Fast Food; Slow Liver

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Kimberly Crocker

How often do you eat “Fast Food” in a week’s time? Is it the best choice, or the easiest way to “Fit A Meal” into your day? Nutrition starts at birth and as life moves forward, “diet” becomes more hectic and evolves from being a way to live, to a way to survive.

If you are asked to name two questions that are routinely raised at any Doctor’s office, most people would correctly respond:

”Do you drink?”

”Do you smoke?”

How often are patients probed to reflect on a daily routine at a yearly check-up with a medical inquiry of, ”How many times a week or month do you eat fast food?” With one in five adults identified with a form of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, it would stand to reason that if the doctor does not ask the patient about their food intake, the patient should be asking for a analysis of their liver enzymes.

Recent research studies have proven ”A diet high in FAST FOOD consumption leads to Liver Disease (Cirrhosis, or Cancer)”. ”Fatty Liver is the most common liver abnormality in children ages 2-9 years old,” revealed in The Office Journal of American Pediatrics October, 2006.

Liver disease can only be determined by having liver enzymes evaluated through a blood draw at a yearly check-up. Once diagnosed, recommendation’s will be made and a new dietary routine will be followed by the patient.

Awareness about the quantity and quality of fast food, saturated with salt and boiling oil,

Fast food leads to Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

slowly kills the liver of adults and children, is the first critical step in re-thinking weekly meal plans .

The good news is that a Lifestyle Change improving on: what is eaten, increased exercise, avoidance of alcohol and limited sodium intake can return a damaged liver to a healthier state.

Once diagnosed with liver disease, your goal is to help the organ return to it’s normal functions, it’s ability to process everything that you eat and drink. A healthy lifestyle can help you feel your best and help your body cope with it’s disease. By eating

Healthy liver

healthy and doing physical activity in moderation you will:

Give your body the energy it needs to work well.
Boost your immune system.
Help your liver renew itself.

Eat Well….Enjoy the Healing Power of Food Keep your energy level up by eating

smaller meals and snacks more often. Organs filled with sodium must be flushed with foods high in Potassium: Sweet Potatoes, Baked Potato; Yogurt; Clams, Halibut; Lima, White and Soy Beans: Prunes, Kiwi, Banana’s.

Add, 6-8 glasses of water a day will assist in purifying the body from excess sodium and toxin’s.
Enjoy light to moderate physical activity, such as walking, swimming, gardening
Build up slowly to 30 to 60 minutes of activity, at least 4 times a week.
Avoid food poisoning by storing and preparing foods safely. Wash your hands often.
Talk to your health care provider if depression affects your ability to eat well.

Decrease some of the symptoms and the side effects of any treatments, such as feeling tired and sick by following a healthy diet.

Carbohydrates: Whole grains, fruits and vegetables
Fat: Healthy oils such as: Extra Virgin Olive, Canola oil, Avocado and Smart Balance oils. Omega 3, 6 reduces the inflammation in the liver: Fish, Walnuts, Flaxseed
Protein: Fish (3 x’s / wk), Poultry, Lean Meat

What your body does not need
1. Avoid alcohol.
2. Avoid foods that contain trans fat. Trans Fat must be 0 grams.
3. No more pretzels , chips, popcorn, french fries, cheese, certain meats, soy sauce and Avoid Sports Drinks. Salt, canned and processed foods must be limited.

Tasty fast food can happen in your own kitchen! After reflecting on the latest research consider preparing any of these healthy 7 Easy Recipes under 7 minutes!

Keep in communication with your doctor and dietitian so that neccessary adjustments can be made accordingly to your diet and physical activity plans.

By: K. Crocker