FATTY LIVER: Dr. Stengler on the Root Cause and Natural Treatment

Dr. Stengler: Do you know what the number one cause of fatty liver disease is? Are you thinking alcohol? Prescription drugs? No — neither of those. In this video, I'm going to get into the number one cause of fatty liver disease, a very common problem in America and around the world.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 30% of American adults have liver disease, and many of these patients have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease — meaning their fatty liver has nothing to do with alcohol consumption. In fact, in the western world, the most common cause of a fatty liver is insulin resistance.

With non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, there's a buildup of fat in the liver, and there may be no symptoms at all. Some people experience general fatigue, right upper abdominal discomfort, digestive symptoms like gas, bloating, or constipation — but many people have no symptoms whatsoever. It's often discovered when a doctor runs screening tests and finds elevated liver enzymes, followed by an abdominal ultrasound that reveals the fatty liver.

So what's driving this? The root cause is insulin resistance. When you consume refined carbohydrates, your blood sugar rises. Your body responds by releasing insulin from the pancreas to bring that blood sugar into the cells — which is a normal and necessary process. However, when insulin levels are spiking too frequently and staying elevated for too long, it leads to fat deposition in the liver. Depending on the study, 50 to 70% of Americans have some degree of insulin resistance, and about 50% of adults have pre-diabetes. It's no wonder we're seeing an epidemic of fatty liver disease. People are consuming refined carbohydrates, spiking their insulin levels, and depositing fat not just in the abdomen and hips, but in the liver — which over time compromises liver function and can be very serious.

The best way to address non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is through a diet with healthy carbohydrates, healthy proteins, and healthy fats. The Mediterranean diet has been specifically studied for this and shown to be very effective in both preventing and treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It emphasizes quality proteins like fish, nuts, and seeds; healthy fats from olive oil and fish; fiber from fruits, vegetables, and legumes; and healthier carbohydrates. For American patients, I recommend moving toward quinoa, buckwheat, and some brown rice instead of traditional breads and pastas, which function essentially as simple sugars in the body.

Green tea extract can also help. In fact, one study showed that participants who followed a Mediterranean diet combined with three to four cups of green tea per day and a plant called mankai reduced their liver fat by an astounding 39% over 18 months.

For patients with fatty liver, I also like to use supplements — liver-supportive herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root, and artichoke extract, as well as glutathione, which assists the liver in detoxification and helps clear the toxins that stress the liver cells.

So if you have or suspect you have fatty liver disease, get tested by your doctor. And then be proactive: adopt a Mediterranean-style diet, incorporate green tea, consider mankai and the supplements I mentioned, and lose weight in a healthy way. Over 12 to 18 months, you can substantially reduce fatty liver — which will not only make you feel better, but will add years to your life.

Now you know the number one cause of fatty liver disease in America. It's not alcohol. It's not medications. It's refined carbohydrates spiking blood sugar and insulin levels and causing fat deposition in the liver. For more videos on nutritional and integrative medicine, visit my YouTube channel.

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