Beware of these 7 health mistakes that can give you a fatty liver

Think of the times when you make that lovely cup of tea for yourself and pour that energy-boosting elixir through the strainer. Have you ever noticed how the flow of the tea gets restricted once the chai patti begins to deposit on the net of the strainer? 

Well, we’re pretty sure you have. But we’re also pretty sure that you might have never related this situation to your liver. Yes, the same precious organ that filters your blood, removes harmful toxins from it, and absorbs essential nutrients from the food you eat.

When your body produces too much fat, stores the excessive fat, is unable to metabolise the fat efficiently, and/or simply stores the excess fat you consume in the liver cells, your liver gets blocked by this fat build-up. This prevents it from performing its life-running functions. 

While about 5% fat in the liver is considered to be normal, anything above that means you have fatty liver syndrome, a.k.a., hepatic steatosis, according to a study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Still don’t think it’s that serious?
If you are still taking this health issue lightly, then you’ve got to know that neglecting the fat accumulation in your liver can cause inflammation (a condition known as steatohepatitis). This can further lead to scarring in the liver (a condition known as fibrosis) and its spread can further cause cirrhosis, a life-threatening condition due to liver failure. Not to mention, it can majorly increase your risk of getting liver cancer as well.

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Now that we’ve got your attention, here are 7 health mistakes that can give you a fatty liver

You drink like a fish: Not water, d-uh! We mean alcohol! You know, every time you drink alcohol to dull your senses and “let loose”, you actually end up losing a couple of liver cells to permanent damage while accumulating fat on your liver.  This is a leading cause of a fatty liver and the resulting condition is known as alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD).

Now, the liver is pretty much a self-repairing organ and quitting alcohol can restore its health. However, drinking large amounts of alcohol over a short period of time is also enough to give you the damage of a lifetime. So, think twice before sipping on booze. 

You’re too careless about your prevalent health conditions: If alcohol isn’t the cause of your misery, your current health situation could be to blame as well. From diabetes leading to insulin resistance and fat accumulation in the liver to polycystic ovarian syndrome throwing your hormones out of whack and stopping your body from metabolizing fat efficiently—a host of underlying health conditions can give you a fatty liver, as per a study published in the journal Nutrients. 

Needless to say, if you don’t take these conditions seriously and don’t adopt a healthy lifestyle to combat these problems, your liver is bound to suffer as well.

You’re lazy and you know it: Unhealthy eating and a lack of physical activity are the two main factors that can lead to weight gain and even obesity in the long run. While eating junk can mean you’re mindlessly consuming fat-rich foods and encouraging your liver to store more fat, not exercising can lead to fat storage because your body doens’t need fat to burn to support physical activity. 

Exercise for about 30-45 minutes a day and avoid unhealthy fats and you’ll be just fine.

Your belly fat isn’t ringing a bell: Though obesity in general is a condition to be wary of, excessive belly fat or visceral obesity is particularly dangerous. According to a study published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, it is linked with fatty liver disease. 

Your sweet tooth could be to blame: According to a study published in the journal Eating and Weight Disorders, excess consumption of sugary beverages, desserts, or anything sugar can lead to fat accumulation in the liver. This is simply because these sugary foods and drinks contain a high amount of fructose, which has the tendency of getting stored as fat in the body—especially if it remains unutilised through a physical activity.

You underestimate the animosity of carbohydrates: Surely, carbohydrates keep you energetic and healthy. However, if you rely on refined carbs such as breads, pastas, flour etc for that energy, it can backfire and give you a fatty liver as per a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Refined carbs have the tendency to increase your blood sugar level pretty soon after their consumption. This in turn can cause insulin resistance and lead to a fatty liver.

Your gut is literally turning into a gutter: An unhealthy or leaky gut or other gut issues resulting from the lack of healthy bacteria in your digestive system can give you a fatty liver according to a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 

Sometimes, an unhealthy gut can kickstart an auto-brewery syndrome in your body. In this condition, the body tends to turn sugary or starchy foods into alcohol, thereby damaging the liver and causing fat accumulation in it.

So that’s it folks. Avoid these mistakes and let your liver be happy!