Woman Diagnosed with Liver Disease Shares Dietary Changes to Heal

A woman from Swansea, Wales, has opened up about her experience with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the dietary changes she is implementing in an effort to reverse her condition. Niki Nash, 36, was diagnosed with NAFLD despite consuming very little alcohol, highlighting that the disease is often linked to lifestyle factors rather than alcohol consumption.

NAFLD occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver, affecting approximately one in five individuals in the UK. While commonly associated with obesity and poor diet, it can also affect those who maintain a healthy weight. Nash’s diagnosis has prompted her to take significant steps to restore her liver health, which she shared in a video on her TikTok account, @nikkin1988, on July 30, 2025.

Dietary Changes to Combat Liver Disease

In her video, Nash outlined the specific foods she is eliminating from her diet, focusing on processed foods, high-salt items, and fatty takeaways, including popular chains like McDonald’s. She identified sugar as a significant contributor to her condition, stating she is now committed to cutting it out of her diet “as much as possible.”

Alongside dietary modifications, Nash has incorporated daily exercise into her routine, committing to 30 minutes of activity each day. She expressed confidence that this increase in physical activity would enhance her chances of reversing the disease. Nash also advised others with similar diagnoses to stop smoking, emphasizing the negative impact it has on liver health.

Nash’s final tip was to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables, a recommendation supported by research from Chinese studies, which suggest that such dietary changes can help reverse NAFLD.

Understanding NAFLD and Its Implications

NAFLD often presents with few noticeable symptoms during its early stages. Common signs may include dull or aching pain in the upper right abdomen, extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and weakness. If left untreated, the condition can progress to liver cirrhosis, a severe stage marked by scarring of the liver and potentially life-threatening complications.

Following Nash’s video, numerous social media users shared their experiences with NAFLD. One user commented on their recent diagnosis and attributed their condition to a sedentary lifestyle after transitioning to remote work. Another participant noted their lifestyle changes and expressed hope for their upcoming liver scan after significant weight loss.

Recent studies indicate a troubling trend regarding liver health. Projections suggest that liver cancer cases linked to NAFLD, also referred to as metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASH), are expected to double globally by 2050. The percentage of liver cancers attributed to NAFLD is set to rise from 5% in 2022 to 11% by 2050, as overall new liver cancer cases are forecasted to increase from 870,000 to approximately 1.52 million.

As awareness about liver diseases grows, individuals diagnosed with NAFLD are encouraged to seek further testing to assess the stage of their condition. This may involve liver function tests or specialized imaging techniques, such as a Fibroscan.

With Nash’s proactive approach to managing her health and her willingness to share her journey, she is contributing to a vital conversation about liver disease and the importance of lifestyle choices in treatment and prevention.