Excess alcohol consumption can stress the liver and lead to damage. However, liver damage can also occur due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NASH). While the damage can be severe, there are ways to help your liver heal.
Quitting alcohol can undoubtedly help, but leading a healthier lifestyle is the key to reversing liver damage caused by NASH. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Lose Weight
Losing weight can significantly impact liver health. This process will help reduce liver fat, inflammation, and potentially scarring.
2. Exercise Regularly
People with chronic liver disease shouldn’t be afraid to exercise. In fact, regular exercise can significantly improve liver health. Exercising or doing any physical activity can help your liver by:
- Improving blood flow to the liver
- Changing the bacteria composition in your body
- Reducing liver inflammation
- Changing how the blood vessels dilate
- Lowering fat in the liver and the body in general
3. Eat a Suitable Diet
The Mediterranean diet works best for people suffering from NASH. This diet primarily focuses on healthy fats and plant-based foods. We recommend consulting a nutrition expert to fully understand this diet and set attainable goals for your lifestyle.
4. Do Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting can reprogram liver proteins responsible for various essential metabolic functions. This, in turn, helps the liver repair the damage done by NASH.
5. Cut Down on Sugar
A diet low in fat and cholesterol can help you lose weight and consequently help your liver heal from damage. However, these restrictions aren’t sufficient for more extensive liver recovery. For this reason, you should also significantly reduce your sugar intake or avoid sugar altogether. This will help eliminate fatty buildup in the liver and speed up recovery.
