The occurrence of lifestyle-related diseases such as fatty liver, have dramatically risen, not just in the developed world, but in the third world as well. Most often, cases of fatty liver go untreated, and if it does not get prompt medical attention, it could lead to more serious conditions such as jaundice, hepatitis and ultimately liver failure. The disease often attacks overweight individuals, and was also associated with excessive alcohol consumption. Today however, even non-alcoholic drinkers can get it too.
What Causes Fatty Liver?
There are many reasons why people develop a “fatty liver”. A healthy liver should harbor, or contain little or no fat. However, our poor diet choices lead us to excessively consume too much alcohol, fat, sugar and other toxins. The onset of conditions like diabetes can also lead to the buildup of fat deposits in the liver, as well as the wrong intake of prescription drugs and intravenous delivery of food.
There are many reasons why people develop a “fatty liver”. A healthy liver should harbor, or contain little or no fat. However, our poor diet choices lead us to excessively consume too much alcohol, fat, sugar and other toxins. The onset of conditions like diabetes can also lead to the buildup of fat deposits in the liver, as well as the wrong intake of prescription drugs and intravenous delivery of food.
What Options Are Available For Fatty Liver Sufferers?
There are a number of effective options for sufferers of fatty liver disease. Let’s list down a few of them.
There are a number of effective options for sufferers of fatty liver disease. Let’s list down a few of them.
- Significant Modifications in Diet. What you eat can clog your liver, literally. To prevent this from happening, make sure you reduce your intake of carbohydrate-rich foods such as pasta, noodles, cakes, biscuits, desserts, breakfast cereals and table sugar.
- Consume whole grains such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice, legumes, and avoid eating fried, processed foods, as well as junk foods like chips.
- Avoid mayonnaise and margarine, or full-cream milk and switch to low-fat milk products. Also make sure you steer clear of artificial sweeteners.
- Cut down your intake of red meats like beef, mutton and pork. Instead, go for lean meats like turkey, chicken and fish.
- Avoid drinking alcohol as much as possible, and ensure that you regularly keep your cholesterol levels in check.
- Make it a habit to exercise regularly (3-5 times a week), and maintain your weight to desired levels. Reduce abdominal fat by munching on smaller meals, and walk or jog each morning, as well as incorporate yoga and meditation to your regular relaxation routines.
- Another novel way for preventing fatty liver disease is by drinking a glass of red wine each day. According to a study conducted by health researchers at the University of California-San Diego, drinking a glass of red wine each day can help decrease the chances of getting fatty liver. In contrast, those who drank 12 ounces of beer or one ounce of liquor per week had four times the chances of ending up with fatty liver. So before you friends start tempting you with a cold bottle of beer, or a sparkling glass filled with tequila, think of what these can do to your liver. Now, would you prefer a bottle of wine, over a case of ice-cold beer from now on?
The liver weighs around 3 lbs, and it is located just beneath the diaphragm, and on the right side of the abdomen. It is one tough, hardworking natural filtration and treatment system, as it filters toxins from the blood, converts sugar to glycogen and more. If you want to live a longer, healthier life, then you take good care of it, by eating healthy, and living a balanced lifestyle.
Sources:
US News And World Report – Health
BBC Health
US National Library of Medicine – National Institutes Of Health
Photo credits: Alcohol Study 2 image by: Letsgoeverywhere/Flicker and Woman Running Barefoot image by : 666ismoney/Flicker
Sources:
US News And World Report – Health
BBC Health
US National Library of Medicine – National Institutes Of Health
Photo credits: Alcohol Study 2 image by: Letsgoeverywhere/Flicker and Woman Running Barefoot image by : 666ismoney/Flicker