Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): What really causes it and how to fix it

Fatty liver disease is the kind of public health crisis that only a few would be able to escape from. Nearly 38% of adults are now estimated to have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), based on a systematic review published in the Journal of Hepatology.

Fatty liver diagnosis, as most of us think, is simply the accumulation of fat in the liver, but to our surprise, it is more than simple fat buildup. Dr. Robert DeBease, a functional medicine expert, says that it's more complicated than that. In his opinion, a fatty liver issue is more of a matter of what's going on with the nutrients within your body, and specifically points to copper, vitamin A, and even the sugar in fruit.

Fat is not the only culprit

First, let's reconsider the simple concept of fatty liver. Dr. DeBease explains that having this condition isn't so much about fat. Rather, "hidden triggers," and these are copper, vitamin A, and fruit sugar (fructose). The liver, is the toxin filtering organ, and its key responsibility is to keep the iron out of the liver and into the blood, thereby keeping the body in motion.

This is where it gets confusing. If you don't have adequate copper or vitamin A, that iron becomes held back in the liver. Visualize the iron as a truckload that can't depart the warehouse. This inventory begins to destroy liver cells and makes fat start to accumulate. So, in supporting your liver, it's not merely about consuming less fat—it's about aiding this iron-shuttling process to function properly.

This is where fructose comes into play

Second, there's sugar found in fruits, known as fructose. One might think fruits are healthy all the time, but Dr. DeBease shares a cautionary note for those with fatty liver.He advises eliminating fruit totally from the regimen and the reason being is that fructose is primary is metabolised by the liver and that metabolism uses a ton of energy. If we consume excess fructose, the liver becomes overloaded and begins to "burn out." The liver cells are damaged over time, particularly if copper and vitamin A levels are already low in the body. This creates a persistent problem, perpetuating the cycle of fatty liver disease

Dr. DeBease recommends not only reducing carbs overall, but avoiding sugars from fruit particularly. For a person with fatty liver, fruit doesn't appear as harmless as it does.

There's one more level here. Copper and vitamin A collaborate inside the body in much the same way that our actions and mind does. They assist in transferring iron from the liver to the blood. If there's not enough of these nutrients, that entire system collapses. Iron becomes stuck, and as a consequence, liver cells are injured and fat starts accumulating.

To overcome this, Dr. DeBease suggests consuming foods that are high in copper and vitamin A. Carrots, sweet potato, kale, eggs, and pumpkin, he calls it nature's best food sources!

What can we do differently to avoid this disease

Dr. DeBease's action plan for patients with fatty liver is quite articulate, and it consists of four key steps:

Eliminate all fruits from your diet, not just high-sugar ones.

• Reduce the overall consumption of carbohydrates.
• Shed light on quality proteins and good fats.
• Include nutrient-dense organ meats such as liver in your weekly diet.

He believes these changes help reduce the iron backlog in the liver, replace nutrients you’re missing, and give your liver a way to repair itself and clear out the excess fat.

Connections to stress hormones

What's also interesting is how he relates liver function to the adrenal glands, which are a major player in managing stress. If the liver is not in good health, it will overload your adrenal glands because the liver turns cortisol on and off, which is the hormone that assists you in coping with stress. When the adrenal system of the body becomes overburdened from compromised liver function, one can experience even more issues in the body.

To tie this all together, in the end, Dr. Robert DeBease's theory makes us look at fatty liver disease differently. It's not merely about the visible fat, but also about underlying nutritional imbalances and metabolic stressors. He makes individuals pull out fruit, consume fewer carbs, opt for nutrient-dense animal proteins, and replenish copper and vitamin A with whole foods. His approach is more about providing the body with what it requires in order to eliminate iron, facilitate repairs naturally, and restore balance to the liver. Ultimately, his perspective shifts the focus from restrictive dieting to genuine nourishment—empowering the body to heal through balance, proper mineral intake, and metabolic harmony rather than through deprivation or aggressive medical interventions.

So, if one is dealing with fatty liver, now is the time to look far beyond from standard diet and health tips, instead support the body from the inside out, ensure that it has all the right nutrients in appropriate amounts. Avoiding the culprits for far too long can silently damage the liver and the body alike, see the bigger picture here, according to Dr. DeBease, a healthier and a more resilient liver and a stronger and balanced body overall.

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Before adopting any advice, consult with another medical professional as well.