If you are diagnosed as being in the earliest stage of NAFLD (steatosis) then you may not notice any ill-effects. As mentioned, your doctor may ask you to have regular blood tests to make sure that you are not developing a more serious form of the disease. If you have type 2 diabetes or any other metabolic problem, you will need to work closely with your medical team to keep it well controlled.
For your part, regular exercise and a healthy diet will help you to manage your condition.
As the blood fats associated with NAFLD (triglyceride and cholesterol) are partly absorbed from your food intake, it is essential that you watch what you eat.
This is likely to mean that you should:
- deliberately eat as little saturated fat as you can (these are high in most meats, dairy products and many bakery foods)
- eat plenty of fruit and vegetables (have at least five portions a day)
- eat carbohydrate foods (such as pasta, potatoes, wholemeal bread and rice) rather than fat-rich foods
- avoid crash diets and rapid weight-loss programmes.
Can I drink alcohol if I have NALFD?
Drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to an increase in fat in your liver. The government has a recommended level for sensible drinking. This is 21 units a week for men and 14 for women.
For most people who do not have any form of hepatitis (NASH) or scarring (fibrosis), drinking occasionally should not be a problem.
However, anyone with a liver condition should approach alcohol with caution. It is a good idea to reduce your consumption to below recommended levels or abstain from drinking if you can.
People who have gone on to develop NASH or cirrhosis will have damaged liver function. They will find that they cannot deal very well with toxins such as alcohol and should abstain from drinking completely.