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Red wine and dark chocolate... might seem decadent...but these guilty pleasures also might help us live longer...and healthier lives. Red wine and dark chocolate definitely improve an evening..but they also contain resveratrol..which lowers blood sugar. Red wine is a great source of catechins..which boost protective HDL cholesterol. Green tea? Protects your brain..helps you live longer..and soothes your spirit.

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Monday, April 18, 2011

Fatty Liver Disease Can Lead to Heart Attack

The liver is connected to the heart? Yes. Because so many Americans are overweight, we expect to see an increase in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is a threat to the liver, of course, increasing risk of cirrhosis and in some cases liver failure. 


Surprisingly the more serious risk is that non-alcoholic fatty liver will lead to coronary artery disease and a heart attack. Most people who have this disorder are more likely to die of a heart attack, than liver failure.
30 million Americans have  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but many are not diagnosed until liver enzymes are elevated. Yet there are warning signs much earlier. 
Many with this condition suffer from Metabolic Syndrome, a constellation of factors which include a large waist circumference (men greater than 40 inches, women greater than 35 inches), high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels and insulin resistance that heighten the risk of heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes.


Best news is... the condition is reversible. Just as with type 2 diabetes, Fatty liver disease can be cured with diet and exercise.” Vigorous exercise, such as weight lifting, swimming, running or aerobics, between 75 and 150 minutes a week with a heart rate of 120 or above will help you reverse this problem. Lose 12 percent of your current weight, no matter how much you weigh, and you will eliminate fat from your liver.


See the news release here: http://www.methodisthealth.com/body.cfm?id=495&action=detail&ref=773


And...Cut the sugars and starches...curbing carbohydrates is more effective than cutting calories for individuals who want to quickly reduce the amount of fat in their liver, report UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/575768/?sc=dwhr&xy=24786

2 comments:

  1. plain language that i can understand

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  2. Life Extension Recommendations
    NAFLD and NASH are progressive conditions that require patient collaboration with a qualified physician. Because the liver metabolizes many nutrients and drugs, it is important that liver patients not add any substances to their regimen without cooperation and close monitoring by a qualified physician. The goals of therapy are:
    •Reduce the accumulation of fat in liver tissue by decreasing new fat synthesis and increasing utilization of existing fat stores in the liver.
    •Minimize free radical production, and enhance free radical scavenging in liver tissue
    •Reduce or eliminate the inflammatory responses of fat-infiltrated liver tissue to prevent progression of NAFLD to the more deadly NASH, which is a precursor of liver failure.

    The following supplements have been shown to boost liver health and help manage NAFLD:

    •Vitamin E: 800 IU daily includes at least 200 mg gamma tochopherol.
    •Omega-3 fatty acids: 700 mg EPA and 500 mg DHA daily
    •Metformin: 500 mg three times daily
    •S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe): 1200 mg daily
    •N-acetyl cysteine (NAC): 1200 mg daily
    •Silymarin (milk thistle extract): 900 mg daily
    •Polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC): 900 mg daily
    •Trans-resveratrol: 500 mg daily

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