A Fatty Liver is Dangerous for Our Health
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) has become a major epidemic in this country.
If you or someone you know has a protruding or big belly, then there is a high probability that one may have a liver full of fat. Even individuals with a flat belly can have a fatty liver if they have inadequate muscle mass, toxic exposure, and poor blood sugar balance.
Having a Fatty Liver is dangerous because the inflammatory fats are packed around the liver and other vital organs like the intestine, spleen, and kidney, spurning more and more inflammation. A Fatty Liver can pave the path to liver cirrhosis and ultimately physical demise. However, the more likely scenario will be the development of Diabetes, heart attack, or stroke.
Fatty Liver is caused when large amounts of simple carbohydrates are consumed. Simple carbohydrates include sodas, fruit juice, crackers, pastries, most chips, white and brown rice, and white and whole wheat products. These simple carbs get converted into glucose. Glucose is a sugar that your body uses for fuel.
As the glucose levels rise in the bloodstream, so does insulin. The role of insulin is to open doors along the blood vessel walls which causes the glucose to exit the bloodstream and enter into the vital organs and the muscles to be used for fuel.
When simple carbohydrates are consumed, glucose gets built up in our bloodstream to excessive levels. The excess glucose gets converted and stored as fat, particularly in the liver. This is very dangerous for our health as stated earlier. Once the liver becomes inundated with fat, the next place for the fat to lodge is in the belly, thighs, back, arms, and face!
In a study conducted in 2012 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, participants consumed 1000 extra calories per day of simple carbohydrates over the course of 21 days. After three weeks, they increased their body weight by 2%. So, for a 200-pound person, that is about 4 pounds gained in three weeks! The most strikingly significant statistical change observed was a staggering 27% increase in liver fat.
In contrast, another study reported in the British Journal of Radiology explored the effects of a very low carbohydrate diet. The study participants consumed fewer than 20 grams of carbohydrates, primarily derived from leafy greens and vegetables. It is highly likely that they abstained from bread and grains, as a single slice of bread contains about 20 grams of carbohydrates, while a cup of rice is about 50 grams. Remarkably, these participants experienced a statistically significant reduction in liver fat by the tenth day of the study.
These studies have illuminated a remarkable fact, that within a span of 10 to 21 days, we possess the power to significantly alter the health of our liver in a negative or positive way. In just 21 days of consuming an additional 1000 calories of carbohydrates per day, we can witness a 27% increase in liver fat. Conversely, by embracing a lower carbohydrate diet, there can be a notable reduction in liver fat by the tenth day.
We now have a choice. Will you go down a treacherous road leading to further complications, or will you opt for a path that nourishes your liver and promotes well-being? I implore you to choose wisely. May you be blessed with good health, long life, and vitality.
References:
doi: 10.1259/bjr/23166141
doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.01.005
doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.038695