Wellness Glossary

Fatty Liver

A simple, friendly explanation of what this term means — without the medical jargon.

What it means

Fatty liver is a condition where too much fat builds up inside the liver. The liver is supposed to store a small amount of fat, but when the amount gets too high, the liver becomes stressed and inflamed. This can affect how well it does its many jobs, including managing blood sugar, filtering toxins, and making bile.

Why it matters

Fatty liver is very common, and most people who have it don’t know it. The liver plays a major role in blood sugar control, cholesterol regulation, digestion, and inflammation. When it becomes overloaded with fat, all of these systems can be affected. Fatty liver is linked with insulin resistance, higher blood sugar, higher cholesterol, and a higher risk of heart disease.

For more on how bile supports liver health, see the glossary entry on bile.

What it means for you

The liver is one of the most responsive organs in the body. It can improve quickly when you change the inputs. You can help reduce liver fat with simple daily habits:
• adding beans, greens, and whole grains 
• lowering dietary fat, especially saturated fat
 • moving your body regularly

These habits help your liver clear out stored fat, lower inflammation, and work more efficiently.

Try this

One small action step

Add beans to one meal today. Beans help flatten blood sugar spikes and reduce the amount of fat your liver has to store. A half cup should do it--for now. Add more as the weeks go on.

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