Lower carb diet and Fatty Liver Gone

[Bluetit1802]

Not sure what the ALT level should be. I think under 33 or under 35. Mine is 51 (down from a high of 159). I have a fatty liver. I don't know what the other tests mean

According to my print out, ALT should be 3 to 53. Is this the fatty liver indicator?

 

[bobrobert]

Ultrasound scan at a hospital is the test for fatty liver.

 

[zand]

Yes ultra sound is the test for fatty liver. I have never had one and the ALT test is what 3 GP's have used to tell me I have fatty liver.

 

[Adelle0607]

Thanks @leslywo @noblehead @coldethyl @iHs @AndBreathe @Bluetit1802 @jack412 @izzzi @douglas99 @zand @Brunneria @bobrobert @Pipp @Magenta1701 @robert72 for the well wishes! sorry for the late reply as I've been busy at work.

@Brunneria @zand I've been doing the "low carb /mediterranean/plant based diet starting last June--roughly around 3 months. I was diagnosed with fatty liver four years ago (2010) as an incidental finding. They saw my liver enzymes were elevated, then the doctor ran some tests and ultrasound---they saw fatty infiltrates on my liver. I was diagnosed at the age of 26. My doctor advised me to cut back on fats and do the low fat approach. She also gave me supplements (vitamins).

After that, There was a slight improvement on the numbers but nevertheless the fatty liver was still there despite the exercises, (I did yoga & Pilates) normal weight and going on a low fat diet. There was a point when I did green juices too for a while.

Since diagnosis, I've been doing routine abdo ultrasound every 3 months to see if there was progression or improvement. Not much improvement for the next year and the year after,
It was very frustrating. but since cutting back on carbs (grains/processed and refined carbs) and doing my current diet I had the biggest surprise today when my liver looked normal and clean--the radiologist told me it was the same color as my spleen and looked very healthy! And that's only after three months of low carb. For the first time in four years. I wasn't expecting it as my last ultrasound showed fatty liver still. my normal meal would be :

A) lots of veg and a portion of fish

B) veg and nuts/seafood.

C)And lots of olive oil.

D) daily consumption of fruit in small portions (I've tested this with my meter)

E) nothing processed/refined/

no dairy (lactose intolerant)

F) and fresh ingredients

Blood sugar readings of 4 is a constant with this diet too ! Before
My reading would always be much higher.

@Bluetit1802, hi! liver enzymes (alt ast ggt) will be elevated, a concern is if it reaches three times over the normal limit. Then to find out if you have fatty liver, an ultrasound will be done to diagnose/biopsy.

 

[Adelle0607]

Thanks @leslywo @noblehead @coldethyl @iHs @AndBreathe @Bluetit1802 @jack412 @izzzi @douglas99 @zand @Brunneria @bobrobert @Pipp @Magenta1701 @robert72 for the well wishes! sorry for the late reply as I've been busy at work.

@Brunneria @zand I've been doing the "low carb /mediterranean/plant based diet starting last June--roughly around 3 months. I was diagnosed with fatty liver four years ago (2010) as an incidental finding. They saw my liver enzymes were elevated, then the doctor ran some tests and ultrasound---they saw fatty infiltrates on my liver. I was diagnosed at the age of 26. My doctor advised me to cut back on fats and do the low fat approach. She also gave me supplements (vitamins).

After that, There was a slight improvement on the numbers but nevertheless the fatty liver was still there despite the exercises, (I did yoga & Pilates) normal weight and going on a low fat diet. There was a point when I did green juices too for a while.

Since diagnosis, I've been doing routine abdo ultrasound every 3 months to see if there was progression or improvement. Not much improvement for the next year and the year after,
It was very frustrating. but since cutting back on carbs (grains/processed and refined carbs) and doing my current diet I had the biggest surprise today when my liver looked normal and clean--the radiologist told me it was the same color as my spleen and looked very healthy! And that's only after three months of low carb. For the first time in four years. I wasn't expecting it as my last ultrasound in June 2014 showed fatty liver still. my normal meal would be :

A) lots of veg and a portion of fish

B) veg and nuts/seafood.

C)And lots of olive oil.

D) daily consumption of fruit in small portions (I've tested this with my meter)

E) nothing processed/refined/

no dairy (lactose intolerant)

F) and fresh ingredients

Blood sugar readings of 4 is a constant with this diet too ! Before
My reading would always be much higher.

@Bluetit1802, hi! liver enzymes (alt ast ggt) will be elevated, a concern is if it reaches three times over the normal limit. Then to find out if you have fatty liver, an ultrasound will be done to diagnose/biopsy.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Carbs have an awful lot to answer to. If only the NHS would take this on board.

Thanks for the explanation. I take it that as my ALT is normal I have nothing to worry about. I don't think I've been tested for ast or ggt, at least they don't appear on any of my print outs.

 

[Brunneria]

That's brilliant info - thank you.

 

[zand]

Yes thank you very much

 

[sanguine]

Excellent Adelle, well done

My ALT dropped from 51 to 17, it was @Indy51 who linked that to reversing fatty liver - I think.

 

[Loobles]

Fabulous news, well done you!

You know, the more I read about carbs, the more I detest them LOL

 

[Brunneria]

Fabulous news, well done you!

You know, the more I read about carbs, the more I detest them LOL

I know what you mean.
I used to crave their starchy white bulk, filling, comforting...
Now I see them as dead, soulless, bland.
All the things that used to make them yummy (salt, butter, crispy crunchy edges, sauces, spreads, etc.) are still available, but the carbs have sooo much less appeal.

 

[douglas99]

What, no beans, sweet potato, swede, cauliflower, lettuce, spring onion, chillis, pulses, no carbs anywhere?

 

[Susiespearish]

Well done !! and thanks @AndBreathe for tagging me .Very interesting

 

[rubik101]

I just got my ultrasound results, and I found that my liver has gone back to normal! I've done a low carb plant based Mediterranean diet getting my fats (moderate intake) from fish like salmon nuts and avocados. Ive cut down on grains and bread and not take any processed food. I've tried the balanced diet before with grains, green juice, yoga and it hasn't worked out, since I've had my diagnosis three years ago even despite being in the normal weight range and exercising. I'm used to seeing "fatty infiltrate" on my abdo ultrasound...now it's normal, Only the low carb diet has done this. And also my blood sugars and hba1c have been on the non diabetic range. Just wanted to share this news so that the ones who have had fatty liver like me would also get this information.

Like Adelle, I too have effectively 'cured' my diabetes. I am no longer on medication and all my blood work is now in the normal range. My BP is also once again normal, this morning 137/84! This is all as a result of the same diet and exercise as detailed here. It really does work.

 

[rubik101]

What, no beans, sweet potato, swede, cauliflower, lettuce, spring onion, chillis, pulses, no carbs anywhere?

No carbs is the place to start; I mean zero, none, nada. You have to get your body to consume its own fat especially that lofged in your pancreas, and the only way to do that is to starve your body of carbs. It took me about 15 days to 'cure' my diabetes, 23 to get my numbers back to non diabetic figures.

 

[sanguine]

But if you ate carbs again your BGs would go out of control wouldn't they? So that's not 'cured', just 'controlled'.

 

[douglas99]

No carbs is the place to start; I mean zero, none, nada. You have to get your body to consume its own fat especially that lofged in your pancreas, and the only way to do that is to starve your body of carbs. It took me about 15 days to 'cure' my diabetes, 23 to get my numbers back to non diabetic figures.

@rubik101 Do you consume carbs in a normal amount now?
Without rising from normal range BS

 

[donnellysdogs]

Has anybody ever used milk thistle extract tablets or powder for liver problems? Its said to be good, but also seems to be very expensive..

 

[paul-1976]

Has anybody ever used milk thistle extract tablets or powder for liver problems? Its said to be good, but also seems to be very expensive..

I used to after any alcohol binges in the past-Apparently Simon Cowell swore by them! I don't know if it did me any good or not but with the big price tag I swore by them too!

 

[bobrobert]

No carbs is the place to start; I mean zero, none, nada. You have to get your body to consume its own fat especially that lofged in your pancreas, and the only way to do that is to starve your body of carbs. It took me about 15 days to 'cure' my diabetes, 23 to get my numbers back to non diabetic figures.

Even the practitioners of the Atkins diet don't go that low. They recommend 20 mgs of carbs. I don't think it is possible to consume no carbs and isn't healthy either.