Liver normally contains some low amounts of fat. However, when this substance accumulates, a disease called hepatic steatosis or better known as fatty liver is generated.
Among the many functions that this organ fulfills is the digestion of food, the storage of energy and the elimination of toxins, therefore, its care is key to the proper functioning of the organism.
According to the portal Healthline, when too much fat accumulates in the liver it can damage it and create scarring. In severe cases, this scarring may lead to liver failure. When this condition occurs in a person who drinks a lot of alcohol, it is known as alcoholic fatty liver disease.
For now, there are no approved drugs to treat the problem, according to the US National Library of Medicine. Research suggests that certain health conditions, genes, diet, and the digestive system may make a person more likely to develop this condition when it is not related to alcohol intake.
The experts of Healthline ensure that fatty liver is a condition that is closely related to obesity, type 2 diabetes and other disorders characterized by insulin resistance. Specialists say that on many occasions this disease is not diagnosed on time and when this happens it can cause a more serious liver condition known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
“Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict whether fatty liver will progress to NASH, which can significantly increase the risk of cirrhosis (severe scarring that impairs liver function) and liver cancer,” says the aforementioned source.
To take care of this organ and prevent it from accumulating fat, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and exercise. This can be complemented with the consumption of some home remedies such as sea thistle infusion. This plant, according to information from the portal Health Mapfrecontains a mixture of compounds known as silymarin, which are found mainly in extracts of the seeds.
“It has been seen that these extracts are capable of protecting the liver and regenerating it and that they are used as an aid in toxin or alcohol poisoning treatments. It has also been proven that they help reduce gas and flatulence from the digestive tract ”, specifies this source. Similarly, its dried leaves are used to make an infusion that helps improve liver function.
Additionally, the Nutrition and Pharmacy portal, from Spain, indicates that this herb has a component called syllimarin, which has protective liver effects that help eliminate toxins from liver cells and improve the synthesis of hepatocytin, a protein present in this organ.
help for diabetics
Sea thistle has a slight hypoglycemic effect. That is why it has been used as a treatment to reduce the level of glucose in the blood, especially in people with type 2 diabetes.
Similarly, this plant has been consumed as a digestive tonic and has been effective in combating the feeling of abdominal heaviness, especially due to excessive consumption of lipids (fats).
One of the ways to consume this plant is in infusion and for one dose it is recommended to use a cup and a half of water and boil a tablespoon of milk thistle leaves and flowers in it for two minutes, then let it rest for 10 minutes, strain and drink.
However, it is a product that is not recommended for people who suffer from high blood pressure. It should also be avoided during pregnancy and while breastfeeding and should not be consumed in excess or for a long time, as it can cause diarrhea or other types of side effects.
