In people who sleep less than six hours at night, have a persistently poor sleep quality, or nap more than one hour during the day, independent of other disease conditions, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease development was a strong association.
“People with poor night time sleep and prolonged daytime napping have the highest risk for developing fatty liver disease. Our study found a moderate improvement in sleep quality was related to a 29 percent reduction in the risk for fatty liver disease," Liu said.
“People with poor nighttime sleep and prolonged daytime napping have the highest risk for developing fatty liver disease,” said Yan Liu, Ph.
Eating excess calories causes fat to build up in the liver. When the liver does not process and break down fats as it normally should, too much fat will accumulate. People tend to develop fatty liver if they have certain other conditions, such as obesity, diabetes or high triglycerides.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disorder. Previous studies have focused on NAFLD caused by factors such as obesity or high-fat diets, but in recent years, more and more studies have proved that starvation is also an important cause of NAFLD.
NAFLD and NASH are both linked to the following: Overweight or obesity. Insulin resistance, in which your cells don't take up sugar in response to the hormone insulin. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia), indicating prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
“We found that liver fat was reduced by 5.5% in the group that participated in both fasting and exercise.
According to the American Liver Foundation, there are no medical treatments – yet – for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. So that means that eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are the best ways to both prevent liver damage from starting or reverse liver disease once it's in the early stages.
Is fatty liver disease reversible? Here's the good news. Fatty liver disease is treated with a combination of diet and exercise. With this regimen, the liver can heal itself and actually reverse the damage that has occurred over the years.
Similarly, chronic liver diseases are associated with sleep disorders. Therefore, it is a two-way street, and sleep plays an important role in keeping your liver health intact. Try to get six to eight hours of sleep every night, preferably at the same time, to keep your liver healthy.
Rapid weight loss can actually make fatty liver disease worse. Doctors often recommend the Mediterranean diet, which is high in vegetables, fruits and good fats. Ask your doctor or nutritionist for advice on healthy weight loss techniques.
A new study, published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, suggested that people with sedentary lifestyles and poor sleep behaviors are at highest risk for fatty liver disease, which can progress to end-stage liver disease.
Interestingly though, studies have revealed that a correlation exists between your liver and your sleep patterns, with those suffering from liver problems such as cirrhosis often exhibiting disturbed or upset sleep patterns.
Daily walk. Go for a 45-minute walk either in the morning or evening. Walking can help keep at bay many lifestyle diseases from diabetes, blood pressure, heart diseases to fatty liver.
The good news is that fatty liver disease can be reversed—and even cured—if patients take action, including a 10% sustained loss in body weight.
Severe drinking may require three months to a year to fully regenerate the liver to its original capacity and functionality. Over time, the liver can heal itself from damages caused by alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis.
Advocates claim that conducting a cleanse with apple cider vinegar helps to flush toxins from the body, regulate blood sugar levels, and encourage healthy weight loss, all of which can improve liver health. However, there's little scientific support for these claims.
Bottom Line: Nutrition plays a major role in improving fatty liver disease. Additionally, many foods are good for fatty liver, such as bran, salmon, coffee, berries, sunflower seeds, eggs and garlic. Be sure to include these nutrient-dense options regularly and always consider your overall diet and lifestyle habits.
"While coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of elevated liver stiffness, this didn't include fatty liver disease, or steatosis," said Tapper. "Overall, our findings showed that if coffee has an effect on the liver, it is likely by reducing fibrosis, or scar tissue."
NAFLD treatment includes diet and exercise with a target 7–10% weight reduction. Treatment goals include improvements in liver fat content, liver inflammation, and fibrosis.