The SURPRISING Way To Reverse A FATTY LIVER | Dr. Mark Hyman

Summary

The video script highlights the alarming prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affecting 90 million Americans, linked to sugar, particularly fructose. It emphasizes the disease's role as a risk factor for severe health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The script offers insights into diagnosing fatty liver through blood tests and imaging, and underscores the importance of lifestyle and dietary changes, including avoiding high-fructose corn syrup, reducing starch intake, and incorporating liver-supporting foods and supplements to prevent and reverse the condition.

Takeaways

• 📊 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 90 million Americans and is linked to major health risks like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and dementia.
• 🍬 The primary cause of fatty liver disease is sugar, particularly fructose, which is abundant in high-fructose corn syrup found commonly in sodas and processed foods.
• 🦆 Foie gras, a delicacy made by force-feeding ducks or geese, is an example of how starch (in this case, corn) is converted into fat in the liver, illustrating the process of lipogenesis.
• 🧪 Blood tests for liver enzymes like AST and GGT can indicate fatty liver disease, but more sensitive tests such as a fibro scan or an MRI may be needed for a definitive diagnosis.
• 🚫 High-fructose corn syrup is singled out as a major culprit in the development of fatty liver and should be avoided at all costs in the diet.
• 🍞 Starchy foods, even those considered 'healthy' like whole grains, can contribute to fatty liver when consumed in a refined form without the benefits of fiber and other nutrients.
• 💊 There are no medications to cure fatty liver disease, but lifestyle and dietary changes, along with certain supplements, can significantly improve and even reverse the condition.
• 🥑 Consuming healthy fats, such as those found in MCT oil, avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds, can aid in liver health and healing.
• 🏃‍♂️ Regular exercise is crucial for improving metabolism, reducing insulin resistance, and decreasing inflammation, all of which are beneficial for managing fatty liver disease.
• 💊 Supplements like N-acetylcysteine, lipoic acid, milk thistle, and B vitamins can support liver detoxification and overall health.
• 🥦 Incorporating detoxifying foods such as cruciferous vegetables, garlic, onions, and herbs rich in sulfur can support liver function and contribute to the reversal of fatty liver disease.

Q & A

What is the main cause of fatty liver disease according to the script?

The main cause of fatty liver disease, as mentioned in the script, is sugar, particularly fructose found in high fructose corn syrup.

How is fatty liver disease related to common health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer?

Fatty liver disease is a major risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and dementia because it generates inflammation, impairs detoxification, worsens cholesterol levels, and creates insulin resistance, leading to a cascade of health problems.

What is the connection between the consumption of soda and fatty liver disease?

Soda, which is high in high fructose corn syrup, is a significant contributor to the development of fatty liver disease due to the high sugar content that leads to lipogenesis, or the production of fat in the liver.

What are some of the tests that can be used to diagnose fatty liver disease?

Tests for diagnosing fatty liver disease include blood tests such as AST and GGT, a FibroScan which is an ultrasound-like scan, and an MRI of the liver to determine the degree of fat and any scarring.

What is the liver fat percentage considered normal according to the script?

According to the script, normal liver fat should be less than two percent.

How does the script describe the impact of fructose on the liver compared to glucose?

The script describes fructose as being absorbed differently than glucose and causing more harm to the liver. Fructose, especially when found in high fructose corn syrup, is free and not bound to glucose, leading to rapid absorption and contributing to fatty liver disease.

What dietary changes are suggested in the script to help with fatty liver disease?

The script suggests eliminating high fructose corn syrup, reducing starch and sugar intake, and increasing the consumption of detoxifying liver-supporting foods such as cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and onions.

What are some of the supplements mentioned in the script that can help with fatty liver disease?

Supplements mentioned in the script include N-acetylcysteine, lipoic acid, milk thistle, B vitamins, zinc, selenium, and magnesium.

Why is the script critical of high fructose corn syrup?

The script is critical of high fructose corn syrup because it is a major contributor to fatty liver disease due to its high fructose content, which is absorbed quickly and leads to increased fat production in the liver.

What is the script's stance on the consumption of starch and sugar in relation to fatty liver disease?

The script suggests that starch and sugar, particularly in the form of high fructose corn syrup, should be significantly reduced or eliminated from one's diet to prevent or treat fatty liver disease.

Outlines

00:00

🍬 The Silent Epidemic of Fatty Liver Disease

This paragraph discusses the prevalence and impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affecting 90 million Americans and being linked to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and dementia. The primary cause identified is sugar, particularly fructose, found in high quantities in sodas and other processed foods. The paragraph explains the process of lipogenesis, the production of fat in the liver, triggered by sugar and starch consumption. It also touches on the difficulty in diagnosing fatty liver through standard blood tests, suggesting more sensitive tests like AST and GGT, a fibro scan, or an MRI for accurate diagnosis. The paragraph concludes with the alarming fact that fatty liver disease can lead to severe health complications and organ damage, including the need for liver transplants in extreme cases.

05:02

🍏 Combating Fatty Liver Through Diet and Lifestyle Changes

The second paragraph focuses on the role of fructose and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the development of fatty liver disease. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding foods containing HFCS and reducing starch and sugar intake. The paragraph suggests that even whole grains can contribute to fatty liver when consumed in processed forms. It also highlights the benefits of consuming healthy fats, such as MCT oil, avocados, and olive oil, which can aid liver healing. Exercise is recommended to improve metabolism and reduce inflammation. The importance of supplements like N-acetylcysteine, lipoic acid, and milk thistle for liver detoxification and health is underscored. The paragraph concludes with advice on incorporating detoxifying foods rich in sulfur, such as garlic, onions, and Brassica vegetables, to support liver function.

10:03

🌱 Empowering Prevention and Reversal of Fatty Liver Disease

The final paragraph serves as a call to action, urging individuals to get tested for fatty liver if they have risk factors such as belly fat or a diet high in sugar and starch. It emphasizes the importance of eliminating high fructose corn syrup and reducing starch and sugar consumption. The paragraph suggests a diet rich in detoxifying foods and the right supplements to boost the liver's detoxification pathways and promote healing. It mentions the significance of B vitamins, zinc, selenium, and magnesium for liver health. The paragraph concludes with a reminder of the preventable and reversible nature of fatty liver disease, encouraging viewers to take control of their diet and lifestyle to avoid its devastating effects.

Keywords

💡Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty Liver Disease, also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is a condition where excessive fat builds up in the liver, potentially leading to inflammation and organ damage. It is a central theme of the video, as it affects a significant portion of the American population and is linked to other serious health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The script discusses its prevalence and the potential for it to be undiagnosed yet deadly.

💡Sugar

Sugar, particularly fructose, is highlighted as a primary cause of fatty liver disease in the video. It is explained that sugar, especially in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, contributes to the development of the disease by promoting the production of fat in the liver. The script emphasizes the importance of reducing sugar intake to prevent or treat fatty liver.

💡Lipogenesis

Lipogenesis is a biological process that involves the production of fat from carbohydrates and sugars. The video script uses this term to explain how the body's response to sugar, especially when force-fed, like in the case of foie gras production, leads to the accumulation of fat in the liver, contributing to fatty liver disease.

💡Foie Gras

Foie gras, a delicacy made from the liver of a force-fed duck or goose, is used in the script as a metaphor to explain the unnatural process of fat accumulation in the liver. The term 'foie gras' literally means 'fatty liver' in French, illustrating the direct link between the method of production and the health condition being discussed.

💡High Fructose Corn Syrup

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener used widely in processed foods and beverages, including sodas. The script points out that HFCS is particularly harmful due to its high fructose content, which is absorbed differently by the body and contributes to the development of fatty liver disease.

💡Soda

Soda is mentioned as a major contributor to the high intake of sugar, particularly high fructose corn syrup, in the American diet. The video script emphasizes that the consumption of soda is driving the prevalence of fatty liver disease due to its high sugar content.

💡Liver Function Tests

Liver function tests are medical tests used to assess the health of the liver. The script discusses how these tests, such as AST and GGT, can be used to detect signs of fatty liver disease, although they may not always indicate the condition unless it is severe.

💡FibroScan

FibroScan is a non-invasive medical test that uses ultrasound technology to measure the degree of liver stiffness, which can indicate the presence and severity of fatty liver disease. The script mentions FibroScan as a more sensitive test for detecting fatty liver compared to standard liver function tests.

💡Inflammation

Inflammation is a biological response to harmful stimuli and is associated with various diseases. In the context of the video, inflammation is a consequence of fatty liver disease, which can lead to further health complications such as insulin resistance, poor cholesterol levels, and an increased risk of other diseases.

💡Detoxifying Foods

Detoxifying foods are those that help the body eliminate toxins and support liver health. The script recommends consuming such foods to help heal the liver and reverse fatty liver disease. Examples given include cruciferous vegetables, garlic, onions, and foods rich in sulfur.

💡Supplements

Supplements are nutrients or other substances that are added to the diet to support health. The video script discusses the importance of certain supplements, such as N-acetylcysteine, lipoic acid, and milk thistle, for their role in liver detoxification and healing in the context of fatty liver disease.

Highlights

Fatty liver disease affects 90 million Americans and is a major risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and dementia.

Fatty liver disease is primarily caused by sugar, specifically fructose, which is different from regular sugar and is absorbed differently by the body.

High fructose corn syrup is a significant contributor to fatty liver disease due to its high fructose content and lack of fiber.

Soda is a major cause of fatty liver disease in America due to its high consumption and sugar content.

Blood tests for liver function may not always indicate fatty liver disease unless it is severe.

More sensitive tests like AST and GGT, as well as fibro scans and MRIs, can detect fatty liver disease and its severity.

Fatty liver disease leads to inflammation, impaired detoxification, and a cascade of health problems including high cholesterol and insulin resistance.

Certain populations, such as Latin Americans, may be genetically more susceptible to fatty liver disease.

Fatty liver disease can occur in children and adolescents, with some cases severe enough to require liver transplants.

Lifestyle changes, diet modifications, and supplements can help reverse fatty liver disease.

Avoiding high fructose corn syrup and reducing starch and sugar intake are crucial steps in preventing and treating fatty liver disease.

Consuming healthy fats, such as MCT oil, avocados, and olive oil, can support liver health.

Exercise can help improve metabolism, reduce insulin resistance, and decrease inflammation, beneficial for liver health.

Supplements like N-acetylcysteine, lipoic acid, and milk thistle can support liver detoxification and healing.

Nutrients such as B vitamins, zinc, selenium, and magnesium are essential for liver repair.

Cruciferous vegetables, garlic, onions, and sulfur-containing foods are liver-supporting superfoods.

Fatty liver disease is entirely preventable and reversible with the right dietary and lifestyle changes.

Transcripts

this is affecting so many people

probably a third of America almost never

diagnosed but killing millions and

millions of people a year now there is a

very common disease out there that you

might never have heard about that

affects so many people 90 million

Americans in fact and it's a major risk

factor for heart disease diabetes cancer

and dementia and lots more and it's

called

fatty liver disease or non-alcoholic

fatty liver disease

now what causes it well in a word sugar

and not just any sugar we're going to

talk about the kinds of sugar so pay

attention because this is an easy thing

to fix but it's deadly and it affects so

many people so we're going to cover how

to find out if you have it what causes

it and how to fix it so what is fatty

liver well essentially you know what it

is because you've probably eaten it as a

foie gras or Pate okay this is actually

uh food that's created by force feeding

ducks or Goose geese whatever

starch they basically it's very sad it's

horrible actually it's cruel but they

take a big pipe they stick it down the

duck's throat and then they force feed

them corn which is basically

carbohydrate which turns to sugar

and that starts this process in the

liver called lipogenesis meaning

production of fat which means the body's

normal response to Sugar we also think

for so many years that fat causes you to

be fat but it's actually not fat that

causes you to be fat it's starch and

sugar and not just any kind of sugar

we're talking about fructose in a minute

and why it's such a unique factor in

fatty liver disease so bad news you

don't want frog raw for a liver I mean

basically foie gras means fatty liver in

French so

um and and the biggest cause in America

guess what is soda soda which is a huge

portion of our calories in America

there are literally billions and

billions and billions of servings of

soda consumed in America each year and

and that's what's driving so much of

this problem

so it's it's it's not just

that it's soda but what's in the soda um

we're going to talk about what's in the

soda and why it's so bad and in a minute

but first I want to tell you how do you

know if you have fatty liver well

sometimes you can get your blood test

when you go to your doctor get your

liver test done but they're typically

going to be normal even if you have a

fatty liver unless it's really really

bad

now there are better tests um and some

tests are more sensitive for fatty liver

for example this is a test called

AST which is a liver test also ggt

another liver test these are even at the

high end of normal or a little high I

would be concerned

I also would say that

there are other tests that are more

sensitive for example a liver skin

there's something called a fibro scan

which looks at the liver like an

ultrasound kind of scan and can tell you

the degree of fatty liver and the fact

um of how bad it is if you have scarring

or not in your liver

you can also do an MRI of your liver

and I've had that done as part of a

total body screening MRI and your liver

fat should be less than two percent mine

was but I see people with liver fats of

20 or more which is quite concerning and

that is the big risk factor of all the

diseases we talked about because it

generates inflammation it prevents you

from detoxifying it makes you have worse

cholesterol it worsens your blood sugar

it worsens your insulin it creates this

whole Cascade of problems it's a

consequence of eating too much starch

and sugar so this Cascade is really

driving in some resistance diabetes

pre-diabetes and basically causes all

this organ fat all around your belly

this belly fat this dangerous belly fat

is what really drives so much of the

heart disease diabetes cancer dementia

that we see today

it'll cause things like high

triglycerides or low HDL it'll cause

small cholesterol particles that you can

see on a special scan called NMR lipids

or cardio IQ from a lab core quests

which routinely do these tests now and

that puts you at high risk for heart

disease certain populations might be

more susceptible to this genetically for

example Latin Americans have much more

risk I I went to a conference on Obesity

and uh

it was enrolled on Obesity in children

and I saw this guy who was a

a GI liver specialist there and I'm like

well why are you here he says well we're

now seeing fatty liver in 12 years old

and they're on the transplant list

because their livers are so scarred from

drinking so much soda for so many years

that's scary to me when a teenager needs

a liver transplant from drinking soda we

have a problem

so

what I would say you know

you don't want a liver transplant and

the good news is the good news is you

can actually fix the problem there

aren't really any medications to fix it

unfortunately but there's a lot of

Lifestyle things a lot of diet things a

lot of supplements

and a lot of foods that can make a huge

difference in fixing fatty liver so it's

not only what you don't eat meaning

start your sugar and high fructose corn

syrup but also what you do eat all the

detoxifying liver supporting foods that

we're going to talk about in a minute

so so what what what food should we

particularly be concerned about well

there's been a lot of research lately

about fructose and fatty liver and

fructose is absorbed differently than

regular sugar it just goes right in and

in high fructose corn syrup the

difference with high fructose corn syrup

unlike for example fruit which has

fructose and glucose but it's all packed

in a fiber Matrix with lots of vitamins

and minerals and lots of phytochemicals

and lots of antioxidants doesn't get

absorbed super quickly

that's okay eat fruit but when you have

a high fructose corn syrup it's free

fructose it's not bound to the uh

glucose molecule because sucrose

basically is sucrose plus as is glucose

plus fructose that that's what sucrose

or table sugar is but when you actually

separate out the fructose and the

sucrose

you end up with this free fructose and

it's often not just at 50 50 with sugar

uh with for example glucose it's maybe

75 fructose and that's when you see

often in sodas or anything with high

fructose corn syrup so if you want to

get rid of fatty liver or avoid it do

not eat anything with high fructose corn

syrup in fact there's one thing you can

do to radically change your life is

avoid every single food product with

high fructose corn syrup just get rid of

it there's no need for it it's super

toxic and it has no health benefits in

fact it has a lot of harms and it's just

a sign of poor quality food so make sure

you get rid of all of that and it's in

everything it's in salad dressing it's

in tomato sauce

um I mean there may be more servings of

high fructose corn syrup in your tomato

sauce for your pasta than there is in

two Oreo cookies so get rid of it no

exceptions 100 if you make one rule

about diet no one's going to argue with

that like nobody whether you're a vegan

or paleo or raw food or low-fat high fat

low carb high carb nobody's going to say

high fructose corn if it's good for you

second is starch

so it kind of doesn't matter what it is

if it's starchy or sugary it's going to

be also a problem remember the Ducks who

were force fed corn foie gras well that

is

a form of starch and it sounds like oh

corn is good what's wrong with corn but

actually even whole grain corn is a

problem whole wheat or whole grain flour

is a problem it's just starch and when

it's broken down like that it's a

problem now if it's in whole kernel

bread like whole curl Rye or whether

it's in you know whole beans or whole

grains not as much of a problem

especially if you eat it with a matrix

of food protein and fat it's mostly

absorbed has fiber in it very different

but but if you eat any of that flowery

starchy Foods it's going to dry fatty

liver and that's what's really what's

really driving this I've written a lot

about this I've written in all my books

the blood sugar Solutions and the detox

diet food what the heck should I eat the

vegan diet I go a lot into all this but

it's basically you know below the neck

your body can't tell the difference

between a bagel and a and a soda so when

you're eating a bagel or having a slice

of bread you think you're doing okay and

you're not and you just you need to

think of it like a treat or a drug I

mean I do I have alcohol yeah rarely

I'll have a drink but I don't have it

every day at every meal which is what we

do in America

also you want to do things that really

help to heal your liver now first is

getting rid of the bad stuff obviously

get a starred sugar processed foods next

is up the good fats fat heals your liver

particularly MCT oil which is a

derivative of coconut oil that can be

very helpful

with avocados olive oil nuts and seeds I

mean even saturated fat from from meat

not a bad problem chicken fish lots of

good oils like macadamia oil and

obviously the omega-3 fats are so

important then they're anti-inflammatory

and they they help heal the liver

exercise also exercise will help your

body fix its metabolism fix the insulin

resistance and reduce inflammation

supplements also super important and I I

really recommend people do the right

supplements for their liver and there's

a bunch of them if you have a fatty

liver you want to focus on these one is

an acetylcysteine this is one that helps

you make glutathione in the in the body

glutathione is one of the most important

detoxifiers and antioxidants in the body

sadly there are government agencies that

are looking at quote turning and

acetylcysteine into a drug and only

available by prescription which would be

a tragedy because it's very safe it's a

supplement but it works so well they're

considering a drug which doesn't make

any sense to me but anyway that's what's

happening but n acetylcysteine super

important lipoic acid another important

antioxidant accident that helps liver

milk thistle also it's a great herb that

you can use to help heal your liver and

there are other ones like dandelion

greens and

artichoke hearts and rosemary spices

curcumin lots of things you can use to

help boost your detox system and of

course you also need all the B vitamins

B12 folate B6 to help zinc selenium

magnesium all help your liver heal and

repair so make sure you get those

nutrients make sure you get the

superfoods the other family of foods I

really love are the Brassica family

these are the broccoli

collards kale arugula Daikon radish all

help garlic and onions and other great

family of foods that contain sulfur

cilantro parsley all these are super

detoxifying so make sure that one you

check for fatty liver if you have a

little bit of belly fat or you died as

high in sugar starch or high fructose

corn syrup there's a pretty high chance

you have it so go get some liver

function tests

check our liver scan

see what's going on and then cut out

this high fructose corn syrup cut out

the starch and sugar dramatically reduce

it eat all the helpful detoxifying Foods

and make sure you take the right

supplements to boost your Pathways for

detoxification and heal your liver

things like lipoic acid and

acetylcysteine

um

milk thistle of course magnesium B

vitamins selenium zinc and also you can

eat all these other superfoods like the

cruciferous vegetables the garlic and

onion family they're super liver

supporters so just remember this is

affecting so many people probably a

third of America almost never diagnosed

but killing millions and millions of

people a year and there's no reason for

it because it's a hundred percent

preventable and a hundred percent

reversible if you love that last video

you're going to love the next one check

it out here people even the smartest

people I know do not connect what they

eat with how they feel it's just

mind-boggling to me and then when you

start to connect the dots think wow this

is powerful so uh you need to customize

what you're doing you need all the the

bad stuff you got