I am considering the Atkins plan and have some questions. First, I can understand the low-carb reasoning, but why must it must be coupled with high fat and protein? I have high readings of ggt liver enzyme which after tests my Dr. concluded I have "fatty liver". Would a diet high in protein do more damage to my liver?

I have been reading the book "Life Without Bread" and I would say based on that, YES!!!!!
If you can, get the book and read it.

There has never been a study showing liver damage from this woe. Further there has never even been one case of liver damage attributed to this program. Fatty liver is a byproduct of obesity and/or excessive alcohol use, and is cured by weigh loss or not drinking.
The answer is no it won't hurt you, it will more likely be the most effective way for you to lose weight, solving the problem. DLB

Hi Psness,

My husband was also diagnosed with fatty liver a few years ago. His liver enzymes were elevated but was negative for hepatitis. He had to get a liver biopsy to finally get a diagnosis. He weighed about 220 at the time and was told to lose weight. He eventually went on atkins and went to 180 lbs. Repeat liver enzymes went to normal ranges. Because I'm a med tech and work at a lab it was easy for me to track his progress. The one thing that was a problem for him (and still is actually) was consuming meals very high in fat. He would get horrible side pains to the point we almost went to the ER assuming he had appendicitis! The protein never bothered him. So he had to do a modified Atkins. He ate mostly chicken and lower fat fish and not more than one serving of beef a week. The other thing the biopsy showed was that he had 4+ iron granules present in his liver. I ran a ferritin level and it was 350 (very high). He had to give multiple blood donations to get it back down to normal ranges. So he was concerned about eating a lot of iron rich meat. Losing weight basically solved his problem. Now he just has to endure me teasing him about having had a liver that would have made great pate! Hope this helps!-Holly

My husband and I have lowered our liver enzymes and triglycerides and all the negative stuff on the Atkins plan.

Anyone have any more information about higher fat and fatty liver???

Carbs are associated with fatty liver disease:

http://www.childrenshospital.org/ne...ublevel341.html

http://www.everydayhealth.com/diges...atty-liver.aspx

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/83167.php

To fatten the liver of a duck, for frois gras ( sp ? ) the duck is forced fed corn.

The best way to treat fatty liver disease is with the same diet that treats diabetes. What could that diet possibly be?

http://www.gastro.com/Gastro/liverd...y_liver.aspx#a6

Foie gras - force feeding ducks is babarious and cruel. I hope that all countries will start banning this 'delicacy'. There are numerous petitions on-line which, if you feel strongly about this issue, you can sign :

http://www.stopgavage.com/en/index.php

http://www.nofoiegras.org/

You are right about that.

I disagree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABeWlY0KFv8
http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-02...e-gras-torture/

[QUOTE=Nancy LC]I disagree.

QUOTE]

+1

First, geese, ducks and other water fowl gorge in the fall, in order to store fat to last them through the winter. They do this to themselves, and the liver stores the fat without taking permanent damage. If the birds are not killed (i.e. wild geese) they lose the fat and the liver goes back to normal size. Farmers have gotten birds to fatten their own liver to foie gras proportions just by giving them feed that they really really (really!) like, and they gorge like nobody's business.

Second, they don't have a gag reflex. It's all too easy for us humans to anthropomorphise (="humanify") animals, and assume they feel *exactly* the same as us in a given situation. The tube going down, the volume of high-calorie food, none of it makes the bird gag, or feel like throwing up. it's also over quickly. Apparently the birds may run *toward* the gaveur, eager for their "fill". Force-feeding a human is literally torture.

There are horrible examples of gavage, where the birds are kept in cages too small to move at all, because that makes the liver grow even faster, but it can in fact be done humanely.

I think it's important to see both sides of almost any issue.

But the point is...they get their fatty liver from carbs not fat.

Atkins is not really a 'high protein' way of eating but a high fat/medium protein/low carb one.

(Edited to correct the typo Lisa noticed!!!)
Must be my old timer's disease kicking in

Elizellen--I know this was just a typo Low fat?

Atkins=adequate protein, higher fat.

Excessive carbohydrate intake, HFCS, excessive alcohol consumption, liver pathology such as hepatitis=fatty liver.

Fats do not cause fatty liver disease.

Decrease in carbohydrate consumption and losing weight will improve/resolve fatty liver if there is no other underlying pathophysiology.

Black has some exellent links. I would take a gander at these to help put your mind at ease.

Progress not perfection.

Lisa

Thanks for spotting my typo, Lisa