At Mercola.com, Dr. Joseph Mercola discusses fatty liver disease, which affects 4 in 10 American adults. He notes that research has shown that eating inulin-rich foods like onions, garlic, and leeks can help “your gut bacteria ‘consume’ harmful sugars before they can damage your liver.” He writes:

Fatty liver disease now affects 38% of adults in the United States — a statistic that has increased by 50% in the past 30 years.1 This condition, characterized by the buildup of fat in liver cells, often progresses silently, with many people not realizing they have until they start experiencing symptoms like fatigue, abdominal discomfort, or abnormal liver enzyme levels. When left unaddressed, fatty liver disease can advance to inflammation, fibrosis, and even cirrhosis.

Centuries ago, people naturally ate foods that unknowingly protected their liver health. Garlic, onions, and leeks were common staples in traditional diets across Europe and Asia, prized not just for flavor but for how they “kept the body clean.” Modern science now confirms that these vegetables do much more than aid digestion. They actively train your gut microbes to handle sugar differently, reducing the metabolic load on your liver. And this benefit comes from a natural fiber called inulin.

Read more here.