Weight-Loss Discovery: How 1 Woman Healed Fatty Liver and Lost 101 Lbs in a Year
If you're feeling tired and sluggish and can't figure out why, or you're carrying stubborn weight no matter how hard you try to ditch it or your doctor has noted that your bloodwork shows elevated liver enzymes, we have advice that might help. Detoxing the liver of trapped fat globules can improve overall health, energy and weight-loss results. And the time to act is now. “There’s an epidemic of fatty liver disease in the US,” says Ken D. Berry, MD, author of Lies My Doctor Told Me. Keep reading to learn how to help a clogged liver, plus how how a popular diet for fatty liver can help heal the organ and lead to weight loss.
What is fatty liver?
We all grew up hearing how drinking excess alcohol can harm the liver. However, alcohol isn't the only thing than can hamper the function of this all important organ. Before the 1980s, most of us hadn't heard of a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Since then, it has morphed into a major health crisis. And last year, a group of scientists officially changed the name of fatty liver disease to address how it can affect our entire system. Doctors now call the condition metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). But that’s a mouthful.
Regardless of what we call it, many women over age 45 have some level of liver impairment. And the prevalence goes up after menopause. That's a problem, since a clogged and inflamed liver can’t perform its metabolic and detox functions. This strain leads to weight gain, fatigue and brain fog, to name a few symptoms.
It's important to remember that the liver does countless jobs for the body, so keeping it in tip-top shape is key. And experts view fatty liver on a spectrum, spanning everything from mild cases that are easily reversible to the worst cases that can lead to liver cirrhosis (scarring), which can be deadly. Those serious cases of fatty liver disease are quickly becoming the #1 reason people need liver transplants.
What's causing fatty liver?
Experts have zeroed in on the cause of the fatty liver epidemic. The high sugar content in the standard American diet is a major factor. Robert Lustig, MD, author of Metabolical, says, "Alcohol and sugary soda have the same detrimental effects on our liver."
And new research points to another culprit in our food supply: glyphosate, a chemical sprayed on crops to kill weeds. A recent animal study links glyphosate exposure to a three-fold increase in risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. So it seems in addition to pesticides eroding our gut-lining health, they can also damage our liver.
Around 70% of people have glyphosate in their system — that’s a 500% rise in the past 23 years, according to a University of California at San Diego study. Though some experts have said it’s virtually nontoxic to humans, others urge caution. Says Dr. Berry, “There’s no doubt glyphosate is a molecule of concern.”
How diet changes can reverse fatty liver disease
The good news: Dietary changes can improve liver function in many types of fatty liver disease. In fact, Dr. Lustig thinks diet is the way to go. He explains, "Drugs don't always help. But diet can." (Click through to check out this story about how to cure fatty liver.)
How to know if you have a fatty liver
If you’re always tired and have two or more of the symptoms below, exposure to a chemical linked to fatty liver may be to blame. Check with your doctor if you frequently experience any of the symptoms below.
Brain fog
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Weight gain
Blue moods
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Gluten intolerance
Diarrhea
Eye/skin irritation
If you suspect you have fatty liver, your doctor can order a urine test to measure glyphosate levels and an ultrasound to diagnose fatty liver.
Foods that help heal a fatty liver
Keto diets eliminate major sources of glyphosate and reverse fatty liver, says Dr. Berry. His advice: Avoid grains and sugar, limit carb intake to 50 grams a day and opt for green veggies, grass-fed meat, plant-based proteins and healthy fats like avocado. These keto-friendly foods help the liver eliminate fat and toxins.
Related: “I Lost 224 Lbs — More Than Half My Size! — With This Keto Hack That Cured My Cravings”
More simple tips that can help:
Aim to consume 425 mg. of choline daily. It helps the liver break down fat and has been shown to reduce the risk of fatty liver. A top source is eggs (147 mg.), but supplements can also help.
Drink coffee. Liver specialist Sanjiv Chopra, MD points to research that shows the risk of liver disease drops by 44% among those who sip two cups daily — and up to 65% with four cups. Just skip the sugar — it can cause the liver to store fat.
Related: Dr. Bob Arnot: Swap Your Dark Roast Coffee for a Lighter Roast for Automatic Weight Loss
Fatty liver success story: Christine Trimpe, 51
Exhaustion, weight gain, and brain fog kept Christine Trimpe, 51, from living her best life — until she discovered the sneaky culprit and easy remedy that restored her energy in just days. Here, her story...
“For three decades, I lived in a constant state of exhaustion, and my relationship with my husband Rob wasn’t the only thing that suffered because of it. I was so overwhelmed with fatigue — physical and emotional — that I couldn’t be my best on a daily basis. When my two kids were young, it was so hard to be the mom I wanted to be. I never played in our backyard with them, never went bike riding with them, never bounced on the trampoline.
"They were both active on travel sports teams five days a week, and I struggled to keep up with the commitments. When they had games, it took every bit of effort just to carry my chair, walk to the field and watch them play. I feel like I missed out on their childhood.
“The fatigue also kept me from having friends over. I could barely muster the energy to clean the house for my family, let alone for company! And although I attended church regularly and I really wanted to serve others in need, I didn’t even attempt volunteering for anything because I was always too tired.
“Add in the brain fog that made it impossible to focus at work, the sleep apnea that didn’t seem to get better despite treatment, and the insomnia that left me wide awake, and I truly felt like I was falling apart.
Signs of a fatty liver
“Then things got worse. I started having intense menstrual cramps in my late 40s. I’d been diagnosed with endometriosis as a teen but had a procedure to remove my uterine lining, so it didn’t make sense that my symptoms were back.
“I went to my gynecologist for answers, and she ordered abdominal and pelvic ultrasounds. The results shocked me: I had ovarian cysts, but I also had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
“My gynecologist suggested we take a wait-and-watch approach and repeat the test in three months. I wasn’t sure about that. I did some reading and learned that this is a common approach with ovarian cysts since they can go away on their own. But I knew people who had had fatty liver disease that eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver, so I didn’t want to wait. The diagnosis lit a fire under me. I needed to find out how to reverse fatty liver — fast.
Healing fatty liver on the keto diet
“With a little research, I learned that eating healthy fats helps balance blood sugar and 'slim’ a fatty liver, so I immediately overhauled the way I ate. I started following a ketogenic diet — low-carb, moderate protein and high-fat. I also focused on healthy, clean sources of protein like eggs, grass-fed beef and chicken, plus healthy fats like avocados, coconut oil and grass-fed butter.
“Next, I learned something that shocked me: Many processed carbs are tainted with glyphosate — an herbicide that may prevent liver enzymes from metabolizing fat. I had never heard of glyphosate, but I wasn't surprised to learn about all the problems it’s linked to. I stopped buying packaged processed foods and breads, and also limited grains to lower my exposure to glyphosate and other chemicals. I started only shopping the perimeter of the grocery store, where I could find the healthy whole foods.
Healthy at last!
“Within just 30 days, my energy soared, the fog lifted, and I was sleeping better. In six months, the insomnia and apnea were gone, and within a year, I lost 100 pounds! Even better: An ultrasound showed I no longer had fatty liver disease, plus the ovarian cysts were gone. It was hard to believe that simple diet changes helped me completely turn my health around.
"The keto diet was the easiest diet I’ve ever done and today, it’s my lifestyle — one I wish I had discovered years ago. Now that fatigue is no longer running my life, I’m unstoppable. I serve in my church and write my blog — JoyfulKetoLife.com — to help other women live their best life. I became an author, speaker and weight loss coach. And instead of missing out on the fun, I travel with my family and take special trips with my husband, touring cities like Washington, DC, together. Our marriage has never been better!”
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
