What is Fatty Liver?
Fatty liver disease happens when too much fat accumulates in the liver. The liver acts as the body's “filter” - it processes nutrients, removes toxins, and keeps your metabolism running smoothly. When excess fat accumulates, the liver struggles to do its job properly. Over time, this can lead to inflammation, scarring, and even more serious health issues if left unchecked.
The most common type is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is often linked to lifestyle factors such as carrying extra weight, eating a diet high in processed foods, or having conditions like type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, fatty liver can often be improved and even reversed through nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Why Very Low-Calorie Diets (VLCDs) Are Effective
One of the most powerful tools for managing fatty liver is weight loss, and VLCDs play a pivotal role in supporting this. A VLCD is a scientifically formulated eating plan that provides all the essential nutrients your body needs while keeping calories and carbohydrates low. This type of diet promotes a process called mild nutritional ketosis which involves the body burning your body fat stores instead of glucose as its primary energy source.
VLCDs act as a reset for the body, encouraging fat burning while preserving lean muscle mass. Studies show that even short-term VLCDs can significantly reduce fat stored in the liver, often within weeks. Lower calorie intake helps stabilise blood sugar and reduces insulin resistance, a key driver of fatty liver.
Importantly, Be Fit Food has been at the forefront of VLCD research. A world-first clinical trial confirmed that Be Fit Food’s wholefood VLCD meals not only support safe and effective weight loss but also improve gut health - a critical factor in reducing inflammation and supporting liver health. This study highlights that Be Fit Food meals deliver the benefits of a VLCD using real, whole foods rather than synthetic shakes or supplements, making our meals both sustainable and nutritionally complete.
Be Fit Food meals are therefore uniquely positioned to help people achieve the weight loss needed to improve liver health, while also supporting long-term wellbeing through better gut and metabolic health.
How Does Protein Help Liver Health?
Protein isn’t just about building muscle - it plays a crucial role in supporting the liver and overall metabolic health. Adequate protein ensures the body burns fat rather than muscle during weight loss. High-protein meals can support weight loss by helping to control appetite, making it easier to stick to a calorie-controlled plan. Protein is also involved in liver regeneration therefore adequate intake is needed to support this process.
The Importance of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet:
Fatty liver is a marker of inflammation in the liver. This fatty tissue can eventually transform into scar tissue and irreversible damage to the liver. An anti-inflammatory diet is based on the principles of the Mediterranean diet - a dietary pattern that is proven to lower inflammation and support long-term health. Principles of an anti-inflammatory diet include antioxidant-rich foods such as vegetables, fruit and wholegrains, and healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation.
In summary
A diagnosis of fatty liver disease may sound daunting, but nutrition and lifestyle changes are a powerful tool for change. VLCDs help reduce liver fat quickly, protein supports repair and satiety, and an anti-inflammatory diet protects the liver from long-term damage. Be Fit Food meals combine all these principles together in a convenient, nutritious, and scientifically backed way to help you heal your liver and support sustainable weight loss.
Explore Be Fit Food’s range of dietitian and doctor designed meals crafted to support women’s health through perimenopause and menopause, plus, book a free 15-minute dietitian consultation to discover how nutrition can help you feel your best every day.
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