The ketogenic diet is an effective treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here we present evidence that hepatic mitochondrial fluxes and redox state are markedly altered during reversal of NAFLD induced by the ketogenic diet in humans. The good news is that a low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diet can lead to dramatic fat loss in the liver and can potentially reverse the disease. The time to start is now, so you can start living your life healthier and better.
GuidanceInsulin resistance is a common and almost silent condition in which the body's cells become less able to respond efficiently to the hormone insulin. This causes the pancreas to secrete even more insulin to keep blood sugar stable. A keto diet does not cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is possible to prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with a ketogenic diet, and people with NAFLD can see significant improvements.
Talk to your doctor before making the change. In any case, a diet low in carbohydrates and high in exercise at least three times a week can help keep the liver healthy. A recent pilot study put five patients on a ketogenic diet (less than 20 grams of carbohydrate per day). After six months, the average weight loss was 28 pounds, but this was not the most surprising finding.
Each patient underwent a liver biopsy, and four of the five patients showed a reduction in liver fat, inflammation and fibrosis. This provides preliminary evidence that the ketogenic diet can reverse fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Eating "ketogenic" is a popular fad diet, and recently I have even noticed some doctors recommending it. There is growing evidence, such as a study by researchers at the USC Keck School of Medicine, that ketogenic diets that severely restrict carbohydrates and replace them mostly with fat appear to be associated with an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD.
If you want to lose a few pounds, you may be tempted to try popular new approaches such as the ketogenic diet or fasting. The ketogenic diet severely restricts carbohydrates, thereby causing a drop in blood sugar levels. The ketogenic diet has also been shown in multiple studies to be more effective than a calorie-restricted diet in reversing type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and hyperlipidaemia. Ketogenic diets are complicated to follow and difficult for most people to maintain, due to the limited food choices.
To make sure you reach your health and weight loss goals, you should adjust your meals and portions based on your macro keto needs (our keto calculator can help you figure this out). One of the main problems with the keto diet is that it restricts vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes. This means that high-fat keto diets have a greater and faster impact on liver fat content than just restricting carbohydrates. Further research shows that the ketogenic diet may not only aid weight loss, but may also help prevent fatty liver disease and reverse fatty liver damage.
People on ketogenic diets have been shown to lose and maintain more weight than those on low-fat diets. The ketogenic diet is just another fad diet, and there is growing evidence that this diet may be harmful in the long term. This case report discusses the rationale, benefits and risks of a ketogenic diet and encourages increased vigilance and monitoring of patients on the ketogenic diet. Other benefits of the ketogenic diet include a reduction in triglycerides, abdominal fat and the risk of metabolic syndrome.
