What No One Tells You About Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

What No One Tells You About Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

When we think of liver problems, the first thing that often comes to mind is alcohol. But what if I told you that even if you’ve never had a drink in your life, your liver might still be struggling? That’s the reality of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)-and it’s on the rise in India.

For years, I’ve seen clients who are not overweight, who exercise, and who eat what they believe is a fairly balanced diet-yet they come in with symptoms like fatigue, bloating, hormonal imbalances, or high cholesterol. Many of them are shocked to discover their liver is inflamed or fatty.

The truth is: NAFLD can affect anyone, not just those with obesity or poor lifestyle habits. And in women, especially those dealing with PCOS, insulin resistance, or thyroid issues, it’s becoming increasingly common-even in those who look thin on the outside.

What Is NAFLD?

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is exactly what it sounds like: fat accumulation in the liver that is not caused by alcohol consumption. Over time, this fat build-up can lead to inflammation (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH), scarring (fibrosis), and in severe cases, liver failure.

NAFLD has become the most common liver disorder globally, and India is leading the pack in Asia. According to a 2023 study by the Indian National Association for the Study of the Liver (INASL), nearly 38% of Indians may have NAFLD, many of them undiagnosed.

Why This Is Not Just a “Liver Problem”

Your liver is your body’s detoxification powerhouse. It filters everything you eat, breathe, and absorb through your skin. A sluggish or fatty liver slows down your body’s ability to metabolise fats, hormones, toxins, and even your emotions (in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is the seat of repressed anger).

When the liver is compromised, it can lead to:

• Weight gain (especially around the belly)
• Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
• High cholesterol and triglycerides
• Skin issues (acne, pigmentation)
• Hormonal imbalances (PMS, PCOS, thyroid issues)
• Brain fog and fatigue
• Digestive problems

Early Signs You Might Miss

The challenge with NAFLD is that it’s often silent in the early stages. Many people don’t realise they have it until it shows up in a routine ultrasound or blood work. That’s why I always encourage people to pay attention to the small signs:

• Constant fatigue despite sleeping well
• Bloating and heaviness after meals
• Sugar cravings
• Skin darkening around the neck or armpits (a sign of insulin resistance)
• Mild right upper abdominal discomfort
• Elevated liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT) in blood tests

If you’re experiencing any of these, it’s time to listen to your liver.

Why It’s Showing Up in Thin Women Too

This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of NAFLD. We often associate fatty liver with obesity, but I’ve had several thin women come to me with full-blown fatty liver. Why?

Here’s what I’ve seen:

• Skinny fat syndrome: A person may be thin but has poor muscle mass and high visceral fat.
• High sugar diets: Excessive fruit, juices, sweetened yogurts, energy bars, and processed foods
• Overuse of medications, including painkillers, oral contraceptives, or synthetic supplements.
• Erratic eating patterns, skipping meals, or fasting too often without real nourishment.
• Underlying PCOS or thyroid dysfunction

Fatty liver isn’t just about how much fat is in your body. It’s about how your body processes and stores that fat, which is deeply tied to your gut, hormones, and diet.

How Is It Diagnosed?

If you suspect NAFLD, a few common ways it can be identified include:

• Liver function tests: Elevated SGOT, SGPT, GGT levels
• Ultrasound: Shows liver texture and fat accumulation
• FibroScan or MRI (in advanced cases)
• Cholesterol and insulin resistance markers

But even before these tests, I look at your face, skin, tongue, and nails. Facial diagnosis often shows a greeny-yellow tint on the face, puffiness under the eyes, or a line across the forehead (liver zone).

The Role of Gut Health

The gut and liver are inseparable in the healing process. When your gut is inflamed or leaking (a condition known as leaky gut), toxins from food and bad bacteria enter the bloodstream and reach the liver-adding to its already heavy workload.

So, to heal the liver, we must first heal the gut.

My Macrobiotic Approach to Healing NAFLD

I work with clients using a gut-first, liver-supportive diet that is deeply rooted in macrobiotic principles. Here’s what that includes:

1. Remove Liver-Offending Foods

• Refined sugar and flour
• Dairy and processed meats
• Alcohol, coffee, and fizzy drinks
• Packaged snacks and synthetic protein powders

2. Add Liver-Loving Foods

• Leafy greens (especially bitter ones like methi, karela, coriander)
• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower)
• Seaweed and mung beans for detox
• Turmeric, ginger, and amla for inflammation
• Whole grains like brown rice, millets, amaranth
• Homemade kanji, miso soup, or fermented vegetables to support gut flora

3. Balance Meals With Correct Cooking Styles

• Avoid dry, over-fried preparations.
• Focus on steaming, stewing, light sauteing.
• Soups and warm bowls are easier on the liver.

4. Emotional Cleansing

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is linked to anger, frustration, and suppressed emotions. Emotional detox is part of physical detox. Journaling, meditation, breathwork, or simply walking in nature can help clear that emotional backlog.

5. Gentle Movement

Heavy workouts may be too taxing. I recommend:

• 30 minutes of walking
• Gentle yoga
• Qigong or tai chi

What You Can Start Today

• Begin your day with warm water + lemon + turmeric
• Eat 3 regular meals, no skipping
• Avoid eating post 8 PM
• Add one bitter vegetable daily to your plate
• Drink cumin-coriander-fennel tea for gentle detox
• Stay hydrated with herbal infusions (no sugary drinks)

NAFLD is a silent epidemic, and it’s hitting women harder than we realise. But the good news is: it is reversible when caught early.

With the right food, cooking techniques, and lifestyle support, you can cleanse your liver, heal your gut, and restore balance to your hormones and metabolism.

If you’ve been told you have fatty liver, or if the signs are there and you don’t know where to start, I’m here to help.

Through my personalised programs, I look at you as a whole person—your constitution, your condition, your story. And together, we build a path that is not just about removing fat from your liver but bringing your entire body back into balance.

Because healing doesn’t start with fear. It starts with food.