Weight, Blood Sugar & Metabolism
Fatty Liver
Fatty liver (now often called MASLD) happens when excess fat builds up inside liver cells. It often has no obvious symptoms, but the liver is still under strain. Over time, the pattern can progress from simple fat buildup to inflammation (MASH) and eventually scarring or cirrhosis; an end stage, non-reversible liver condition.
Common Symptoms
- Ongoing fatigue or low energy
- A general feeling of being unwell
- Fullness, pressure, or discomfort in the upper right abdomen
- Brain fog or trouble concentrating
- Weakness
- Unexplained weight loss (in later stages)
- Decreased libido, sexual performance
When fatty liver progresses and the liver becomes more stressed, symptoms can become more noticeable and may include:
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Swelling in the abdomen or legs
- Persistent itching
- Dark urine
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Mental confusion (in more advanced cases)
Likely Root Causes and Contributors
- Insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
- Carrying excess weight, especially around the abdomen
- High triglycerides or high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
- Metabolic syndrome
- High blood pressure
- Prediabetes
- Hormone shifts, including menopause
- Thyroid imbalances
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Certain medications, including some steroids and heart or cancer drugs
- Genetics and family history
- Regular alcohol use (in some patterns)
Patient Pain Points We Often Hear
“I have a dull ache or pressure under my right rib cage that comes and goes, but no one explains why.”
“I feel constantly tired and heavy, especially after meals, even when I sleep enough.”
“I am worried this will progress silently into cirrhosis or liver damage without obvious symptoms.”
Our Approach to Healing
How We Map, Treat, and Sustain Real Recovery from Fatty Liver with the LAM Method™
Fatty liver is often a sign that your metabolism and liver workload have been under strain for a long time. At Lam Clinic, our approach to healing uses the three phases of LAM Method™: Learn the Why, Address the Root, Maximize Longevity. Here’s how we use the LAM Method™ to address fatty liver:
Phase 1 of LAM Method™
Learn the Why of Fatty Liver
We start by looking at your full pattern. We review your symptom timeline, meal and energy crashes, cravings, weight distribution (especially belly weight), sleep quality, alcohol and medication history, hormone and thyroid patterns, and any inflammation or sensitivity issues.
In most cases, fatty liver centers on the Bioenergetics Circuit (pancreas–thyroid–liver), because insulin resistance and sluggish energy metabolism often drive fat storage in the liver.
Here are the tests we may use:
- FibroScan and/or abdominal ultrasound (when indicated)
- AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, bilirubin
- Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, Hemoglobin A1c
- Lipid panel (including triglycerides)
- hs-CRP (when indicated)
For more information about specific tests and labs used in fatty liver evaluation, you can explore our full service page.
Phase 2 of LAM Method™
Address the Root of Fatty Liver
- Remove liquid sugar and fructose-heavy drinks: Eliminate soda, sweetened coffee drinks, fruit juice, and energy drinks.
- Build meals around protein and fiber first: Start meals with protein such as eggs, fish, poultry, tofu, or Greek yogurt and add high-fiber foods like vegetables, beans, or lentils.
- Use a simple “no added sugar at home” rule: Avoid foods with added sugars such as sweetened cereals, desserts, candy, and packaged snacks during everyday meals.
- Pause or strictly limit alcohol: Even moderate alcohol intake adds metabolic strain to the liver.
Targeted Supplement Support
Supplements are introduced only when appropriate for your labs, medications, and sensitivity level. We prioritize precision and pacing.
- Glutathione support: It may be considered when oxidative stress is elevated or recovery feels slow.
- Milk thistle (used selectively): It may be appropriate when liver enzymes are elevated or additional liver support is needed.
- Cannaplex E (used selectively): Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which is instrumental in fatty acid clearance in the liver. When used in the right population vitamin E has been validated in reversing fatty liver.
IV Therapies
For patients who require additional support, we may incorporate:
- IV Nutrient Therapy
Delivers key vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants directly into the bloodstream to help correct deficiencies and support mitochondrial energy production when gut absorption is impaired. Glutathione IV is important in reversing fatty liver disease. - IV Ozone Autohemotherapy
Ozone-treated blood is reinfused to help modulate immune activity, support mitochondrial function, and reduce inflammatory stress that contributes to fatty liver disease.
These therapies may be used in select cases to support fatty liver by helping address common underlying issues such as oxidative stress, inflammation, metabolic strain, and nutrient depletion.
When appropriate, they can complement a broader plan aimed at improving insulin sensitivity, lowering liver workload, and supporting healthier liver function.
This information is educational, not a prescription. Your actual plan is always individualized, adjusted slowly, and refined based on how your body responds.
Phase 3 of LAM Method™
Maximize Longevity
As your markers stabilize, we shift to long-term protection:
- A routine you can maintain during travel, busy seasons, and stress spikes
- Clear retesting milestones to track progress and guide next steps
- A prevention-forward plan to reduce risk of progression to more inflammatory stages
NEM Response Circuits
How Your Body Regulate Stress
Your body handles stress through six interconnected circuits. When even one is out of balance, symptoms can show up in your heart, hormones, energy, and more.
Top Articles
Expert Insights on Fatty Liver
A Guide to Fatty Liver Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Manage It
Read moreHow to Reverse Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Read moreHow Can Fatty Liver Be Reversed? The Best Foods and Lifestyle Changes
Read moreHow To Improve Your Health and Fight Fatty Liver
Read moreFrom Drinking to Damage: How Alcohol Damages the Liver Over Time
Read moreReady to Start Feeling Better? Let’s figure this out—together.
Take the QuizFrequently Asked Questions
Can Lam Clinic help with fatty liver?
Yes. Lam Clinic helps with fatty liver by using the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response to find what’s driving liver fat and strain. We assess key circuits, choose helpful testing, and build a paced plan for nutrition, movement, sleep, stress support, and supplements. The goal is steady, sustainable improvement over time.
What is the best diet for fatty liver?
Most people do best with a Mediterranean-style pattern that is high in vegetables, fiber, and healthy fats, and lower in added sugar, sugary drinks, refined carbs, and fried foods. The “best” diet is the one you can sustain and that improves your liver enzymes, insulin resistance markers, and triglycerides over time.
What are the types of steatotic (fatty) liver disease?
Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is an umbrella term for fat buildup in the liver. Common subtypes include MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated), MASH (the more inflammatory form), ALD (alcohol-related), and MetALD (a mix of metabolic and higher alcohol intake).
What is MASH, and how is it different from MASLD?
MASLD generally refers to liver fat linked to metabolic risk factors, often without significant inflammation. MASH is the more advanced pattern where fat buildup is paired with inflammation and liver cell injury, which can increase scarring risk.
Should I avoid alcohol if I have fatty liver?
In most cases, reducing or avoiding alcohol helps lower liver strain and supports recovery. We personalize this based on your pattern, risk factors, and lab trends.
Do you offer virtual visits and where are you located?
Yes. We offer secure telehealth visits worldwide and in-person care at our clinic in Tustin, California. We proudly serve patients across Orange County including Irvine, Santa Ana, Orange, Costa Mesa, and Anaheim, as well as individuals throughout the United States and internationally who want personalized fatty liver and NEM stress response care from the comfort of home.
The Lam Family has helped thousands recover from fatigue and stress for years.
Using advanced diagnostics and whole-body care, the Lam family looks beyond routine labs to uncover the real reasons behind fatigue—like adrenal stress, hormone imbalance, and nutrient depletion. Then, they create a personalized plan to help you heal fully and feel like yourself again.
The Pioneer of Root-Cause Healing & Whole Person Care
Before adrenal fatigue was widely understood, Dr. Michael Lam, M.D. led the way—developing one of the first clinical approaches to diagnose and treat it. His bestselling book, Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, became a lifeline for patients around the world. Today, his children—Dr. Carrie Lam and Dr. Jeremy Lam—carry that legacy forward, building on his foundation with advanced diagnostics and whole-person care for lasting recovery.
Become a Patient Today
Integrative & Functional Medicine, Wherever You Are.
Visit us in Tustin or Mission Viejo, or connect with our team virtually.
In-Person Care
Healing that happens face-to-face. Visit our Southern California clinic for in-depth diagnostics, IV therapy, and hands-on care from doctors who know your name and story. Every visit is personalized, calm, and focused on helping you feel better—faster.
Virtual Care
Root-cause care, wherever you are. Connect with our team from anywhere in the world. Our virtual consultations bring the same expertise, lab testing access, and personalized healing plans—without leaving home.