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Q:

I have type 2 diabetes, and my doctor told me I’m at risk for developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. She advised losing weight and exercising, which I’ve started to do, but are there other ways to lower my risk even more?

A:

Yes! Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease in the U.S., and more than 80% of women over 45 have it. It occurs when too much fat is stored in the liver, and folks who carry extra pounds or have high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome or diabetes are at higher risk. Managing your weight is the best way to reduce this risk, but I can offer a few other suggestions that may help.

First, I advise supplementing with choline. The nutrient helps break down excess fat in the liver, and taking 425 mg. daily helped as many as 80% of women reverse fatty liver disease in a study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Also smart: consuming choline-rich foods like eggs, meat and cruciferous veggies (think broccoli and kale), which contain indole, a compound that researchers at Texas A&M University found shrinks the fat in liver cells by 30%.

Taking probiotics and eating guthealthy foods, like yogurt and garlic, may also help. Having a healthy balance of gut bacteria is known to reduce inflammation in and around the liver. In fact, researchers at Drexel University in Philadelphia found that folks who took probiotics had significant improvements in liver function.

To ensure you haven’t developed NAFLD, you can ask your doctor to test your liver enzymes. If they’re in the normal range, repeat the test yearly. Most people with NAFLD don’t have symptoms, but if you start to experience unexplained fatigue, pain or sudden, dramatic weight loss, tell your doctor.