Most of the kids nowadays are hooked on sugary disks, squares, lollipops and many other similar things. When you step in a supermarket you can immediately spot the kids who are stuck in the cookie area. Some of them get 5 or 6 cookies during their lunch on daily basis, which is really shocking.
This is really bed because it directly affects the liver. If you eat too much sugary food you actually increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). “Overdose” of cookies and similar sugary food provokes a fructose hit to the liver.
The liver is located on the right side of the abdomen, tucked behind the lower ribs. It has a critical and difficult job because it needs to turn the toxins into harmless substances. The toxins can be naturally formed in the body or they can be imported in the form of street drugs, alcohol and medications. This organ uses 20% of the calories in order to fuel itself and its work. Its work incorporates converting sugars and proteins from food into energy for the body, aided by insulin.
A diet which is based on over- laden fructose foods can actually cause a fatty buildup (globules of fat begin to form in the cells of the liver). This fatty buildup is known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and prior 1980 doctor rarely noticed and knew about this. Nowadays, 30% of US adults are affected by this disease. It is important to mention that the rise of NAFLD is associated with the increase in obesity and diabetes as well. Unbelievable 70-90% of people who are obese have type 2 diabetes. Experts claim that NAFLD is a sign of metabolic syndrome which is characterized by cluster of obesity- related conditions.
It is also important to note that fatty buildup in the liver is not always seen on the thighs. According to a study in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who consumed 1.000 extra calories of sugary foods for 3 weeks noted an increase of 2% in body weight but 27% increase in liver fat. The liver fat returns to normal when you lose weight. However, it is essential to notice NAFLD in time because if not, the liver can become inflamed and lead to more severe condition. That condition is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, meaning fatty liver inflammation. Steato means fat and hepatitis- liver inflammation. In case the inflammation becomes too severe, scar tissue replaces healthy one, impairing the liver`s ability to perform its functions. That condition is called cirrhosis. It usually happens with severe alcoholism but it can also be associated with extensive sugary diet, as mentioned above.
A fatty liver can become resistant to the action of insulin. The pancreas gets whisked more and more of this fat-storage hormone in order to prod the liver into the doing its job. In that way the levels of the insulin increase as well as the body fat.
