Green leafy vegetables, prevents fatty liver

Spinach, lettuce, arugula & The Co could reduce the risk of fatty degeneration of the liver, a new study from the Swedish Karolinska Institute. Responsible for this effect, the nitrate in the vegetables.

The researchers have found, which is a dangerous fat accumulation in the liver may avoid: nitrate, which is present in many vegetable varieties available, preventing, apparently, the storage of fat in the liver. "If we have the food of mice that were fed with a lot of fat and sugar, nitrate, we noticed a significantly lower proportion of fat in the Leber", Professor Mattias Carlström, Department of physiology and pharmacology of the Karolinska Institutet. In addition, the researchers observed a reduction in blood pressure and improved glucose metabolism in mice with type-2 Diabetes.

To understand the role of nitrate in the food is better, further studies will be needed. But now, the researchers advise to take more green leaf vegetables, e.g. lettuce, spinach, and arugula. "There are no large quantities needed to achieve the observed protection effects – only about 200 grams per Tag", Prof. Carlström says.

About 25 percent of the population have a fatty liver, mostly caused by Obesity or excessive alcohol consumption. Treatment with drugs is not currently possible. Affected is strongly recommended that the alcohol consumption limit, and the change in diet, so that from the fatty liver not a life threatening disease such as cancer of the liver developed.

ZOU