According to new research, this eating habit may put you at risk for liver disease.
That side of bacon may be causing you more harm than you realize. When it comes to your health, it's important to think about how you're treating your liver. If you have a healthy liver, it can help you digest food and protect you from harmful chemicals, among other vital functions. In contrast, an unhealthy liver can cause many problems, from discomfort to death, depending on the seriousness.
Your eating habits can make a big difference in whether this important organ helps or hurts. According to new research, eating foods that cause inflammation may put you at risk for serious liver disorders.
The study, published in The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, examined more than 4,100 persons in the United States between the ages of 20 and 80, comparing their Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII)—a score that indicates how a person's diet affects their inflammation levels—to measures of their liver health. Foods heavy in saturated fats and cholesterol are among the highest-scoring foods, indicating that they may cause the most inflammation. Foods strong in fibre and many nutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables are among the lowest-scoring foods.
The researchers were specifically interested in determining the DII's association, if any, with participants' risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is defined by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases as any of a number of disorders characterized by an accumulation of fat in the liver. Inflammation-promoting properties in the participants' diets were associated with lowering liver health, according to the study.
According to Sunil Pai, MD, author of An Inflammation Nation, "NAFLD is a rising health problem worldwide, estimated to affect roughly 30% of the population and anticipated to continue to increase over the next few years." "As the liver gets more fibrotic (due to inflammation that creates stiffness and scarring), it causes problems with medicine, dietary supplement, and food metabolism."
Pai said that this effect might cause individuals to experience exhaustion, reduced immune systems, and soreness, among other symptoms. Furthermore, research has connected chronic inflammation to various unpleasant and widespread symptoms, including constipation, memory loss, and shortness of breath.
"Almost all diseases are made worse by inflammation, which is what sets it off. As a result, the key to improving and sustaining your health is to reduce general inflammation "Pai said. "I strongly advise everyone to eat an anti-inflammatory plant-based diet in order to improve their overall health."