Millions of people around the world are dealing with fatty liver disease, and it’s a condition that often creeps up without any warning signs. You don’t even need to be overweight to have it. It can affect kids, teens, and adults alike. Some common risk factors include carrying extra weight, having high levels of triglycerides or LDL cholesterol, dealing with diabetes or pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, and eating a lot of processed foods – you know, the stuff in boxes and bags that fills the middle aisles of the grocery store, like white bread and sugary cereals.
Our livers are incredibly busy organs, doing all sorts of jobs to keep us healthy. They filter our blood, making sure it stays clean. They produce bile, which is super important for breaking down fats in our small intestine. They also get rid of things like bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and even drugs. Plus, they handle the metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbs, store glycogen for energy, and hold onto vitamins and minerals. They even make important proteins like albumin and clotting factors.