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Dangerous Trend: Kids, Fast Food, Liver Cirrhosis 5-5-08

Cirrhosis of the liver has long been associated with alcoholism and hepatitis C but recent studies in both the United States and Europe point to the typical American diet, high in fat and sugar, as the reason more and more children and teenagers are developing liver disease, too.

Cirrhosis is suspected when blood tests reveal an elevated level of liver enzymes. Adults are routinely tested for liver enzyme levels but children seldom are. Researchers are quick to say that it isn’t the fast food itself that generates the enzymatic evidence of liver damage, it’s the excessive number of empty calories, those coming from sugar and fat, that is characteristic of a diet high in fast foods.

Brent Tetri, MD, internal medicine professor at Saint Louis University Liver Center, fed mice a diet that closely resembled a diet of fast foods, including 40% fat and high-fructose corn syrup, the most widely used sweetener in sodas and juice-based beverages manufactured today. To further mimic the typical American lifestyle, the mice were forced to remain sedentary for the study.

In less than four weeks, liver enzymes increased, signaling liver damage. There was also evidence of glucose intolerance, which often signals the strong likelihood of developing type II diabetes.

In another fast-food related study, Swedish researchers monitored 18 slim, healthy adults who ate fast foods and limited their physical activity for just one month. Within the first week, study participants’ liver enzymes had risen sharply and, by the end of the month-long study, they’d gained an average of 12 pounds each.

Tetri, a leading expert in the US on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, says it’s the high caloric intake combined with the sedentary lifestyle that causes the liver damage and that it is reversible. He says it’s quite easy to consume 2,000 calories in a single meal at a typical fast-food establishment but most Americans don’t need 2,000 calories in an entire day.

Fast-food lovers who’d like to reverse the damage already done can follow these steps Tetri offers for healthier livers:

1. Eat no more than one fast-food meal each week.  Consider it a treat, not a lifestyle.
2. Make healthier choices when eating from fast-food establishments.  To limit fat intake, cut out the mayo, cheese, and fries.  Order grilled chicken, low-fat salad dressings, and water.
3. Get more active.  Set a goal to exercise no less than three times each week.  Exercise boosts the metabolism to more effectively process all foods eaten and it minimizes weight gain.
4. Have your doctor test your liver enzymes and that of your children, too.

Tetri says it’s never too late to start a healthier lifestyle and prevent or reverse any damage that might occur to the liver and other vital organs.

Comment:

Everybody today is to busy to cook and eat a meal together every night. Often families feel if they get fast food they can spend more time together. However, many parents are overlooking one thing: Kids Love To Cook! Get you kids involved with the whole process (shopping, preparing, cooking) at a young age. Educate them about healthier choices as young children. Eat healthier yourself! Don't expect your kids to eat broccoli if you hate it! Many young parents today grew up in this fast food, microwave society and not only do they not know how to cook, but only eat prepackaged food. However, this is no excuse; because it is easier to eat healthy today than it has ever been! There are all sorts of pre-made healthy meals, snacks, and more. Anyone can throw together a tasty healthy meal for their family in 15 minutes or less. (without a microwave)

Here are some of my families favorite quick meals:

Prepackaged Organic Ravioli, Bertolini Organic Spaghetti Sauce, Prepackaged Organic Caesar Salad

Frozen Organic Free Range Chicken Tenderloins, Organic Frozen Mixed Vegetables, 1 Can Organic Cream Of Chicken Heated Together, and Prepackaged Spring Mix Salad with jello and mandarin oranges

Free range turkey burgers cooked with braggs aminos and Spike. Served with packaged wild rice mix and frozen broccoli

These are just quick examples. Keep your pantry and freezer stocked with healthy options you can throw in the oven. Anticipate being to tired to cook. I always have at least 3 meals worth of ready to serve options planned each week. I always have ravioli, gluten free chicken nuggets, turkey burgers, fish sticks etc.. I also always cook more rice than I need and I freeze the extra so all I have to do is heat it up.

Also to keep our family sanity, we eat whatever we want (within reason) on Sunday, which is our family day. So we will have pizza, nachos, whatever.