Author Topic: EFFECT OF FAST FOOD ON LIVER ................... (Read 2583 times)

RA JA (B@TTH) · « **on:** May 20, 2012, 03:37:29 AM »

Fast food is often high in calories, fats and sugar and if consumed too frequently, can easily lead to obesity and organ damage. The liver is particularly susceptible to damage because of its role in metabolic functions, including regulating blood sugar and processing fats. Damage done to the liver can be permanent if high-fat, high-sugar fast food is consumed in large quantities over a period of time.

Liver Function

The liver is responsible for many metabolic activities. Among other things, it metabolizes fat in its various forms and breaks down carbohydrates and protein into fat molecules. Fat from the liver is then sent to adipose tissue --- the layers of fat in the skin and organs --- for storage. The liver also regulates the amount of sugar in the blood -- in the form of glucose. Because most fast food is high in carbohydrates, sugar and fat, the liver is greatly affected when it is consumed.

Enzymes

One indication of liver damage is an increase in the enzyme alanine aminotransferase, ALT, in the blood. In a Swedish study published in 2008, 18 subjects ate two fast-food meals daily. They were given double their normal amount of calories and were told to remain sedentary. At the conclusion of the study, 11 of the 18 subjects' ALT were higher than normal, indicating liver problems, whereas the control group that ate no fast food had no increase.
Glucose

Fast food high in sugar, such as soda and some foods, can cause problems with the levels of glucose in the blood. In a study done at the Saint Louis University Liver Center, Dr. Brent Tetri gave mice a diet that mimicked a fast-food meal. It contained 40 percent fat and had copious amounts of high fructose corn syrup, often found in soft drinks. The mice were kept sedentary during the experiment. After four weeks, the mice not only showed an increase in liver enzymes but were also beginning to show an intolerance to glucose ---a sign of Type 2 diabetes. The liver is largely responsible for processing glucose.
Cirrhosis

One remarkable change that Tetri attributed to an increase in fast food consumption and a sedentary lifestyle is the rise of the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver in younger children and teenagers. Cirrhosis arises from liver deterioration and leads to scarring. The scarring inhibits liver functionality, sometimes significantly. Cirrhosis was previously primarily seen in long-term abusers of alcohol or in patients with hepatitis C.
Considerations

The liver can regenerate itself when damage of any kind is caught in time, according to Dr. Keith-Thomas Ayoob of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York; however, eating a lot of fast food over time can lead to a buildup of plaque in the arteries that can be hard to reverse. The problem is primarily over consumption of the foods highest in fat, sugar and carbohydrates. To reduce the risk of damage, limit fast-food meals to once a week. Also, choose the low-fat, low-sugar options from the menu and exercise regularly.

Author Topic: EFFECT OF FAST FOOD ON LIVER ................... (Read 2583 times)

RA JA (B@TTH)

EFFECT OF FAST FOOD ON LIVER ...................

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