Mediterranean Diet Most Effective for Fatty Liver; Experts Warn Against High-Fructose Corn Syrup

The Mediterranean diet stands out as the most effective approach for managing fatty liver disease, according to health experts. This dietary pattern is rich in antioxidants, fiber from fruits, vegetables, and legumes, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids, while being low in sugars.

Fatty liver disease, which involves the accumulation of fat in liver cells that can lead to inflammation and scarring, affects approximately one in three Argentines. It is often asymptomatic in its early stages and is frequently associated with overweight, poor diet, diabetes, and a lack of physical activity. Cardiologist Jorge Tartaglione emphasized that while early stages are reversible, progression to cirrhosis makes recovery much more difficult.

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Fatty liver doesn't show symptoms. First, it's the accumulation of fat inside the liver cells, which then inflames and scars. Up to that point, we can reverse it. But once it progresses to cirrhosis, it becomes much more difficult.

Tartaglione also highlighted the significant link between fatty liver disease and cardiovascular health, stating it serves as an early warning sign for potential heart problems. "It's as if I were doing a heart analysis 10 years earlier because it will impact the heart," he explained, stressing the need for close monitoring in patients, particularly those around 40 years old.

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As a cardiologist, it gives me a future alert because you can have a heart problem. If I have a 40-year-old patient with fatty liver, I have to be very attentive. It's as if I were doing a heart analysis 10 years earlier because it will impact the heart. It gives me a heart alert.

Diagnosis typically involves an ultrasound and blood tests to check for elevated liver enzymes. Tartaglione advised that upon detecting fatty liver through an ultrasound, individuals should focus on healthy eating and regular check-ups. He specifically warned against the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), an industrialized sweetener found in many processed foods. "This syrup is metabolized only in the liver. It impacts it and accumulates," he noted, attributing the high prevalence of the condition partly to its widespread use.

For those seeking home remedies, beetroot juice is mentioned as an effective option for liver cleansing, according to the organization Fundahígado. The core message emphasizes lifestyle changes, including dietary adjustments and regular medical screenings, as crucial for preventing the progression of fatty liver disease and its associated health risks.

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This syrup is metabolized only in the liver. It impacts it and accumulates.