Now, there are some organs we can continue on without. But the liver is not one of them.

The liver performs hundreds of vital functions, including regulating blood sugar and controlling blood clotting, metabolizing nutrients, and, of course, removing toxins and waste from the bloodstream.

We know that alcohol’s harm to the liver is a direct punch. However, new research has revealed that it’s actually a one-two punch…

What I mean is that, while alcohol is directly attacking the liver, it’s also opening the door to invaders that also play an active role in wreaking havoc on the liver.

Peak Golden Oil^™

The golden-colored oil of the Nigella sativa plant contains compounds essential for a healthy immune system. That explains why it was documented in the oldest medical writings. But we don’t just rely on history to prove the therapeutic benefit of… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Alcohol lets bacteria into the liver

Let’s start with a primer on what alcohol does to the liver…

• Alcohol harms the liver by triggering inflammation and the buildup of fat, kickstarting fatty liver disease (not to be confused with NAFLD or MAFLD).
• The chemical acetaldehyde, which is produced when the liver metabolizes alcohol, accelerates this harmful process. It’s also considered a carcinogen.
• Continued drinking can lead to alcoholic hepatitis, characterized by inflamed and damaged liver cells.
• The most severe stage, irreversible cirrhosis, involves the formation of scar tissue that disrupts liver function and can end in liver failure. 

However, a study at UC San Diego has uncovered a previously unobserved series of events that causes even more damage to the liver…  

When scientists examined human liver biopsies, they found that chronic alcohol use impaired the production of a cellular signaling protein in the small intestine known as mAChR4.

When levels of this protein are lower, it interferes with the formation of cells known as goblet cell-associated antigen passages, or GAPs. These GAPs play a key role in teaching the immune system to respond to microbes that escape the gut.

Without this layer of protection, gut bacteria escape and enter vital organs, including the liver, where they compound the damage already being done by alcohol.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

Give your Body the Optimal Alkalizing Nutrients you Need for Healthy pH Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Added protection for your liver

So when it comes to the liver, the best thing to do it avoid alcohol. But the researchers know that advice is not always easy for everyone.

They hope that by developing drugs that boost levels of mACHR, it may be possible to reverse the series of events that do so much harm to the liver and afford some level of protection.

But ultimately, alcohol is a toxin that directly damages the cells responsible for the tight junctures in the lining of the gut. Alcohol-induced inflammation makes the damage to the lining worse — increasing permeability.

Together, that creates a condition known as leaky gut, which allows bacteria of all sorts to not only reach the liver but also other organs.

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest limiting alcohol to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.

But it’s important to note that even low amounts are still associated with serious health risks, and for some individuals, especially those over 65, the recommended limit should be even lower. 

Sources:

Vicious Cycle Revealed: How Alcohol Helps Gut Bacteria Attack Your Liver — Science Alert

Alcohol Opens the Floodgates for Bad Bacteria — UC San Diego

The post Alcohol’s hidden partner in the attack on your liver appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Chemicals and toxins we’re exposed to daily — through personal care products, pesticides in foods, furniture, household items and plastic — disrupt the endocrine system and affect the liver’s normal functions, including its ability to detoxify the bloodstream.

Overwhelmed by chemicals, it becomes less able to break down fats and waste and these poisons get stored in the liver and other parts of the body.

According to doctors at Harvard, it’s an issue that affects 20 percent to 40 percent of the US population.

The reason for the wide variance in estimates is what makes fatty liver so dangerous.

You see, like heart disease, the condition can be a “silent killer” since many people never notice they have an issue until serious — or even irreversible — damage has occurred.

That’s because signs that your liver is struggling can be subtle. However, they can be spotted if you know what to look for.

And even better, catching the symptoms of liver issues early can give you the ability to stop the damage and let your liver heal.

Here are the early symptoms of liver problems to watch out for:

#1 – Swollen ankles

Puffy or bloated ankles could be a sign that your liver is shutting down.

You see, your liver is responsible for making a protein known as albumin. Albumin is what your blood vessels use to prevent fluid from leaking into the surrounding tissue.

However, if your liver is packed with fat and inflamed, it simply can’t function.

Levels of albumin go down and fluid starts seeping from those blood vessels and pooling in your legs, ankles, and abdomen.

#2 – Fatigue

According to a 2019 study, published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, “The liver is central in the pathogenesis of fatigue because it uniquely regulates much of the storage, release and production of substrate for energy generation.”

In other words, if you’re liver isn’t up to par, your body can’t make the energy it needs to get through the day. And you start feeling drug out, drained, and just plain exhausted.

#3 – Irregular sleep

Liver damage can alter your sleep-wake cycle causing you to fall asleep and stay asleep. And even if you can turn off your mind and slip into dreamland, you might not feel refreshed when you wake up.

Additionally, people with liver issues often have health problems such as diabetes that raise their chances of suffering from insomnia even more.

#4 – More pronounced impact of caffeine

Your liver is the primary organ responsible for metabolizing caffeine.

And studies have found that liver disease can slow caffeine clearance from your body, allowing the effects of that coffee you just drank to linger.

So if you’re a regular coffee drinker and suddenly notice it’s ramping you up much more than usual, pay attention.

#5 – Flushing rising from trunk to head

If your liver is dysfunctional, it can cause your body to overheat.

This happens when your liver is overworked or under pressure, it heats up. This may cause a feeling similar to the hot flashes associated with menopause. And it can even lead to excessive sweating.

#6 – Severe side effects/reactions from medications

Just like with caffeine, your liver has to break down any medications you take.

And according to the Merck Manual (the handbook doctors everywhere turn to when they have a question), “Sometimes alterations (damage to the liver) increase levels of bioavailable drug, causing normal drug doses to have toxic effects.”

In other words, small changes in your liver health can cause normal doses of everyday medications to become toxic.

Lifestyle changes to care for your liver

If you notice these early signs talk to a trusted health professional. If, knock on wood, everything’s fine, is there anything you can do to avoid it and support your liver?

The answer is yes!

Doctors recommend a combination of lifestyle changes that can do wonders for a fatty liver, including:

• Losing weight – According to Wynne Armand, MD, writing for Harvard, losing just five percent of your body weight could reduce the level of fat in your liver.
• Getting your exercise – Aerobic exercise is acknowledged to be one of the best ways to decrease the fat level in your liver. And if you add in a high-intensity workout, it could also reduce inflammation in the organ.
• Adding in resistance training – Studies have found that resistance training helps reduce both liver fat and unhealthy liver enzyme levels.
• Eating more protein – Adding more protein to your diet has been shown to help boost both weight loss and fat loss in the liver.

Finally, be sure to give your liver the nutrients it needs to get back on track. Some of the best nutrients to keep your liver health in line include:

1. N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) – To help support gentle detoxification and guard against future damage.
2. Milk Thistle – A liver booster that promotes the elimination of heavy metal build-up, medication residue, environmental pollutants and alcohol.
3. Turmeric – A powerful antioxidant to promote healthy liver function and the health of liver cells.
4. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) – A potent antioxidant to help keep fats from accumulating in the liver.
5. Selenium – To help promote detoxification and rid the body of toxic mercury buildup.
6. Schisandra – Helps activate enzymes in the liver cells that produce glutathione – the master antioxidant that detoxifies the body and recycles vitamins C and E, so they can protect cells from free radicals.

Fatty liver is on the rise. Be aware of the sneaky signs that your liver could be in trouble and start taking steps now to keep it trim and healthy.

Sources:

12 causes of swollen ankles — Medical News Today

Fatty liver disease: What it is and what to do about it — Harvard Health Publishing

Recognizing The Early Symptoms Of Liver Disease – Alcoholic And Non-Alcoholic — Family First Intervention

Importance of fatigue and its measurement in chronic liver disease — NCBI

Insomnia and Liver Disease — Liver Directory

Sleep disturbances in patients with liver cirrhosis: prevalence, impact, and management challenges — NCBI

Caffeine and metabolism — Coffee & Health

Case Study: What does a fatty liver have to do with hot flashes? — Liver Doctor

Effects of Liver Disease on Drug Metabolism — Merck Manual

The post 6 strange signs of liver trouble appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your risk for heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage is higher.

So is the risk of liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.

And a recent study demonstrates that obesity skyrockets that risk.

Peak Organic Superfruits^™

Blend of anthocyanin-rich, organic fermented fruits — including Aronia, Acia, Blueberry, Pomegranate and Plum — that can help clobber insulin resistance, and keep you healthy. MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

How obesity makes a vicious cycle even worse

Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance, a condition where cells become less responsive to insulin. Insulin resistance can lead to a buildup of fat in the liver.

That’s why people with type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD, formerly called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD).

Insulin resistance can worsen fatty liver disease, and fatty liver disease can, in turn, exacerbate insulin resistance, creating a vicious cycle

But a study at Sweden’s Linköping University Hospital has found that being obese will skyrocket the chances of someone with type 2 diabetes moving quickly from MASLD to cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Of the more than 300 people with type 2 diabetes who participated in the study, close to 59 percent had metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, according to their MRI scans.

The researchers also used an ultrasound to measure liver stiffness, an indication of early-stage cirrhosis. These measurements showed that about 7 per cent of the participants had changes suggesting early-stage cirrhosis of the liver

But among those who had both type 2 diabetes and obesity, that number went up to13 percent as compared with only two percent in people who were not obese.

The finding is important for determining whether patients with type 2 diabetes should be screened for liver disease.

“People with both type 2 diabetes and obesity are a group at particular risk that healthcare should prioritise in future efforts,” says Dr. Wile Balkhed, a resident physician at Linköping University Hospital.

Peak D3^™

When you step out into the sunlight, your body begins the process of making vitamin D. But getting the ideal amount can be difficult because some of us can’t effectively absorb it. That’s just one of many reasons the vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Prevent insulin resistance and support your liver

Make no mistake: insulin resistance is a sign that your metabolism is seriously out of whack. It means your pancreas, the organ that produces insulin, is exhausted, and the sooner you start an all-out effort to get your metabolism back in line, the better:

Lose a few pounds. Excess weight, especially belly fat, tops the list of causes of insulin resistance.

Exercise more. Many studies have also found that resistance training can increase insulin sensitivity among men and women with or without diabetes.

If you need help finding the energy to exercise, enlist the help of the antioxidant, PQQ, found to go after visceral fat (belly fat) while delivering the energy the body needs for exercise.

Eat healthy foods.  Add more soluble fiber and colorful fruits like berries and vegetables to your diet. The more colorful the better, as these contain antioxidants that have been shown to help with weight loss and curb insulin resistance. Cut back on high glycemic foods like carbs (which stimulate excess insulin production), sugars and processed starches. Also, eat much less red meat.

Keep your vitamin D levels healthy. Several studies have connected low vitamin D levels to insulin sensitivity.

Boost CoQ10 levels. Research has also shown that low CoQ10 levels correlate to insulin resistance.

Get more sleep. Give up night owl habits. Getting more sleep can help reverse the effects of insulin resistance. Melatonin can be helpful in more ways than one.

Sources:

Fatty liver – but not liver damage – common in type 2 diabetes — Eureka Alert

Evaluating the prevalence and severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary care  — Journal of Internal Medicine

Diabetes and obesity can damage the liver to the point of failure — UMass Chan Medical School

The post Diabetes + obesity = a recipe for serious liver damage appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

By 2040, just 16 years from now, health experts predict that percentage will rise to 55%.

People with MASLD suffer damage from inflammation and tissue scarring, caused by abnormal accumulation of fat.

That leads to heightened risks for diabetes, cancer (both liver and elsewhere), chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.

Oddly enough, there seems to be a strong connection between sleep quality and higher risk for MASLD — yet another reason to pay attention to your sleep habits.

Here’s what you need to know…

Peak Cardio Platinum^™

Research shows that by age 70, Nitric Oxide production declines by up to 75 percent! But supporting healthy N-O levels isn’t as easy as taking a nitric oxide pill. The body needs nutrients to produce N-O on its own — and that’s why… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

What’s sleep got to do with your liver?

Previous research using data based on sleep questionnaires has linked liver disease with poor sleep quality.

However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that more objective measures than sleep questionnaires be used to prove the existence of a link between sleep disruption and MASLD.

So, when researchers at the University of Basel and Basel’s University Center for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases set out to learn more about the poor sleep-MASLD connection, they used 24/7 actigraphy.

Between 2019 and 2021, they tracked 46 adults who had either MASLD, MASH (a more severe form of MASLD) or cirrhosis of the liver. Sixteen healthy people served as the control group.

Each wore a sensor on the wrist to track gross motor activity, including light exposure, physical activity and body temperature. They also underwent clinical investigation, interviews, follow-ups and kept a sleep diary.

While there was no difference in the length of sleep between the groups, the actigraph data showed that the people with MASLD woke 55% more often at night. And, they lay awake 113% longer after first falling asleep than the healthy control group.

“We concluded from our data that sleep fragmentation plays a role in the pathogenesis of human MASLD,” says corresponding author Dr. Sofia Schaeffer.

But a question remained…

“Whether MASLD cause sleep disorders or vice versa remains unknown,” she added.

“The underlying mechanism presumably involves genetics, environmental factors, and the activation of immune responses — ultimately driven by obesity and metabolic syndrome.”

Peak Organic Superfruits^™

Blend of anthocyanin-rich, organic fermented fruits — including Aronia, Acia, Blueberry, Pomegranate and Plum — that can help clobber insulin resistance, and keep you healthy. MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The metabolic dysfunction in MSLD linked to poor sleep

Even though the researchers are still not sure whether sleep disruption leads to liver disease, or vice versa, I have a theory about the driving force…

Of the 46 participants in the study, 80% of those with MSLD had hallmark symptoms of metabolic syndrome (MetS), including:

• Higher levels of triglycerides
• High fasting glucose
• High blood insulin levels
• And lower levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Additionally, they were all obese. A large waist circumference, often part of obesity, is the 5^th symptom associated with MetS.

And guess what has been linked to increasing the risk of MetS? Irregular or variable sleep patterns.

A larger study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found that people with greater variations in their bedtimes and hours they slept had a much higher risk of metabolic conditions — specifically, each of the symptoms for MetS.

That makes the sleep link even stronger and makes is clear that if you don’t have MASH or cirrhosis, start now to avoid MASLD by staying clear of the symptoms of MetS and improving sleep quality.

Start with a good diet you can stick to, but add these five easy hacks to keep MetS at bay.

To sleep like a baby, try implementing the bedtime routine of a toddler. And, if you haven’t tried melatonin, consider it. It can help you sleep and support immune function, one of the factors mentioned by Dr. Schaeffer above.

Sources:

Broken sleep a hallmark sign of living with the most common liver disease, scientists find — Eureka Alert

Significant nocturnal wakefulness after sleep onset in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease — Frontiers in Network Physiology

The post Trouble sleeping? It could lead to liver disease appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

From nutrition to skin care, this “ancestral fat” is definitely having its moment.

So, should you just jump on the bandwagon?

What Is Beef Tallow and How Is It Made?

Beef tallow is created by taking the fat that surrounds the internal organs of a cow, cooking that fat down, and straining out the impurities. It’s a way for beef processors to use every part of the animal in order to make useable products — and turn a bigger profit. 

Beef tallow is stable both at room temperature and high heat and, until relatively recently, was the go-to fat for frying and baking. It’s also been used to make candles and soap.

When concerns around the health effects of saturated fats emerged in the 20th century, vegetable oils and margarines largely replaced beef tallow in industrial food production. Around the same time, rates of chronic disease and obesity rose, providing ammunition for beef tallow evangelists — especially within the keto, paleo and carnivore communities.

But as we learned from the seed oils blog series and my post on lectins, one data point does NOT an open and shut case make.

Peak Golden Oil^™

The golden-colored oil of the Nigella sativa plant contains compounds essential for a healthy immune system. That explains why it was documented in the oldest medical writings. But we don’t just rely on history to prove the therapeutic benefit of… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Beef Tallow Nutrition Facts: Saturated Fat, Calories, and Vitamins

Beef tallow is made up of about 55% saturated fatty acids (SFAs), 40% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and 5% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). 

By comparison, canola oil is made up of about 5% SFAs, 65% MUFAs and 30% PUFAs.  Tallow also contains fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K2), though in relatively small amounts.  

With such a high percentage of SFAs, beef tallow is classified as a saturated fat and falls in the same nutritional category as butter, cheese, cream, lard and coconut oil.

Does Beef Tallow Raise Cholesterol and Heart Disease Risk?

Saturated fat can be a strong down-regulator of LDL receptors. If you’ve read some of my previous blogs, you already know that LDL receptor function is important for clearance of LDL from the bloodstream. In other words, if LDL receptor function is diminished, LDL levels go up. Sometimes way up. I have seen patients that go on a keto diet and end up with LDLs in ranges typically reserved for those with Familial Hypercholesterolemia!

But please don’t be fooled by claims that the high LDL you get by eating saturated fat is OK because LDL is now all “big” particles! A high LDL reading means that there are still lots of LDL particles circulating in your bloodstream, and particle size does not rescue you in that setting. Most importantly, if your LDL receptors are downregulated such that you’re not using the LDL for other functions, the only place that cholesterol can go is into artery walls. 

And make sure you also ignore the rhetoric that some of the saturated fat in beef tallow is stearic acid and that makes it better. Stearic acid is a saturated fat found in high amounts in cocoa beans and chocolate and does NOT raise LDL cholesterol. However, beef tallow contains much less stearic acid compared to chocolate — and the rest of the saturated fatty acids in beef tallow DO raise LDL.  

Beef Tallow, Fatty Liver, and Insulin Resistance: What’s the Link?

Like all fats, beef tallow is calorie dense, delivering 9 calories per gram. So overdoing it even modestly but consistently can get you into trouble… fast. Turns out saturated fat is especially good at accumulating in the liver — much more so than unsaturated fat.  

Liver fat accumulation sets off a vicious cycle of metabolic changes that leads to insulin resistance, which can lead to prediabetes and, eventually, type 2 diabetes. Liver fat accumulation can also damage the liver itself, causing fatty liver disease, a condition as serious as liver disease caused by chronic excess alcohol consumption.  

Can Beef Tallow Cause Inflammation?

Although seed oils have been maligned for being pro-inflammatory, saturated fats — including beef tallow — also influence inflammatory pathways.

Saturated fats have been found to “short circuit” immune cells, upregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines, and negatively affect the microbiome, all leading to a higher inflammatory load. 

Peak Vitality^™

Peak Vitality^™ helps support and strengthen adrenal gland function for improved energy, hormone balance, mood and focus!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Beef Tallow and Chronic Disease: Why Context Matters in Nutrition

Advocates of beef tallow and other saturated fats point to the relative absence of chronic disease in traditional societies with high animal fat consumption. However, these societies also:

• Engaged in high levels of physical activity
• Ate minimal processed food
• Had overall balanced calorie intake 
• Ate a greater variety of foods in general, including various plants, leading to a more diverse microbiome 

In other words, as I’ve noted before, we can never look at one nutrient or ingredient in isolation. We are complex organisms living in complex environments while consuming a complex mixture of foods. It’s not the beef tallow or the seed oils that is the problem. It’s the “with what” and “instead of what” that is the bigger concern. 

Should You Eat Beef Tallow? The Bottom Line

Beef tallow is a real food, derived from natural sources. As such, it is not inherently toxic. However, it is NOT a “health food” nor the answer to all our ills. Context matters.

Occasional beef tallow consumption may be benign as part of a nutrient-rich, calorie-controlled, plant-inclusive diet. (Need I say it? Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Honestly, never gets old.)  However, regular use in the setting of a nutrient-poor or calorie-excess diet poses real long-term health risks. 

So much so that individuals favoring high beef tallow (or other saturated fat) consumption, should be regularly monitored with lab tests, including cholesterol, blood sugar, and liver function parameters.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, has declared that beef tallow is healthier than seed oils and is encouraging food companies to use it preferentially. Restaurants like Steak ‘n Shake and Sweetgreen have already made the switch.   

And as far as his opinion, it’s just an opinion. Made by an individual who is not a healthcare provider or nutrition expert. Although I applaud his stance on food additives and ultra-processed foods, as someone who takes care of patients and witnesses what happens with various dietary approaches, I can say without hesitation that he doesn’t get everything right.

Oh — and in case you’re wondering whether you should put this stuff on your face, beef tallow acts like an occlusive barrier rather than a moisturizer. So, it won’t eliminate wrinkles outright although it might aid in the absorption of what you put underneath — like vitamin C serum or retinoic acid. But I suspect you won’t much enjoy the scent! And if you are prone to acne, you might truly regret it.

The post Beef tallow: Benefits, risks and truths behind the trend appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But many people aren’t aware that the liver, the body’s largest solid organ, is just as crucial to life and health.

So it’s scary to think that over 100 million Americans have fatty liver disease, which makes the liver less and less able to perform its vital functions — more than 500 of them!

Being without a functioning liver is as life-threatening as being without a functioning heart. But even if your liver function is slowed or impaired, you can face a cascade of dysfunction that can steal your good health.

That’s why I was very excited to read a new study showing how a simple fruit extract can prevent fatty liver disease…

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Why is the liver so important?

It’s the liver that detoxifies the body. It gets rid of unwanted substances that enter your body through your lungs, skin or mouth, such as food additives, household chemicals and environmental pollutants.

But chemicals and excess fatty deposits can overwhelm and slow liver function. As a result, your liver function worsens and you gain excess weight.

That’s why being overweight is a symptom of a toxic liver. The fat accumulating in your body is also accumulating in your liver.

A burdened liver has trouble producing the bile needed to break down all the vitamins and nutrients you take in through food and supplements, making them useless to the body.

Your liver is also responsible for blood clotting. All this makes it clear that without a healthy, functioning liver, your health and, indeed, your life would be in danger.

The dangers of a fatty liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition that occurs when fat accumulates in the liver.

Left untreated, NAFLD can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which in turn can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. At this point, a liver transplant may be the only way to save a life.

But unlike so many other conditions, NAFLD is reversible.

Obesity has always been considered a risk factor for NAFLD, so weight loss has been a primary prevention strategy, along with exercise to reduce excess belly fat.

However, a recent study shows that taking a simple fruit extract could be the easiest way to reduce fat in the liver.

Peak Chelation+ Resveratrol^™

Helps flush harmful toxins from your body that interfere with vital functions!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Camu-camu, the exotic fruit cure for fatty liver

Researchers found that the polyphenols in camu-camu fruit reduce levels of fat in the liver.

Camu-camu is a sour berry, similar to a cherry, that’s native to the Amazon rain forest. It’s high in vitamin C and has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce blood sugar.

This exotic fruit is readily available as a supplement in capsule form.

Over 12 weeks, thirty participants took either camu-camu extract or a placebo at different times in this randomized clinical trial.

When the researchers used MRIs to observe fat levels in the liver, they saw a 7.43% reduction in liver lipids when study participants took camu-camu extract. With the placebo, they noted an 8.42% increase in liver fat.  

Why does camu-camu work?

The team identified two possible ways that camu-camu extract helps prevent fatty liver.

It could reduce lipogenesis, the formation of lipid droplets in the liver. It’s also possible that polyphenols are causing oxidation that stimulates the breakdown of lipids.

“A combination of the two mechanisms probably explains the high efficacy of the extract, as we’re playing on both sides of the coin,” says Prof. Andre Marette of the Universite Laval in Quebec City.

What this means for you

If you already have NAFLD, or if your doctor has told you that you’re in danger of developing it, you can start taking camu-camu capsules. They’re easy to order online.

As always, I’d recommend checking with your doctor before starting any new vitamin regimen.

Prof. Marette stresses the need to check products for their polyphenol content and compare a few before ordering one, as not all products are the same.

Sources:

Hepatic disease: a camu-camu fruit extract to reduce liver fat — Eureka Alert

Camu-camu decreases hepatic steatosis and liver injury markers in overweight, hypertriglyceridemic individuals: A randomized crossover trial — Cell Reports Medicine

7 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Camu Camu — Healthline

The post The exotic fruit that could prevent fatty liver appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Why?

Because, as its name implies, the incidence of fatty liver is directly correlated to the incidence of obesity, which has skyrocketed in the U.S. over the past decades.

But it’s also a sneaky condition. Fatty liver is a hidden factor increasing heart disease in lean people.

You could be living with fatty liver disease right now and not even know it. That’s because fatty liver often comes with no signs or symptoms and is only discovered if your doctor decides to run specific blood tests to look at your liver enzymes.

This can allow the disease to continue to progress silently until it’s too late.

Yet, in all of the bad, there is good news…

Since the most common cause of fatty liver is being overweight, it’s also very preventable. Maintaining a healthy body weight helps keep liver fat down. Of course, that’s not so simple for most of us.

But here’s something that is…

Researchers have discovered a simple and inexpensive way to help your liver slim down, a gut-healthy prebiotic that can be purchased online or at your local health food store.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Feeding the good bacteria in your gut

But before we get into the name of the prebiotic and how it works, we’ve got to go back just a bit.

You see, the team’s research started with an earlier study.

They theorized that increasing the levels of a specific gut microbe, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which has known anti-inflammatory properties, would help prevent and even reverse fatty liver disease.

And they were right!

But while the news was good, there was a snag…

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii isn’t a supplement that you can pick up at the store or even get a prescription for at the pharmacy. And the researchers wanted people everywhere to be able to use their findings to improve the health of their livers.

So, they continued with a second study to see if, instead of directly supplementing with Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, they could provide a prebiotic known for fueling its growth and get the same results.

Prebiotics are fiber sources that can’t be digested in your gut, but serve as food for your good gut microbes — microbes like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii.

Significantly decreased liver fat

The team first induced fatty liver disease in a group of rats and then set out to reverse it by feeding them the prebiotic Xylo-oligosaccharides.

And once again, their research paid off — big!

They discovered that not only did Xylo-oligosaccharides (or XOS for short) increase the growth of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, but adding them to the diet “significantly decreased the liver fat content of the rats.”

As a bonus, the team notes that XOS also improved glucose metabolism — essentially, blood sugar regulation.

And if you’re wondering if the results the team observed in the rats with fatty livers can be translated to humans, the news is good: They’ve already conducted their first study of the effects of XOS on the liver in people and say that their results are promising.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

XOS can be found naturally in fruits, vegetables, milk, honey and bamboo shoots. You can also find XOS as a prebiotic supplement. And a big plus here…

Unlike with some other prebiotics, XOS is effective at lower doses. That means experiencing less bloating or abdominal pain, which many people experience when they start taking high-dose prebiotics. In fact, XOS produces no gassy end-products.

Another significant benefit is that XOS helps boost the probiotic Bifidobacterium, which is associated with reduced blood levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS are linked to inflammatory metabolic conditions, and any time we can avoid inflammation is beneficial.

Sources:

The skinny on fatty liver disease — Harvard Health

Dietary supplement may help in the treatment of fatty liver — EurekAlert!

Xylooligosaccharides, a New Kind of Prebiotic — Designs for Health

The post The ‘no-bloat, no-gas’ prebiotic that reduces liver fat and inflammation appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And obesity is really a form of premature aging.

Being overweight ages us from the inside out, affecting our telomeres, harming our energy-producing mitochondria, and weakening our immune system.

And as if that weren’t enough, it makes our brain get old a lot faster than it normally would, making us more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease.

But according to ongoing research, there’s a simple way to change your diet that will stop the obesity train in its tracks and keep your brain from aging prematurely.

Peak Organic Superfruits^™

Blend of anthocyanin-rich, organic fermented fruits — including Aronia, Acia, Blueberry, Pomegranate and Plum — that can help clobber insulin resistance, and keep you healthy. MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The brain power of the Green Mediterranean diet

The DIRECT PLUS study (Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial Polyphenols Unprocessed Study) conducted by Israeli scientists in 2017-18 was the first to introduce the concept of the green Mediterranean, high polyphenols diet and its potential for weight loss in older adults.

In this trial, 284 people were divided into three groups. The first ate a healthy diet. The second adhered to a traditional Mediterranean diet, including 28g of polyphenol-rich walnuts.

The third group ate a “green Mediterranean diet.” On top of walnuts, they added three to four cups of green tea daily, as well as a green shake made with Mankai duckweed as a substitute for dinner. They ate almost no red meat.

At the end of the 18-month trial, brain MRIs on all participants showed a significant slowing in brain atrophy (shrinking) in those who ate a Mediterranean diet.

The change was even more noticeable in participants over age 50 who went “green.”

Follow-up study shows even better benefits

Scientists at Ben Gurion University recently conducted a sub-study of the DIRECT PLUS trial to examine the effects of weight loss on brain age and other factors affecting brain health.

The researchers chose 102 individuals who met the criteria for obesity.

Each received a brain scan both before and after the study to examine how weight loss through diet affected their “brain age.”

They found that a one percent reduction in body weight led to brain age being almost nine months younger than expected for a person of that chronological age.

And, as a bonus, these “younger” brains were also associated with a decrease in liver fat and liver enzymes that have been shown to negatively affect the brain of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Peak BP Platinum^™

Clinically-Tested Nutritients that Support Arterial Health and Blood Pressure!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

How to go green for a big brain (and slimmer waist and liver)

Now, you may remember we wrote last year about how the green Mediterranean diet doubles fat loss.

That means the green Mediterranean diet is the one diet we could all get on board with, from weight loss to brain health — not to mention the liver benefits.

If you’re not already following a Mediterranean diet, take a look at this guide to getting started.

Then, start to tweak things gradually. Eliminate one portion of meat and substitute fish or a plant-based protein like nuts, seeds or legumes. As you go along your goal should be a diet that includes very little if no meat at all.

Fruits and veggies should make up the bulk of your diet. Don’t forget, whenever possible, raw is better for you.

Pile on whole grains (rich in heart-protective betaines) like brown rice, barley and buckwheat.

Dairy is allowed but in moderation. And don’t forget those healthy fats: olive oil, avocados, walnuts and almonds.

Drink plenty of green tea (though black tea has some impressive benefits of its own!).

Last, but not least, if you must eat processed foods, keep them to a minimum—especially foods with added sugars and refined grains.

Sources:

Could a better diet make your brain younger? — Eureka Alert

The effect of weight loss following 18 months of lifestyle intervention on brain age assessed with resting-state functional connectivity — Epidemiology and Global Health

The effect of a high-polyphenol Mediterranean diet (Green-MED) combined with physical activity on age-related brain atrophy: the Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial Polyphenols Unprocessed Study (DIRECT PLUS) — The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

The effect of high-polyphenol Mediterranean diet on visceral adiposity: the DIRECT PLUS randomized controlled trial — BMC Medicine

The post The diet that sheds pounds and keeps your brain from shrinking appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Not only can it compromise your liver function, it can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

And if that goes untreated, you’re looking at a progression that can include liver inflammation due to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and even liver cirrhosis.

Luckily, scientists at the German Cancer Research Institute have taken a deep dive into the link between metabolic disorder and fatty liver, discovering a dietary trick that not only defeats liver fat, but conquers inflammation and reduces serious risk.

Peak Digestion^™

Protects You From Unwanted Effects of Gluten Ingestion, Calms Stomach Upset and Supports Digestion!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Lowering liver inflammation is a must

The researchers had seen that different types of intermittent fasting lowered liver inflammation. So they decided to focus efforts on the 5:2 FAST specifically to gain an understanding of the mechanisms at work.

They pitted mice who had unlimited access to high-fat/high-sugar foods against mice who were given full access to those same foods but for only five days a week — and received nothing the other two days of the week.

And frankly, it wasn’t even a contest…

Despite the high-calorie diet, mice on the intermittent fasting plan showed fewer signs of liver disease and had lower levels of biomarkers that indicate liver damage.

This resistance to the development of a fatty liver occurred even though the fasting mice ate just as many calories weekly as those who didn’t fast since they immediately ate more at the end of their fasting periods.

According to the researchers, this benefit was due to the fact that fasting increased two molecular players —  the transcription factor PPARα and the enzyme PCK1 0 which work together to increase the breakdown of fatty acids and gluconeogenesis and block the build-up of fats.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Major improvements across the board

And if that weren’t enough, there’s even more good news…

The scientists then decided to test the diet in mice that were already living with chronic liver inflammation due to a poor diet.

Again, eating the 5:2 way was a recipe for success. After four months of 5:2 intermittent fasting, the mice had:

• Better blood values
• Less fatty liver
• Reduced liver inflammation
• Developed less liver cancer and had fewer cancer foci (microscopic cells) in the liver

“This shows us that 5:2 intermittent fasting has great potential — both in the prevention of MASH and liver cancer, as well as in the treatment of established chronic liver inflammation,” said principal investigator, Mathias Heikenwälder.

Peak DIM^™

Helps Support Healthy Hormone Balance for Both Men and Women by Keeping Excess Estrogen in Check!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Give your liver some love

So if you want to reduce your chances of fatty liver disease, liver inflammation and possibly even liver cancer, embracing the benefits of intermittent fasting could be the answer.

There are different versions, but the 5:2 diet typically involves eating a normal, healthy diet for five days and ‘fasting’ on the remaining two days. If not eating for two days is a little too challenging, some experts recommend simply restricting intake on those two fasting days to 500-600 calories.

This can make the diet easier to stick to over the long run.

Additional tips for supporting your liver include:

• More protein – Studies have shown that adding more protein to your diet can help reduce liver fat.
• Resistant starch –Participants who took a resistant starch supplement saw a 40 percent reduction in their liver triglyceride levels compared to those in the control group. They also experienced lower liver enzymes and inflammatory factors associated with NAFLD.
• Enjoy some cocoa or coffee – In one study, mice treated with cocoa had 28 percent less fat in their livers at the end of the study than the control mice. In another study, people who drank at least three cups of coffee per day, including those who drank only decaf, had lower levels of liver enzymes—an indication of better overall liver health. Coffee also lowered liver cancer risk.
• Eat broccoli – It contains a compound that boosts levels of a protein important for keeping NAFLD from advancing.

Liver trouble can sneak up on you. Keep an eye out for these strange signs.

Sources:

Intermittent fasting protects against liver inflammation and liver cancer – EurekAlert!

The post What works to keep fatty liver inflammation from progressing appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

In other words, you could have a 25 percent higher risk for heart attack or stroke — even though that “other condition” has nothing at all to do with your heart itself.

That’s because research is finding that an increasingly common liver disease can damage the heart before you even know you have it…

How NAFLD damages the heart

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a silent disease that can produce few to no symptoms for years. However, a small percentage of cases can progress to NASH and cirrhosis.

For the most part, diet and exercise can keep it in check, and most people can live their lives without any complications from it. Or so we thought…

News research has revealed NAFLD is a surprising threat to your heart — and the damage it does can start frighteningly early on in the course of the disease.

Investigators at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai saw this first hand when they compared patients’ FIB-4 scores — a marker for liver fibrosis that can indicate risk of developing severe liver disease — with heart abnormalities visible through cardiac MRI scans.

They found that elevated FIB-4 scores were clearly associated with abnormalities in heart function and vascular dimension.

“Typically, when physicians examine the heart, we aren’t thinking about the liver, and vice versa. We tend to be very specialized in our own organ categories,” says Kwan. “But this study’s findings indicate that we can and should screen for liver conditions when looking at heart conditions — we can’t view the heart and the liver as completely separate organs functioning on their own islands.”

In other words, small liver problems can lead to big heart dangers.

Support your liver health to protect your heart

So if poor liver health can set you up for major heart trouble, should you be concerned?

To know the answer to that question you need to gauge your risk for NAFLD, and that includes these criteria:

• Overweight or obese (this is a tricky one, and I’ll explain below)
• Insulin resistance (not yet diabetic but too many sugar spikes have desensitized how your cells take up sugar in response to the hormone insulin)
• High blood sugar
• High levels of fat in your blood

Now about the obesity factor…

Yes, no doubt it is a risk factor for liver disease, but in a review of 10,000 adults with NAFLD, there were lean patients with the disease. The good news for them? They had a lower risk of cirrhosis, diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol issues.

The bad news? Lean patients with NAFLD had a significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, independent of age, sex, race, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

I’m already at a higher risk for heart trouble because of my family history, so I’ve done the research and made caring for my liver part of my heart health regimen.

See, your liver carries out over 500 vital functions, including filtering toxins, chemicals and fat from the bloodstream. If it’s overworked, it can be overwhelmed by the buildup of fat — and too much liver fat is exactly what leads to NAFLD.

So in addition to trying my best to eat a Mediterranean-style diet that both my liver and my heart can appreciate, I include liver-loving nutrients, most importantly, alpha lipoic acid (ALA), an antioxidant that helps promote healthy levels of fat in the liver, into my routine.

Sources:

Even early forms of liver disease affect heart health – ScienceDaily

The post The silent liver disease that’s worse on your heart appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And doctors remind many of us to lose weight to lose the risk.

But some obese people have better cardiovascular health than people of healthy weight.

The concept is known as “metabolically healthy obesity,” and though it can differ depending on race/ethnicity and sex, there is one specific thing this group has in common besides their health…

And that’s their waist-to-hip-ratio.

Belly fat is more dangerous than extra pounds 

A recent scientific statement from the American Heart Association identifies visceral adiposity, better known as belly fat, as a bigger risk factor for heart disease and stroke than simply being overweight or obese.

In fact, the risk-inducing power of abdominal obesity is so strong that you can carry excess fat over the rest of your body — but only low levels around the belly — and still have lower cardiovascular risks.

And the folks who have normal body weight — and only a spare tire across the midsection? That belly fat still makes them more of a candidate for a heart attack than weighing too much…

It may be shocking but true: “… there have been a number of studies over the past 15 years that really highlight the relationship between elevated waist circumference, even in the setting of normal BMI, and cardiovascular risk,” says lead author Dr. Tiffany Powell-Wiley of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD.

So why is merely carrying belly fat so much worse?

One reason for this is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. If you have more adipose fat around your midsection, you also have more of it accumulating inside your body around your organs — especially your liver. Fatty liver disease is a known factor for increased cardiovascular disease risk.

Another reason may be the fact that belly fat is not only metabolically active, but it’s also hormonally active. It can disrupt insulin function which increases risk of heart disease. And it also produces cytokines that negatively impact blood pressure and blood clotting,

Peak Cardio Platinum^™

Clinically-Tested Nutrients Help Arteries and Cardiovascular Health!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The proof

Here’s a quote from the AHA statement that offers proof of how deadly belly fat is:

“Lifestyle modification and subsequent weight loss improve both metabolic syndrome and associated systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. However, clinical trials of medical weight loss have not demonstrated a reduction in coronary artery disease rates. In contrast, prospective studies comparing patients undergoing bariatric surgery with nonsurgical patients with obesity have shown reduced coronary artery disease risk with surgery.”

In other words, the data shows that exercise and diet changes may improve metabolic syndrome, reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel function, cholesterol levels and blood sugar — but they haven’t done much to lower rates of coronary artery disease. 

However, in patients who undergo bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery, including gastric bypass) the risk of coronary artery disease has been reduced, probably due to significant weight loss, including belly fat.

How to lose belly fat

If your heart is healthy, but you’re carrying around that belly bulge, NOW is the time to start getting rid of it. 

And, if you’ve had a heart attack, it’s also urgent that you take steps to reduce abdominal fat. Research tells us that belly fat is a greater factor in repeat heart attacks than either cholesterol or blood pressure.  

So, where to begin?

Trade meat for mushrooms. That’s right – mushrooms can shrink your waistline! In a yearlong study at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, participants lost (and kept off!) an average of seven pounds. And, they reduced their waistlines by an average of nearly three inches!

Keep track of your carb and sugar intake. Studies show that cutting back on your carbs even a little bit can lead to less belly fat. That’s because refined carbs and sugar cause your blood sugar to spike, which triggers hormonal changes that tell your body to store fat. Instead, choose foods with protein and fiber that keep your blood sugar stable.

Do strength and resistance training. Building stronger muscles makes your body release fat-burning hormones that reduce belly fat.

Try high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Research shows that high-intensity interval training triggers the “afterburn effect,” which means your body continues to burn calories long after you’re finished exercising. That makes it great for weight loss in your belly… and everywhere else.

What doesn’t work on belly fat? Intermittent fasting. In a study of obese mice:

• During fasting, fat tissue normally provides energy to the rest of the body by releasing fatty acid molecules. Visceral fat became resistant to this release of fatty acids during fasting.
• There were also signs that visceral and subcutaneous fat increased their ability to store energy as fat, likely to rapidly rebuild fat stores before the next fasting period.

However, there is evidence that using intermittent fasting as a jumpstart to a committed diet may lead to lasting weight loss and lower blood pressure.

Sources:

More belly weight increases danger of heart disease even if BMI does not indicate obesity — Science Daily

Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association — Circulation

Belly Fat the Biggest Driver of Obesity-Related CVD, Says AHA — Cardiovascular Research Foundation

The link between abdominal fat and repeat heart attacks — Medical News Today

Refined Carbs and Sugar: The Diet Saboteurs — HelpGuide

The post Weight or inches: Which matters most for heart health? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

As my colleague, Joyce Hollman, points out, it’s a “machine” that keeps your body’s “home” running smoothly and in good health — not to mention the vital jobs that only it can do.

If your liver goes down, so do you.

It’s a fact that’s as true for your bones as it is for every other part of your body.

In fact, if you’re experiencing bone loss, problems with bone density or are worried about suffering from weak bones and fractures, your liver health, or lack of it, could be to blame.

Chronic liver injury leads to chronic bone problems

In fact, there’s even a term for bone problems caused by poor liver health.

Hepatic osteodystrophy disease (HOD) is a kind of metabolic bone disease that occurs in patients with chronic liver disorders. It involves issues like bone loss, bone density reduction and destruction of bone structure.

Yet, while doctors are aware of the problem, they weren’t exactly sure why it happens.

And that’s where a team of researchers from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences came in.

The researchers took a deep dive into the molecular mechanisms behind bone loss caused by chronic liver injury, discovering not only why your liver plays such an important role in your bone health, but also a possible therapeutic target to stop the loss.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The liver-bone axis

The scientists specifically looked at what they call the “liver-bone axis”. It’s the mechanism by which external stimuli, such as viruses, alcohol and even prescription drugs cause chronic liver damage, which then affects bone metabolism.

When the axis tilts the wrong way, osteoporosis and fractures can be a short step behind.

And what the scientists found was an enzyme called PP2Acα.

PP2Acα is responsible for helping your body heal under normal circumstances by activating cells called macrophages to gobble up foreign invaders, damaged cells and other things your body is better rid of.

But in the case of chronic liver injury, PP2Acα in the body goes up and stays up, destroying good bone along with damaged cells.

You could consider it a case of a good process taken too far.

Luckily, by making this discovery, the scientists were also able to find a way to stop it – at least eventually.

You see, they were able to pinpoint a liver factor, known as LCAT, which can protect the bones in face of that PP2Acα, while also guarding the liver.

“LCAT mediates bone metabolism by maintaining appropriate intracellular cholesterol levels and improves liver function by reversing cholesterol transport from bone tissues to the liver,” said Dr. LU Ke, first author of the study.

They hope that this discovery will lead to new therapeutic drugs to stop bone loss.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

Give your Body the Optimal Alkalizing Nutrients you Need for Healthy pH Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Avoiding liver disease

In the meantime, focus on keeping your liver healthy.

Since the bone loss starts due to chronic liver issues, such as fatty liver disease, caring for your liver could help protect your bones.

Look for signs that your liver may be in trouble and take steps to give it the support it needs like:

• Skipping foods that can harm the organ and eating a liver-healthy diet
• Boosting your liver health with supplements like Chaya and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
• Using antioxidants that promote gentle liver detox

Your liver health and your bone health go hand-in-hand. So why not do everything you can to keep them in tip-top shape?

If you currently have liver disease, consult with your doctor before taking any supplement.

Sources:

Scientists reveal how chronic liver injury causes bone loss – EurekAlert!

The post Poor liver health could be destroying your bones appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

• Creating immune system factors that can fight against infection
• Creating proteins responsible for blood clotting
• Breaking down old and damaged red blood cells
• Storing extra blood sugar as glycogen
• Converting glycogen to glucose and storing extra glucose by converting it to glycogen
• Making toxins less harmful to the body and removing them from the bloodstream

Pretty important stuff! Keeping your liver healthy is a big deal.

You may be under the common misconception that, if you don’t drink heavily, and you don’t smoke, you couldn’t possibly be one of the 100 million individuals living with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

But you’d be wrong.

In fact, recent research has found something that increases your odds of being in that 100 million — something you’d probably never think of.

Air pollution and your liver

A group of researchers recently conducted an epidemiologic study (a study of health within a population to understand the causes and patterns of health and illness).

They were looking to determine the role of air pollution emitted by vehicles, industries, and households, known as ambient air pollution, on the risk of MAFLD.

The subjects of the study were about 90,000 adults who had been part of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) from 2018 to 2019.

The CMEC collected participant information including age and gender, lifestyle habits, and health-related history through verbal interviews performed by trained staff. They also gathered data on things like weight, height, and body mass index, and examined blood, urine, and saliva samples.

The bad news? After examining all the data, the researchers identified links between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and MAFLD. 

The good news? The links are exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles and the presence of central obesity (extra weight around the midsection) — areas that you can start working on now to decrease your risk.  

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

How to avoid MAFLD

“Our findings add to the growing evidence of ambient pollution’s damaging effects on metabolic function and related organs,” commented lead investigator Dr. Xing Zhao of the West China School of Public Health.

Previous studies have shown that exercise has many liver health benefits including enhancing the protective capacity of Kupffer cells, which help maintain liver function.

“However, physical activity did not seem to modify the associations between air pollution and MAFLD,” Dr. Zhao continues.

But, even if exercise won’t turn MAFLD around, other lifestyle modifications may make a difference.

The risks from ambient air pollution and MAFLD were higher especially in individuals who are male, smokers, and alcohol drinkers and those who consume a high-fat diet.

These are all habits that adversely impact metabolic health and cause the liver to work harder. When your liver has to work so hard, for example, processing fat from a fatty diet, it can become less effective at processing pollutants from the body. Eventually, it can’t do either very well.

People who are obese and develop MAFLD are more likely to have the fat in their liver build up to the point where inflammation occurs. This is a more advanced form of the disease, known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH.

The inflammation of NASH causes damage and scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Eating more protein and supporting your liver with these natural supplements could make it less likely that you’ll develop metabolic-associated fatty liver disease.

Finally, a diet like the Mediterranean diet will protect your liver and help you maintain an ideal weight. The less fat you eat, the better chance that your liver will remain healthy and hard-working.

Also follow these tips on reducing the harms of pollution and exposure.

Sources:

New study shows link between long-term exposure to air pollution and fatty liver disease — Eureka Alert

Exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease — Journal of Hepatology

The rising tide of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — Mayo Clinic

Liver Anatomy and Functions — Hopkinsmedicine.org

The post An urgent reason to pamper your liver: Air pollution appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

We can thank ghrelin, the body’s “hunger hormone,” for that. Before each meal, our ghrelin levels rise, signaling the body that it’s time for food. Then, once we’ve eaten, our ghrelin levels drop again.

At least that’s the way ghrelin is supposed to work. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple.

When you try to change the way your body wants to eat or is used to eating — for instance, by limiting your food intake — the shift actually causes your body to produce more ghrelin. And once it starts, the body doesn’t stop making ghrelin until you consume some food.

In short, your “hunger hormone” won’t stop pestering you until you give in and eat something. That makes it tough to resist the siren call of snacking, which in turn makes losing weight more difficult.

Or does it? Imagine my surprise when I discovered some research that turns everything I thought I knew about ghrelin on its head….

High ghrelin levels and visceral belly fat

In a secondary analysis of an 18-month clinical trial conducted, researchers in Israel discovered that high fasting levels of ghrelin, which rebound after weight loss, can help reduce belly fat and improve insulin sensitivity.

When we are sleeping, our bodies go into fasting mode, and our ghrelin levels rise overnight. During the clinical trial, researchers found that dieting leads to an elevation in these fasting levels of ghrelin, and this rise is associated with visceral fat loss in the abdomen as well as better sensitivity to insulin.

Based on these results, people with higher fasting ghrelin levels following weight loss may have a lower risk of developing diabetes or other diseases associated with metabolic syndrome and a higher risk of heart disease.

“The findings suggest fasting ghrelin levels may serve as a valuable indicator of cardiometabolic health following weight loss,” says the study’s senior author, Iris Shai of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

Peak Cardio Platinum^™

Research shows that by age 70, Nitric Oxide production declines by up to 75 percent! But supporting healthy N-O levels isn’t as easy as taking a nitric oxide pill. The body needs nutrients to produce N-O on its own — and that’s why… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

The “green” Mediterranean diet may be key

What’s even more interesting is that following a “green” Mediterranean diet gave an even bigger boost to fasting ghrelin levels.

The study involved participants with either abdominal obesity or abnormally elevated cholesterol. During the study, one group of participants followed a protein plant-based Mediterranean diet that excluded red meat and included green tea and a green leafy vegetable called Mankai, a high-protein form of the aquatic plant duckweed.

This “green” Mediterranean diet group had double the rise in fasting levels of “hunger hormone” than those who followed a more traditional Mediterranean diet or general healthy dietary guidelines. And this happened despite all three groups having similar caloric restrictions and weight loss.

“The elevation in fasting ghrelin levels might help to explain why the green Mediterranean diet optimized the microbiome, reduced liver fat and improved cardiometabolic health more than the other diets in our study,” Shai says.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Researchers say the results suggest fasting ghrelin is an essential hormone for reducing belly fat and recovering sensitivity to insulin through diet.

“The differential, diet-specific response in fasting ghrelin levels elevation might suggest another mechanism in which distinct dietary regimens, such as the ‘green’ Mediterranean diet, reduce cardiometabolic risk,” says Gal Tsaban, a researcher and cardiologist of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center in Israel and first author of the paper.

The “green” Mediterranean diet group lost more weight and waist inches than the other two groups. They also experienced a drop in their blood pressure and LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol and a nearly twofold reduction in their 10-year Framingham Risk Score, which substantially lowers their risk of developing serious heart disease over the next decade.

Mastering the snacking urge

Clearly, if you want to shed visceral abdominal fat, boosting your fasting ghrelin level is a good way to go. But how can you fend off the munchies that accompany that “hunger hormone” increase?

One thing I’ve done is to swap out sweets for an apple or pear. And if I’m craving a salty snack, I’ll cut up some carrots, peppers, and/or cucumbers and have them with a tablespoon of hummus. The fiber in these fruits and vegetables helps keep me full longer than a candy bar or bowlful of chips or pretzels. And these low-calorie snacks are right in line with a “green” Mediterranean diet.

Sources:

Higher fasting ‘hunger hormone’ levels from healthy diet may improve heart health and metabolism — Endocrine Society

New And Improved Mediterranean Diet Reduces Heart Risks Even More — Easy Health Options

The post The surprising hormone that helps burn belly fat appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But scientists are still exploring the way thyroid hormone interacts with the cells of the body. In doing so, they have uncovered a fascinating aspect of the thyroid’s mechanism that until now hasn’t been clearly understood…

The subtlety of thyroid function

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that the thyroid operates less like an on/off switch and more like the dimmer that gradually adjusts the brightness of your light fixture.

“We were able in this study to show that thyroid hormone doesn’t just turn things on or off, as the canonical model suggests, but instead more subtly shifts the balance between the repression and enhancement of gene activity,” says principal investigator and Penn Medicine professor Dr. Mitchell Lazar. “Yet, as people with hypothyroidism know, the lack of thyroid hormone can have profound effects on the body.”

The study focused on TR-beta, the main receptor in the liver. TR-beta regulates some of the thyroid hormone’s most important metabolic effects, including the lowering of cholesterol levels.

When thyroid hormone binds to TR-beta, it can function as a sort of dimmer switch, shifting the balance in favor of more gene activation at some sites and more gene repression at others — instead of simply turning the entire network of genes on or off, as once thought.

The researchers say more work needs to be done to clarify why thyroid hormone acts in this more subtle way when binding to TR-beta. But they believe the findings are a significant advance in understanding thyroid biology, and that they can be used to develop more precise medicines targeting a number of metabolic diseases.

Peak Thyroid Support^™

The thyroid’s main job is to make hormones that regulate the heart, brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, muscles and every other organ and tissue. But to function properly, it needs an adequate supply of iodine — something that gets harder to metabolize with age. That’s why… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

What’s the right level for thyroid treatment?

If your doctor suspects your thyroid may not be working properly, they will likely start by testing your level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). According to the American Thyroid Association, adults with a TSH level of 0.4 to 4.0 milli-international units per liter (mlU/L) are considered to have normal thyroid function.

TSH levels under 0.4 mlU/L indicate you could have hyperthyroidism, a condition where your thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms include heart palpitations, tremors, disrupted sleep, frequent bowel movements and unintentional weight loss. Untreated hyperthyroidism can contribute to abnormal heart rhythm and worsen osteoporosis.

When your TSH levels measure above 4 mlU/L, you likely have hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. Your TSH levels are abnormally high because your body is producing more TSH in an effort to get your thyroid to release more thyroid hormone.

Signs your thyroid is underactive include weight gain, fatigue, thinning hair, stiff or painful joints, memory issues and increased sensitivity to cold. Left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to obesity, infertility and heart disease, so doctors will usually prescribe a thyroid hormone replacement medication like levothyroxine.

Peak Thyroid Support^™

Specially Formulated with Essential Nutrients to Support Healthy Thyroid Function!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Most physicians won’t prescribe thyroid medication unless TSH levels surpass the 4 mlU/L mark. However, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry has recommended beginning treatment at 2.5 mlU/L or higher, especially if the patient has cardiovascular risk factors. One study recommends clinicians consider gender, age, pre-existing conditions, symptoms and quality of life when deciding whether to prescribe thyroid medication to patients whose TSH is above 2.5.

If your TSH levels are in the 2.5-to-4.0 range, and you’re at higher cardiovascular risk and/or experiencing some or all of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid, you may want to talk to your doctor about whether you should begin thyroid hormone replacement.

It’s also a good idea to support good thyroid function with nutrients like iodine, copper, selenium and zinc. The thyroid needs iodine to produce thyroid hormone, so it’s important that your diet includes plenty of iodine-rich foods. Some good sources of iodine include organic yogurt, cranberries, iodized salt, navy beans and sea vegetables like kelp and wakame.

Be aware that it gets more difficult for your body to absorb iodine as you get older, so you may need an iodine supplement to ensure you’re maintaining healthy levels of the nutrient. Also, combining iodine with the amino acid L-Tyrosine can increase thyroid hormone efficiency.

Sources:

Discovery Illuminates How Thyroid Hormone ‘Dims’ Metabolism — Penn Medicine News

Interpreting Thyroid Levels Tests — Healthline

The Normal TSH Reference Range: What Has Changed in the Last Decade? — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

What do different TSH levels mean? — Medical News Today

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) — Mayo Clinic

What Your Hypothyroidism Test Results Mean — Everyday Health

The post The health impact of ‘thyroid dimming’ appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And the benefits of intermittent fasting don’t stop at weight loss.

In fact, research from the Salk Institute has now proven that following a time-restricted eating plan can deliver four big health benefits.

Peak Organic Superfruits^™

Blend of anthocyanin-rich, organic fermented fruits — including Aronia, Acia, Blueberry, Pomegranate and Plum — that can help clobber insulin resistance, and keep you healthy. MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

What is time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting?

Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a type of intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting, also known as TRE, involves grouping all of your calories or meals for the day into a specific time period or window. For example, you could eat between 10 am and 6 pm, but you would have to avoid food for the rest of the 24 hours.

This is called a 16:8 plan. And if you think about it, it’s rather easy. You’re asleep for a big chunk of the time you’re fasting, and if you’re like me, you might prefer to eat breakfast later in the morning.

So, depending on what “window” or period of time you restrict your eating, you can reap the benefits without feeling deprived.

In their study, the Salk scientists used a nine-hour eating window in mice to analyze its effects — and here’s what they found…

#1 – Improved liver health

Fatty liver is on the rise in the United States. When someone has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, more than five percent of the liver’s total weight is made up of fatty tissue. And, unfortunately, it’s estimated that 80 to 100 million people currently have the disease, yet have no idea because they’re not experiencing symptoms.

You might think that not having symptoms is a good thing. I mean, who wants to deal with the fatigue, abdominal pain and weight loss that can come with the disease? But, on the other hand, NAFLD can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which in turn can even lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer quickly.

However, after the Salk team analyzed the tissues of mice on the TRE program, they discovered that, regardless of age, sex, or weight loss profile, following time-restricted eating strongly protected them against fatty liver disease.

Peak Golden Oil^™

Support for Inflammation and Optimal Immune Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

#2 – Sepsis protection

Sepsis is a serious complication for hospitalized patients that can often lead to death.

After administering a toxin that induced a sepsis-like condition in the mice, the team found that mice on the TRE plan were protected from sepsis death.

“For many TRE clinical interventions, the primary outcome is weight loss, but we’ve found that TRE is good not only for metabolic disease but also for increased resilience against infectious diseases and insulin resistance,” says Satchidananda Panda, a professor in Salk’s Regulatory Biology Laboratory and holder of the Rita and Richard Atkinson Chair.

#3 – Better blood sugar

If those benefits aren’t enough, the research also proved that TRE could be the key to better blood sugar.

The team found that fasting resulted in a lower increase in blood glucose and a faster return to normal blood sugar levels in both young and middle-aged males. It also significantly improved glucose tolerance in young and middle-aged females.

Additionally, the scientists report that mice on TRE eating plans were able to restore normal blood sugar levels more efficiently than control mice that ate at will.

“This was our first time studying female mice, and we weren’t sure what to expect,” says first author Amandine Chaix, a former staff scientist in the Panda lab and now an assistant professor at the University of Utah. “We were surprised to find that, although the females on TRE were not protected from weight gain, they still showed metabolic benefits, including less fatty livers and better-controlled blood sugar.”

If you have diabetes and want to try TRE, it’s wise to do so under your physician’s care.

#4 – Improved muscle mass for fewer falls

TRE could even provide a muscle boost for seniors.

The research showed that male mice on the plan were able to preserve and add muscle mass, as well as improve muscle performance.

According to the researchers, this is a major finding for the elderly, who are at the highest risk of fall-related injuries since two of the biggest risk factors for falls are muscle weakness and obesity.

Sources:

BENEFITS OF TIME-RESTRICTED EATING DEPEND ON AGE AND SEX – Salk Institute

The post Study finds 4 big benefits of intermittent fasting appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Now though, thanks to a new study, there may be a way to halt the progression of fatty liver and put the organ on a diet to save your health.

And, spoiler alert…

If you like chocolate, you’re going to love this fatty liver-fighting treat.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Cocoa improved markers of fatty liver

So, what’s the secret to thinning down your liver?

It might just be cocoa powder.

According to Joshua Lambert, professor of food science in the College of Agricultural Sciences, “While it is typically considered an indulgence food because of its high sugar and fat content, epidemiological and human-intervention studies have suggested that chocolate consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardio-metabolic diseases including stroke, coronary heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

“So, it made sense to investigate whether cocoa consumption had an effect on non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease, which is commonly associated with human obesity.”

For the study, he and his team first fed mice a high-fat diet to induce obesity. By waiting until the mice were already obese before supplementing their diet with cocoa, the researchers say that they were better able to test the protective effects of cocoa and simulate real-world non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease.

Over eight weeks they examined changes the mice experienced, including markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant response and liver cell damage. And here’s what they found…

The cocoa-treated mice:

• gained weight at a 21 percent lower rate than those not given the treat.
• had smaller spleen weights, a marker that indicates overall lower levels of inflammation than the high-fat-fed control mice.
• had 28 percent less fat in their livers at the end of the study than the control mice.
• showed 56 percent lower levels of oxidative stress caused by free radicals than non-cocoa treated mice.
• had a 75 percent lower level of DNA damage in their livers compared to high-fat-fed control mice!

The researchers’ conclusion? Supplementation of cocoa powder markedly reduced the severity of liver disease in mice. Even better? The researchers believe it has implications for human health as well!

Peak Chelation+ Resveratrol^™

Helps flush harmful toxins from your body that interfere with vital functions!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Helping dietary fat pass on through

So by now, you’re probably wondering two things if you’re concerned about your liver health.

First, how does it work? And second, how much cocoa should you drink?

According to Prof. Lambert, cocoa is rich in fiber, iron and phytochemicals which have been reported to have numerous positive health benefits, including antioxidant polyphenols. Previous research has shown these cocoa extracts may block the enzymes that help your body digest dietary fat and carbs.

This means that instead of being absorbed, they’re simply passing through. So instead of your liver gaining weight, it slims down.

Now for the second question…

How much cocoa is the secret to a slim, trim liver?

Well, the amount used in the study works out to about 10 tablespoons of cocoa per day in human terms, or about five cups of hot chocolate if you follow the directions on a box of Hershey’s cocoa powder.

However, you shouldn’t simply add in five cups of cocoa a day and change nothing else in your routine.

Instead, Prof. Lambert recommends substituting cocoa for other high-calorie snack foods, while increasing the amount of exercise you get.

As he points out, “If you go to the gym and work out, and your reward is you go home and have a cup of cocoa, that may be something that helps get you off the couch and moving around.”

Sources:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — Mayo Clinic

Dietary cocoa improves health of obese mice; likely has implications for humans — ScienceDaily

The post How cocoa lessens the risk of fatty liver appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s normal for the liver to contain some fat. But when more than 5 to 10 percent of the liver’s weight is made up of fat, it’s considered to be a fatty liver, also termed steatosis. The more severe form of NAFLD is known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a condition that causes swelling and damage to the liver.

Usually, when someone has NAFLD, the recommended treatment is simply to lose weight, since obesity is one of the main causes. A loss of about 10 percent of your body weight can reverse the condition, and even a weight loss of 3 to 5 percent can improve your liver health.

Exercise is a tried-and-true component of any serious weight-loss program. And in the case of NAFLD, which is often connected with a sedentary lifestyle, researchers are finding exercise may provide benefits beyond the expected drop in weight…

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Exercise leads to liver health

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have discovered when it comes to NAFLD, an exercise regimen has benefits to the liver unrelated to weight loss.

The study compared data from obese Japanese men with NAFLD on a three-month exercise plan with those on dietary restriction targeting weight loss. Researchers kept track of a number of measurements, including liver parameters, decrease in fat tissue, increase in muscle strength and reductions in inflammation and oxidative stress.

Results found exercise preserved muscle mass better than dietary restriction, though those in the exercise group showed a modest decrease in body and fat mass. Still, an ultrasound revealed the exercise regimen lowered liver steatosis by 9.5 percent, liver stiffness by 6.8 percent and a measure of liver fibrosis by a whopping 16.4 percent over the weight-loss plan.

On top of that, the exercise plan changed circulating concentrations of specific organokines, molecules that regulate bodily functions like inflammation, oxidative stress, glucose and lipid metabolism, fat distribution and endothelial function, by activating an oxidative stress sensor. Exercise also enhanced the protective capacity of Kupffer cells, which help maintain liver function.

“Our research shows how exercise prevents liver steatosis and fibrosis in NAFLD and clarifies that this benefit is compounded by preservation of muscle mass and is independent of weight changes,” says senior author Professor Junichi Shoda of the University of Tsukuba. “Patients on exercise regimens may become demotivated and drop out if they do not experience significant weight loss. Therefore, moderate to vigorous-intensity exercise should be integrated in all NAFLD therapeutic regimens, and patients at risk for NASH should be encouraged to persevere with moderate to high-intensity exercise regardless of whether or not they lose weight.”

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

Give your Body the Optimal Alkalizing Nutrients you Need for Healthy pH Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Which types of exercise to choose

Each session had the participants perform fast walking and/or light jogging at a progressively increased intensity. The trainers evaluated each participant in an initial training session to determine their daily condition and fitness goals and recommended the most appropriate amount and intensity of exercise. The trainers also asked the participants to exercise as much as they could outside their scheduled aerobic sessions.

Now, for most of us, it may be difficult to do 90 minutes of exercise at one time, let alone three times a week. But, as we’ve discussed in earlier issues, there are ways to incorporate shorter bursts of exercise into your daily routine.

Since moderate to vigorous-intensity exercise seems to have the most impact on liver health, you’ll want to make sure whatever you’re doing gets your heart pumping. Try taking a brisk walk on your lunch break, or go climb some stairs if you have access to a staircase. And if you can, go for a quick run, light jog or bike ride either before or after work. Whatever exercise you decide to do and however long you’re able to do it, remember that it’s better for your health than doing nothing at all.

Sources:

Exercise Promotes Healthy Living and a Healthy Liver — University of Tsukuba

Weight-loss-independent benefits of exercise on liver steatosis and stiffness in Japanese men with NAFLD — JHEP Reports

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) — American Liver Foundation

How to Reverse Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease — WebMD

Chapter Six – Organokines in disease — Advances in Clinical Chemistry

The post One ‘must-have’ for a healthy liver and healthy living appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Yet, deaths from this cancer are skyrocketing.

In fact, according to the CDC, from 2000 to 2016 alone, deaths due to liver cancer in the U.S. rose by a whopping 43 percent in men and 40 percent in women. This took liver cancer from its spot as the ninth leading cause of cancer death in our country to number six!

But there is good news…

Researchers have found a simple way to keep your liver healthy and decrease your risk of liver cancer dramatically — and their inspiration came from an ancient Chinese proverb…

How fatty is your liver?

You see, one of the main reasons for the rise in liver cancer is due to a condition known as fatty liver. And it’s pretty much what the name implies — an accumulation of fat in the organ.

The rate of fatty liver has been increasing significantly across the world and in the U.S. in particular. It occurs from taking in excess calories that create more fat in the liver than it can break down. You can think of it as a fatty body causing a fatty liver. People who are obese or have diabetes and high triglycerides are prime targets for fatty liver.

Related: How to stop drinking yourself fat

And the thing is, when fat builds up in your liver, your chances of ending up with a tumor there are far greater.

This got an international research team led by Shinshu University School of Medicine to beg the question: Can eating less suppress liver cancer caused by a fatty liver?

Would it lower the amount of fat in the vital organ — and would that translate to lower cancer risk? And how much less would have to be eaten to see improvements?

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Eating less to suppress liver cancer

Previously, the team was able to show that eating a diet too rich in cholesterol, saturated fats and trans-fats increased the incidence of liver tumors.

This time they wanted to go the other way and prove the truth of an old Chinese proverb that says, “to live a long and healthy life, eat until the stomach is 70 percent full. Then you will live healthy, and it might lead to longevity.”

So, they put mice on a diet.

Over a 15-month period, some of their mice ate normally, while others had their food intake reduced by 30 percent — in order to hit that “70 percent full” target from the proverb.

And the results are in…

The team was able to show that reducing food intake by 30 percent or eating until you are just 70 percent full is effective in reducing the likelihood of developing liver cancer from fatty liver.

In fact, they found that the incidence of fatty liver-related liver tumors fell from a massive 41 percent to just 8 percent in a little over a year, simply by cutting back on the amount of food eaten.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

Give your Body the Optimal Alkalizing Nutrients you Need for Healthy pH Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Why dietary restriction works

According to the researchers, you’re less likely to get cancer when you cut your calories for a number of reasons since reducing food intake:

• Suppresses the cell proliferation that allows cancer to run wild.
• Reduces oxidative stress that damages cells.
• Lowers the inflammation linked to cancer and other chronic diseases.
• Decreases the senescence that alters the cellular environment.
• Combats insulin signaling which promotes cancer.
• Increases autophagy so that your body can clean out damaged cells and reduce the likelihood you’ll develop cancer.

A good way to get there: Switch to using a small plate to make your portions look bigger than they are and eat slowly. That way your brain has time to receive that “I’m getting full” signal from your belly before you’ve eaten too much.

For more tips on reducing your food intake read 2 Old-school Golden Rules for Health and Longevity by Margaret Cantwell.

Sources:

Trends in Liver Cancer Mortality Among Adults Aged 25 and Over in the United States, 2000–2016 — CDC

Eating less suppresses liver cancer due to fatty liver — EurekAlert!

The post The Chinese proverb that’s helping researchers lower liver cancer appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Snacking on donuts, cookies, cakes, sugary cereals and other sweets too often is bad for every organ and system in your body — especially your liver.

High sugar intake is directly linked to liver cancer, liver scarring and fatty liver disease — a condition that can lead to cirrhosis. But there is a zero-calorie savior that can satisfy your sweet tooth and save your liver — stevia.

In case you’re not familiar with stevia, it’s a natural sugar alternative that comes from a shrub called Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. Stevia is 200 to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar, which means you need far less of it to provide the same level of sweetness. It also contains no calories, and it doesn’t cause the same blood sugar spike conventional sugar does.

All this makes stevia a good sugar replacement for people looking to cut calories, lose weight and keep their blood sugar in check. But stevia’s benefits go beyond its ability to satisfy a sweet tooth without calories or a blood sugar spike. It’s also been linked to a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer, better blood pressure and even an ability to kill the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Now, based on a brand-new study, researchers believe stevia might be able to prevent fatty liver disease and even reverse some of the damage that it causes too.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

How stevia slays fatty liver disease

A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that stevia can reduce the signs of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition where the liver stores too much fat. Diet plays a big role in the development of this disease, particularly diets filled with processed and sugary foods. So, researchers wanted to see what effect (if any) the alternative sweeteners stevia and sucralose had on the liver.

They compared the effects of each of these sweeteners to the effects of sugar, and here’s what they found…

Stevia lowered glucose levels and reduced the markers of fatty liver disease. The markers it had the greatest impact on were fibrosis (the formation of scar tissue on the liver) and fat levels in the liver. That means stevia has the potential to reverse the negative effects of fatty liver disease. Pretty amazing, huh?

But how does stevia help heal a fatty liver, exactly?

Researchers don’t know for sure. But they noticed that stevia decreased the signs of cellular stress and triggered positive changes in the gut microbiome, so they suspect it has something to do with those changes. And just so you know, sucralose didn’t have the same benefits.

Sources:

1. Non-caloric sweetener reduces signs of fatty liver disease in preclinical research study — MedicalXpress.
2. Rebaudioside affords hepatoprotection ameliorating sugar sweetened beverage- induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis — Scientific Reports.
3. What is stevia? — Medical News Today.
4. 12 Foods to Help Fatty Liver Reversal — Healthline.
5. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — Mayo Clinic.
6. Everything You Need to Know About Stevia — Healthline.

The post Stevia: The natural, zero-calorie sweetener that slays fatty liver appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Soybean oil is one of the most popular ingredients in packaged foods. It’s in everything from bread to protein bars to chips to lunch meat. And then there’s restaurant food…

Soybean oil is the most popular frying oil. So, if you order anything fried, you’re definitely getting a dose. But even if you steer clear of fried food, there’s a good chance it will find its way onto your plate.

I recently read a HuffPost article that said a meal at a popular steak house could contain soy (in most cases soybean oil) from start to finish. It’s in the bread, soup, salad, steak, potato, dessert, and even the mint.

So, soybean oil is everywhere. Why is that a problem?

There’s mounting evidence that this oil is seriously unhealthy. Past research in mice shows that it causes obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. Now, there’s new evidence that it’s extraordinarily bad for the brain too…

Peak PS^™

It’s a mouthful, but Phosphatidylserine, or PS for short, is a nootropic that promotes brain health, memory, clarity, reasoning and comprehension. This nutrient is a key building block for the cells in your brain, that scientific literature has shown can… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Soybean oil alters important brain genes

A new study from researchers at the University of California-Riverside found that soybean oil triggers alarming changes to the brains of mice.

In the study, researchers fed some mice with a soybean oil diet. And here’s what happened to them:

• They experienced changes in their hypothalamus, a part of the brain with an active role in metabolism, body temperature, reproduction, physical growth, stress response, and memory.
• The gene that creates oxytocin, the love hormone, wasn’t working correctly. As a result, they had less oxytocin in their brains.
• 100 other genes weren’t working correctly. Researchers say problems with these genes could prevent proper brain function, or even contribute to diseases like autism and Parkinson’s.

Now, it’s worth noting that other mice in the study were given coconut oil diets, and they didn’t experience the same negative effects. Why is this significant?

Well, there’s a theory that unsaturated fat is healthier for you than saturated fat. But that theory didn’t hold up in this case, since soybean oil is a polyunsaturated fat and coconut oil contains saturated fats.

How to stop eating so much soybean oil

Even though this study was performed on mice rather than people, researchers think there’s enough evidence to recommend that people eat less of it. Since most soybean oil comes from packaged food and restaurant food, you know what to do…

Start buying more whole, fresh foods and cooking at home as much as possible. That doesn’t mean you can never go out to eat. But try to limit yourself to one meal out per week.  And of course, if you cook with soybean oil at home, replace it with something healthier like olive oil or coconut oil.

But what about other soy products? Should you steer clear of all soy?

Some people need to give up soy for health reasons. They have allergies, intolerances or serious health issues that inspire them to give it up. But if you’re generally healthy, you can keep some soy in your diet. If you do, stick to more natural sources of soy like tofu, tempeh or edamame. And always buy organic. Over 90 percent of soy in the U.S is genetically modified. So, going organic will prevent you from buying a basket full of GMO, Roundup-ready soy.

Sources:

1. America’s most widely consumed oil causes genetic changes in the brain — MedicalXpress
2. Dysregulation of Hypothalamic Gene Expression and the Oxytocinergic System by Soybean Oil Diets in Male Mice — Endocrinology
3. Should you eat soy or not? — Easy Health Options

The post The most widely-consumed cooking oil’s alarming brain side effects appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

You cannot survive without your liver and yet, most people aren’t aware of how much stress is put on this hard-working organ day after day.

Alcohol use does not cause NAFLD.  Alcohol was long thought to be the sole cause of a fatty liver. Recent studies have shown that other factors raise your personal risk.

However, if those with a fatty liver drink excess alcohol, it can quickly worsen their condition. Taking pain relievers or anti-inflammatories (even over-the-counter versions) can also aggravate a stressed liver. Prescription drugs and painkillers are difficult for your liver to metabolize.

Research in the past decade has linked the emergence of NAFLD to metabolic syndrome. It has become an epidemic in developed countries that have high incidences of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It can gradually progress – if steps are not taken to slow or stop it – to other serious liver conditions, end stage liver failure, and early death.

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

At birth your body’s pH is balanced. But starting immediately acid waste builds up and starts to shift your pH level from healthy alkaline to unhealthy acid. If your body is too acidic it provides the right terrain for germs to thrive. To add insult to injury… MORE⟩⟩

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

Primary triggers of fatty liver disease

1. Insulin resistance
2. Obesity
3. Elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia, pre-diabetes, or type 2 diabetes)
4. Poor diet
5. High triglycerides (fats in the blood)
6. Lack of exercise
7. Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
8. Underactive pituitary gland (hypopituitarism)
9. Genetic variants (specifically PNPLA3)

Fatty liver disease is the most common chronic liver disease in the world. In the United States alone, NAFLD affects more than 80 million people (1-in-5 adults). Experts estimate it will become the number one cause of liver transplants within the next decade.

You may experience no symptoms of liver problems initially.

The human liver is strong and durable; accustomed to handling all the toxins you’re exposed to day after day. This means it’s able to endure years of abuse before it begins to falter.

Once you begin to show signs of liver distress, the problem could already be extremely advanced. You may still show no signs until your liver begins to fail! I’ve written a groundbreaking book on how to love your liver, click here for more information.

Signs and symptoms reported by NAFLD patients

• Nausea and indigestion
• Inability to lose weight
• Excessive sweating
• Hyperthermia (overheating of the body)
• Enlarged liver
• Fatigue
• Pain in upper right area of abdomen
• Abdominal swelling
• Large (possibly visible) blood vessels beneath the skin
• Larger breast tissue in men
• Enlarged spleen
• Red palms
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)

With the right diet and lifestyle changes, NAFLD can be halted and even reversed, according to research published in the Hepatology journal. This means focused steps to removing those things that are contributing to a dangerous fatty liver.

Protect your liver: 8 steps you can take right now

1. Control alcohol intake. While one or two glasses of wine a day have proven health benefits, consider avoiding hard liquors.
2. Limit high-carb food. Avoid processed foods, white bread, and anything packed with preservatives or refined sugars. A diet rich in carbohydrates overwhelms your liver as simple carbs are converted into sugars and fat.
3. Read the labels. Consume flour-based foods in moderation. This includes breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, bread, chips, and fries. Even if the food you eat isn’t made of flour, it’s mixed with or coated with it.
4. Cut all trans fats. Fast food, deep-fried anything, and what I call “convenience store” snacks are dangerous. Despite legislation, trans fats are still present in these foods because manufacturers lower the serving size to stay under the maximum allowable. Eliminate all hydrogenated oils and switch to olive or coconut oils.
5. Eat more produce. They’re some of the most powerful healing and cleansing foods and are crucial to liver health.
6. Exercise regularly. Even low-impact exercise such as walking or yoga does wonders for your health. If you suffer from chronic pain or can’t jump right into exercise, consider stretching in your chair (there are lots of videos on YouTube).
7. Control the weight. While even “thin” people have developed fatty liver disease, they are the exception. Obesity is a known risk factor in countless diseases and premature death. Getting your weight down to a healthy level will help your entire body.
8. Increase protein consumption. Natural proteins such as meat, eggs, nuts, and seafood stabilize your blood sugar, reduce hunger, and aid in weight loss.

Some simple changes can help avoid or reverse fatty liver disease. A healthy liver translates to a cleaner body and that means a longer, stronger life. 

Peak Organic Alkalizing Greens^™

Give your Body the Optimal Alkalizing Nutrients you Need for Healthy pH Balance!

Buy Now!

⟨www.PeakNatural.com⟩

«SPONSORED»

When to see your doctor

Today, most of the human population has access to basic medical information. Certainly, more than at any other time in history (yet, far less than we will have in the future). Gone are the days of requiring a doctor’s visit for every minor burn, cut, cold, or rash.

Your liver is too important to your very life to self-diagnose or leave to chance!

While none of the warning signs listed above is definitive of fatty liver disease, if you’re experiencing more than one – especially if they’re ongoing – consult with your doctor. He may order a liver function test, an ultrasound, or refer you to a specialist.

The post 9 fatty liver disease triggers and 8 ways to avoid it appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But perhaps your liver’s most challenging job is as your body’s detoxifier. Your liver takes a major hit daily by metabolizing toxins from alcohol, drugs, chemicals and food. And, depending on how health-conscious you are, your liver may be working overtime to keep your body up and running.

Considering all your liver does for you, it’s only fair that you show your liver some love –and one of the best ways according to recent research, is to eat a cancer-fighting vegetable that is notoriously good for your health… broccoli.

Broccoli’s full of bioactive compounds

If you were one of those kids who secretly fed their broccoli to the family dog under the table, it’s about time you give broccoli another chance… at least if you want a healthy, cancer-free liver.

For most of us, it’s hard to get away from the excessive amounts of sugar and saturated fat in the standard American diet. And we don’t eat nearly enough vegetables. But a diet like this tends to overload your liver and lead to fatty liver or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and, eventually, liver cancer.

Broccoli, however, is a brassica vegetable that contains the cancer-fighting compound sulforaphane. It also contains bioactive compounds that prevent your liver from storing too much fat. And, believe me, you don’t want a fatty liver… it not only leads to cirrhosis but also to hepatocellular carcinoma, one of the deadliest forms of liver cancer.

To measure the liver-healing benefits of broccoli, researchers at the University of Illinois fed mice a Westernized diet and then monitored its effect on their livers. It’s no surprise that the diet not only resulted in fatty liver but in more cancer nodules (and larger cancer nodules at that). Once researchers added broccoli to the mice’s diet, however, the number of cancer nodules decreased. That means new nodules stopped growing.

“We found that the Westernized diet did increase fatty liver, but we saw that the broccoli protected against it. Broccoli stopped too much uptake of fat into the liver by decreasing the uptake and increasing the output of lipid from the liver,” said Elizabeth Jeffery, an emeritus professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois.

Best ways to get broccoli’s benefits

Researchers recommend that you eat broccoli three to five times per week to prevent liver cancer, as well as breast, prostate and colon cancers.

To reap the greatest cancer-fighting benefits, you should chop your broccoli and eat it raw (maybe on top of a salad) or lightly steam it. These preparation methods make sure you are getting as much of the cancer-fighting compound sulforaphane as possible.

Source:

Broccoli may offer protection against liver cancer, study shows

The post Bravo for the brassica that decreases liver cancer appeared first on Easy Health Options®.