Poor Unhappy Liver

 

Would you believe if I told you, the next global epidemic is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)??

● NAFLD affects up to 30% of people in the United States.

● 1 in 3 adults.

● Affects 70 Million adults.

I will get into detail of NAFLD in just a minute.

First. Let’s talk about the liver…

The liver is the second largest organ in your body and is located under your rib cage on the right side. It weighs just under 3 pounds!

The liver performs many jobs in your body. It detoxifies the blood to rid it of harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs. It stores the sugar-glucose. It processes what you eat and drink into energy and nutrients your body can use. Sounds important right??

What is NAFLD? Fatty deposits in the liver result in a disease spectrum from simple steatosis with NO symptoms through to NASH>>Fibrosis>>>Cirrhosis, which can result in liver failure.

Basically NAFLD is an accumulation of fat in the hepatocytes or liver cells in excessive amounts.

The fats are typically triglycerides that the body naturally stores and creates from calories that it doesn’t need right away. A person who is active and eats healthy will normally burn these fats off for energy.

However, if the body is overwhelmed with excessive calories and lack of physical activity-They accumulate in the liver. The liver then becomes UNHAPPY L.

Good new? Exercise and nutritional improvements can fend off and reverse NAFLD.

Bad news: It is largely asymptomatic before it begins causing problems.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR FATTY LIVER DISEASE?? NAFLD tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. Rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD.