Anyone living with liver disease knows the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle, because proper nutrition is imperative to keep the liver functioning at maximum capacity. The liver's primary responsibility is to process and filter every substance that enters the body, which includes each piece of food we eat. There are many lists and guidelines to follow with regard to which foods are liver-friendly, and which ones to stay away from. However, recent research is now targeting carbohydrates with a high glycemic index as those to avoid whenever possible.
Carbohydrates are categorized into two groups - those with a high glycemic index, and those with a low glycemic index. The glycemic index measures how quickly the carbohydrates affect a person's blood sugar levels. Foods with a high glycemic index are absorbed more rapidly by the body, and can cause blood sugar levels to spike. Alternately, those foods with a low glycemic index don't really have much of an affect on blood sugar levels. So, how does this affect the liver? Studies show a direct correlation between increased blood sugar levels and a fatty liver.
While you don't have to completely eliminate these high glycemic foods from your diet, there are some foods that you should definitely eat in moderation, including potatoes, rice and refined sugars. Adding more low glycemic index foods to your diet can also help reduce the likelihood of developing a fatty liver. Some of these types of foods are apples, nuts and whole grains.
Aside from monitoring your carbohydrate intake, you can also take steps against fatty liver disease by adding milk thistle to your daily nutritional regimen. Not only does milk thistle offer support and protection to the liver, but it can also help stabilize blood sugar levels.
There are many obvious substances that people with liver disease should avoid, but now you can also add certain carbohydrates to that list. Learn more about the potential harm carbs can do to your liver.
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