Pay Attention to Gut Health: It Also Affects Your Mood
Today, I want to talk about the surprising yet equally important connection between fatty liver and chronic kidney disease (CKD), two of the most common health problems of the modern age. While many of us think of these two conditions as separate organ diseases, they are actually deeply interconnected. And at the center of this relationship lies something far more significant than we might assume: our gut flora! As Dr. Hüseyin Nazlıkul, I want to simplify this complex subject for you and explain the tremendous impact our gut health has on our overall bodily health, along with our approach to solutions.
WHAT IS NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD) AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
As the name suggests, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the accumulation of fat in the liver that is not related to alcohol consumption. In today's world, it has become an increasingly common problem, particularly due to a Western-style diet and sedentary lifestyle. It generally progresses silently without symptoms and can, over time, lead to inflammation of the liver (NASH), cirrhosis, and even liver failure.
So why does this fatty buildup occur? The scientific world continues to advance with new findings on this subject. One of the most important triggers is insulin resistance in our body. Insulin resistance is a condition in which our cells fail to respond properly to insulin. As a result, our blood sugar rises, and the pancreas produces more insulin. Excess insulin increases fat storage in the liver. The scientific article you uploaded (Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 6962) also highlights how lipid accumulation (fatty buildup) and insulin resistance form the bridge between MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, formerly known as NAFLD) and Chronic Kidney Disease.
THE HIDDEN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE KIDNEYS AND LIVER
The liver and kidneys are two of our body's most important "detox" organs. They are responsible for filtering the blood, eliminating harmful substances, and maintaining the body's balance. In people with NAFLD, this fatty buildup and inflammation in the liver is not limited to the liver alone. It creates a state of general inflammation in the body, and this inflammation can also negatively affect other organs, particularly the kidneys.
Studies clearly show that NAFLD increases the risk of developing CKD and accelerates the progression of CKD. Behind this connection lie complex mechanisms such as insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and altered metabolic pathways. In other words, a problem in your liver can be a sign that your kidneys are also at risk.
THE KEY ROLE OF THE GUT FLORA: EVERYTHING BEGINS THERE
So how does the gut flora lie at the center of the relationship between these two organs? This is the key point!
The gut flora is an ecosystem made up of trillions of microorganisms living in our intestines. These microbes play a role in many vital functions, from digestion to vitamin production, from regulating the immune system to affecting mood.
Factors such as modern lifestyle, poor diet (processed foods, sugary products), antibiotic use, and stress can disrupt the balance of our gut flora. We call this condition dysbiosis. Dysbiosis can increase the permeability of the intestinal barrier (the intestinal wall), leading to "leaky gut" syndrome.
In leaky gut, toxins, bacterial products, and undigested food particles that would normally remain inside the intestine leak into the bloodstream. This leakage triggers a widespread inflammatory reaction in the body. This chronic inflammation both increases fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver (NAFLD) and negatively affects the kidneys, paving the way for the development and progression of CKD.
In summary: disrupted gut flora → increased intestinal permeability → systemic inflammation in the body → fatty liver and kidney damage. This chain reaction clearly demonstrates just how central a role our gut health plays.
THE DIFFERENCE WITH NEURAL THERAPY AND REGULATION MEDICINE: A HOLISTIC APPROACH
For us, every part of the body is interconnected. In chronic diseases such as fatty liver or kidney problems, rather than focusing solely on the organs, it is essential to find the underlying root causes and support the body's own self-healing mechanisms. This is where neural therapy and regulation medicine come into play.
Neural therapy is a treatment method that aims to regulate the body's electrical and energetic balance. It is particularly effective in restoring the functional integrity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the enteric nervous system (the intestines' own nervous system). Chronic inflammation and dysbiosis in the intestines can disrupt ANS balance, causing us to remain stuck in "fight or flight" mode. Neural therapy can help correct this imbalance, allowing the body to shift into "rest and repair" mode, thereby helping the intestinal wall heal, the gut flora rebalance, and consequently reducing the burden on the liver and kidneys.
In cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), regulating the autonomic nervous system through neural therapy and healing the intestinal barrier can provide significant benefits in reducing the metabolic burden on the liver and reversing fatty buildup. Similarly, this approach also contributes to protecting the kidneys and improving overall health.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOURSELF
- Review Your Diet: Reduce processed foods, refined sugars, unhealthy fats (trans fats), and excessive carbohydrate consumption. Turn toward plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains (if you don't have gluten sensitivity), and healthy protein sources. Add gut-friendly, fermented foods (homemade pickles, kefir, yogurt) to your diet.
- Stay Active: Regular physical activity reduces insulin resistance and improves overall metabolic health.
- Manage Stress: Stress negatively affects gut health and the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Incorporate stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, and walks in nature into your life.
- Pay Attention to Your Sleep Pattern: Quality sleep is essential for the body to renew and repair itself.
- Seek Expert Support: If you're experiencing fatty liver or kidney problems, be sure to see a doctor. Support from a physician who embraces holistic medicine approaches will guide you in creating a personalized treatment plan and taking steps toward a healthy life.
Remember, your body is a whole, and every organ works in harmony with the others. Our gut health is the conductor of this orchestra. Taking good care of it means taking good care of our entire body. Focusing on your intestines and autonomic nervous system is one of the most valuable steps you can take to protect against and recover from chronic problems such as fatty liver and kidney disease. It's never too late for a healthy life!
You can learn more about neural therapy and Hüseyin Nazlıkul's other treatment methods here.