10 Foods to Include in a Healthy Liver Diet

A fatty liver is a condition in which the organ stores too much fat. If not treated, your liver can ultimately fail. But you can prevent or treat a fatty liver with healthful eating. You may need to focus on certain foods and avoid others.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of liver disease in the United States. It’s a condition in which excess fat is stored in the liver.

NAFLD is more common in people who are living with certain conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes — and unlike alcohol-related liver disease, NAFLD is not caused by heavy alcohol use.

The two types of NAFLD are:

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), where fat collects in the liver without inflammation, though enlargement of the liver may lead to pain
• Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is accompanied by inflammation, and can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure if left untreated.

In a healthy body, the liver removes toxins and produces bile, a greenish-yellow fluid that breaks down fat into fatty acids so that they can be digested. Fatty liver disease damages the liver and prevents it from working as well as it should, but lifestyle changes can prevent it from getting worse.

The first line of treatment for overweight or obese individuals with NAFLD is gradual weight loss, through a combination of calorie reduction, exercise, and healthy eating.

In general, the diet for fatty liver disease includes:

• fruits and vegetables
• high-fiber plants like legumes and whole grains
• significantly reducing intake of certain foods and beverages including those high in added sugar, salt, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fat
• no alcohol

A nutrient-dense, whole-food-based diet rich in fiber, protein, and unsaturated fats is generally recommended for those with NAFLD.

Here are a few foods to include in your healthy liver diet:

1. Coffee to help lower abnormal liver enzymes