Liver poison

We have mentioned how important a healthy digestive system is for us to have a healthy nervous system function. This time specifically, we will bring you some lesser-known information about our liver, and when would be the right time to ask for a professional opinion.
 
The liver is the organ known for its role in detoxification. It is the first organ our blood travels to after absorption has taken place in our intestine. It carries out filtration, detoxification as well as storage of vitamins and minerals. It is also the only organ in our body that can breakdown ethanol and metabolise fructose (namely alcohol and sugar or sweetener, respectively).
 
The question is, so what?
When the consumption of alcohol and artificial sugar is overloaded, the excessive fatty acids get converted and stored in our liver. If this accumulation process continues, a fatty liver will likely develop. In Australia, 1 in 3 Australians have fatty liver.(1) People who are overweight, diabetic, have high blood cholesterol and with high alcohol consumption are at higher risk of developing fatty liver. (1)
 
Newer studies are showing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is on the rise. The projection of NAFLD cases are to increase 25% by 2030.(2) This is alarming because it shows that both adult populations and young children are increasingly getting fatty liver.(2) Fatty liver doesn’t often show any signs or symptoms until it becomes a much bigger problem such as liver cirrhosis - scar tissue forming as a result of chronic liver damage (and this damage cannot be undone!!).
 
The good news is fatty liver is reversible! If you are in the higher risk category, and curious about your liver health, there are some simple procedures your chiropractor can perform to check on liver span and medical doctors have tools to help you investigate further. If you experience the following symptoms, the best advice is to consult with your health care professionals. Some of the symptoms associated with more serious liver diseases including
 1. General tiredness, or fatigue
2. Have pain in your upper right abdomen
3. Yellow eyes and skin (jaundice)
4. Itchy skin
5. Dark stools
 
The take-home message is to reduce sugar and alcohol intake! If you are curious in improving your general health and well-being, and want to  know more about metabolic syndrome and how natural health practice could help, don’t hesitate to check in with one of our chiropractors in Sprouting Health and kinesiology, we would love to help manage your concerns.



Reference

1.         Foundation L. Fatty liver disease 2022 [updated Nov 2022. Available from: https://liver.org.au/your-liver/liver-diseases/fatty-liver-disease/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpKnUpOuGhQMVJAZ7Bx351wrSEAAYASAAEgKRQfD_BwE.
2.         Adams LA, Roberts SK, Strasser SI, Mahady SE, Powell E, Estes C, et al. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease burden: Australia, 2019–2030. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. 2020;35(9):1628-35.