereals. Take a good quality protein powder in water as a snack or breakfast accompaniment.
The "Syndrome X" diet in my book 'Can't lose Weight? Unlock The Secrets That Are Keeping You Fat" will tell you how to reduce his starchy carbohydrates and increase quality protein.
Take a supplement containing the herbs Gymnema Sylvestre and Bitter Melon combined with chromium picolinate, lipoic acid, carnitine fumarate, selenomethionine, magnesium aspartate, manganese, zinc and vitamin E to lower blood sugar and insulin levels thereby reducing excessive hunger and increasing energy levels.
These strategies will make it much easier for him to lose weight, as his hunger will be greatly reduced. If he becomes hungry offer him protein, vegetables and salad. Three to four pieces of fruit daily are acceptable.
Unless specific strategies to improve the liver function and reduce blood sugar and insulin levels are followed, his chances of success are not high. Try to get him involved in enjoyable sports such as walking, rowing, golf or swimming.
By: Doctor Cabot (www.doctorcabot.com)
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