Hispanic culture is romantically rooted in ancient myths, grandmother’s remedies, and word of mouth recommendations from our communities. We trust each other. Those bounds of pride and sentiment sometimes cloud the value of scientific proven solutions to treat life-threatening conditions that include nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases now called MASH and MASLD.
MASH stands for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, which is a more severe form of MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease). It involves liver inflammation and can lead to damage in addition to a buildup of fat in your liver. It can lead to serious liver complications if left untreated.
Hispanic People Are MASH’s Easy Target
Hispanic people are at a higher risk for developing MASH. A study conducted by the National Library of Medicine concluded that Hispanic/Latino people have a higher rate of type 2 diabetes and liver fibrosis/cirrhosis in the United States. Diet options, less active lifestyles, and a gene that’s more common among the community all play a big part in these results.
For these reasons, Hispanic people with nonalcoholic liver diseases such as MASH should pay more attention to and trust experts when it comes to proven prevention methods and reversible treatments for this life-threatening disease.
No Shortcuts to MASH Management: Listen to the Experts
Two science-proven roads that prevent and reverse MASH and MASLD are weight loss and exercise. For Hispanic people, who are culturally attached to their traditions and remedies, this could be a challenge. Hispanic people who have MASH and MASLD are asked to unlearn diet options that are deeply rooted in tradition and culture. Weight loss being at the core of success, people might want to skip expert advice and look for shortcuts that better fit their beliefs.
But whether you’re Hispanic, Afro American, White, or Asian, the most proven remedy to improve health conditions under MASH or MASLD is as boring and as it is cliché: a liver-friendly diet and exercise that can aid in weight loss.
The willpower to say goodbye to bad eating habits and add new exercise routines is the only proven solution to improve your life living with MASH and MASLD.
According to the American Liver Foundation, there are four things that you can do to help prevent and manage MASLD and MASH:
Lose weight. This is the best way to combat fat stored in your liver. There are several recommendations to follow successfully:
- Portion control: Reduce the number of calories you consume.
- Healthier eating habits: Eat more legumes, nuts, unprocessed foods, and plant-based ingredients.
- Limiting salt and sugar in your diet: avoid sodas, desserts, frozen foods, sports drinks.
- Exercising more: You’ll lose weight, ease anxiety and depression, and activate your metabolism.
- Bariatric surgery or medication is sometimes recommended by doctors for people living with obesity and MASH who have not been able to lose weight by diet and exercise alone. A medication called resmetirom (Rezdiffra) can help improve moderate to severe liver scarring in adults who have MASH. You take it as part of a treatment program that includes weight loss through a healthy diet and exercise.
Blood sugar control. Diabetes plays a big role in fatty liver disease. Control your blood sugar levels through diet and prescribed medications.
Watch cholesterol levels. If you have high cholesterol, the treatment includes substituting saturated fats to monounsaturated fats (olive, canola, and peanut oils) AND taking cholesterol-lowering medications if prescribed by your doctor that will help keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels where they need to be.
Protect your liver. Only take dietary supplements that are prescribed by a doctor. Certain vitamins and minerals can be harmful to your liver in higher doses. Check with your health care provider before trying any herbal remedies. Just because a product is called “natural,” does not mean it’s safe. It’s also important to get vaccinated for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. If you get hepatitis A or B, along with fatty liver, it’s more likely to lead to liver failure. It’s also very important to limit or avoid alcohol to help protect your liver.
Why Listen to the Experts?
Unless you want to spend hours studying about fructose, polyunsaturated fat, lipids, hepatic decompensation, liver-related morbidity, cirrhosis, and all terms related to liver transplants, your best bet is to trust doctors that did their homework for you and simplified their findings into simple solutions. These can be life changing when it comes to managing MASH and MASLD. They studied the liver for years and have treated enough people to know what will better, even save, your life.
Recap
There are two main solutions to prevent or reverse MASH: A liver-friendly diet and exercise.
Experts can guide you through them so you’re not overwhelmed with medical terms.
Don’t rely on herbal or natural remedies unless approved by your doctor. They may not be safe and the side effects could be damaging for your condition.
In some cases, medications or weight loss surgery may be recommended by your doctor if fast weight loss is needed to repair or save your liver.
Resmetirom (Rezdiffra) is a medication approved by the FDA to treat moderate to advanced liver scarring in adults who have MASH.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: E+/Getty Images
SOURCES:
National Library of Medicine: “Disparate outcomes in Hispanic patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease/steatohepatitis and type 2 diabetes: Large cohort study.”
Joseph Matthew Gosnell, MD, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
George Golovko, PhD, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
Esteban Arroyave, PhD, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
University of Miami Collective: “Which Liver Disease Affects Hispanics Disproportionately?
Ana Veciana-Suarez, contributor to the University of Miami Health System.
American Liver Foundation: “Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Treatment.”
FDA: “FDA Approves First Treatment for Patients with Liver Scarring Due to Fatty Liver Disease.”
