Why is fatty liver so common and why is healthcare not addressing it?
Fatty Liver Disease has become the most prevalent liver disease in human history. It affects almost 2 billion people globally1. Even for an active individual, it can steal 6 to 10 years of life expectancy (2,3). Yet it is largely unknown to the general population, policymakers and even the global public health community. Led by the conviction that education is more effective than medication, Biocol is launching a series of monthly masterclasses fully dedicated to the most central organ in the modern age, the Liver. This common oversight can lead to a worsening of symptoms following a detox regime, as the body can become overloaded with toxins that are not being efficiently eliminated.
Fatty Liver Disease is just like the French delicacy – Duck Foie Gras. It occurs when you deposit more fat than your liver can process.
For a human liver, this can happen in various ways, all lifestyle related. Overweight4. Excess calories from overeating and over drinking. Alcohol5. Medication6. Pesticides. Pollution7, 8.Tap water9. Muscle-building supplements10. Plastics. Forever chemicals in take-away boxes, cookware, cosmetics and clothes. And so on. Simply put, our livers were not designed for modern life, as it can’t process and expel all the toxins at the pace we are currently ingesting them. As a consequence, surplus harmful toxins get stored in the liver cells, causing chronic inflammation in the organ tissues, and the liver becomes fatty and swollen and ultimately scarred and damaged. Like a bad paté.Bon appétit.
Your liver doesn’t know the difference between a Frappuccino and Tequila.
Historically, Fatty Liver Disease has been exclusively associated with alcoholism and the death of celebrities such as George Michael, Jimi Hendrix and Billie Holiday. Today, Fatty Liver Disease has reached an epidemic stage. It’s estimated that 45% of adults and 25% of kids across America have it, regardless of their weight, gender or social status.To our liver’s knowledge, men and children are becoming increasingly alcoholics. Because this organ struggles to process sugar as much as it does with alcohol. Both are equally inflammatory11, 12. And sugar today is everywhere, especially High Fructose Corn Syrup, a sweetener used to enhance the flavor of foods and beverages. It’s in your salad dressings, in your bread, even in your dreams, via sleep gummies.The World Health Organization advises that people eat no more than 25 grams (g) of added sugar per day.
The average person in the United States consumes more than 126 g of sugar per day. Even Switzerland, a country far from the top 10 rank, exceeds by 3 times the recommended limit, with an average of 76.1 g per day.How do you escape the Fatty Liver Disease epidemic when you can’t escape sugar? We stopped giving alcohol to children. Treating sugar the same way would be a great start.
View Citations
Rangboo V, Noroozi M, Zavoshy R, Rezadoost SA, Mohammadpoorasl A. The Effect of Artichoke Leaf Extract on Alanine Aminotransferase and Aspartate Aminotransferase in the Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Int J Hepatol. 2016;2016:4030476. doi:10.1155/2016/4030476
Rondanelli M, Giacosa A, Opizzi A, et al. Beneficial effects of artichoke leaf extract supplementation on increasing HDL-cholesterol in subjects with primary mild hypercholesterolaemia: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2013;64(1):7-15.
Mabuchi H, Nohara A, Kobayashi J, et al. Effects of CoQ10 supplementation on plasma lipoprotein lipid, CoQ10 and liver and muscle enzyme levels in hypercholesterolemic patients treated with atorvastatin: a randomized double-blind study. Atherosclerosis. 2007;195(2):e182-e189.
Raygan F, Rezavandi Z, Dadkhah Tehrani S, Farrokhian A, Asemi Z. The effects of coenzyme Q10 administration on glucose homeostasis parameters, lipid profiles, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with metabolic syndrome. Eur J Nutr. 2016;55(8):2357-2364.
