Sugar in Food Causes Fat Cells to Multiply Faster

As we all know, obesity is a growing issue for children. New research points an accusing finger at fructose, a sugar in food that is a major component of widely used high fructose corn syrup in soft drinks, processed foods and candy, and suggests it may cause fat cells in children to multiply faster, playing a key role in obesity. Shockingly, an estimated 17% of children in the U.S. aged 2 to 19 years are now considered obese.

Obese kids and teens face a host of struggles... beyond being at higher risk of asthma, hepatic steatosis and sleep apnea, they're also at increased risk for other dangerous health conditions usually only seen in adults.

HEPATIC STEATOSIS

More likely to be obese when they reach adulthood, these kids are also the targets of an early, systematic and relentless social discrimination, leading to an understandable lack of self-esteem that is likely to be with them the rest of their lives.

This new research is just the latest argument in the raging sugar vs. high fructose corn syrup debate.

On one side critics claim it contributes to obesity and tricks the body into wanting to eat more. And then there are the health conscious who balk at putting any kind of toxic, man-made concoction into the body. The industry, predictably, says high fructose corn syrup is just fine... perfectly safe... the same as sugar.

You've probably seen the TV commercials the Corn Refiners Association has been running, despite questions on the objectivity of the quoted research raised by reports of funding for the studies being supplied by companies with a financial stake in the outcome.

The research on fructose and childhood obesity involved a team extracting preadipocytes, cells that will eventually turn into fat cells, from 32 normal weight children who had yet to go through puberty. The cells were of both types, subcutaneous or just below the skin, and visceral, deeper in the abdominal cavity. The cells were soaked in normal level glucose, high level glucose or high fructose solutions and allowed to grow.

Upon examination the visceral fat cells, the cells that were in fructose divided and multiplied more than those soaked in glucose. Both the subcutaneous and visceral cells exposed to glucose showed increased insulin resistance, known to be a risk factor for diabetes.

High fructose corn syrup is used more often in American foods than sucrose. It is made from milling corn, processing that starch into syrup and adding enzymes to change it into fructose. Glucose syrup is added to create a mixture that's 45% glucose; 55% fructose. The industry says that high fructose corn syrup helps prolong the shelf life of products, keeps moisture in and, probably most important, is cheaper than sugar.

The worrisome thing for medicine is that doctors are seeing more type 2 diabetes today than ever before, and claim this is due to kids being overweight.

Our children may be unknowingly increasing their risks for other adults-only conditions, like cardiovascular disease. Experts have seen a rise in cholesterol numbers and blood pressure readings in overweight children... just as they would in the grown up population.

A cardiologist and consultant to the Corn Refiners Association points out that high fructose corn syrup is not the same as fructose. High fructose corn syrup is half fructose and half glucose. A minor point considering we're still talking about sugar and how it is often an unavoidable part of the foods and drinks around us.

When it comes to high fructose corn syrup, one expert suggests that the thinking be "it's just as bad as sugar". While trace amounts of high fructose corn syrup are probably not going to hurt you, too much of any kind of sugar in the diet will.

Another important point. The study, while using actual human cells, was conducted in the lab, so you should look on the results with some measure of caution. Experiments in human subjects would be needed to confirm the findings of the effect of sugar in food. This is an important point, however there is a growing number in the medical community who fear that this will be the first generation of children who may not outlive their parents.

Sugar in Food Causes Fat Cells to Multiply Faster

HEPATIC STEATOSIS

Leading Causes of High SGPT

Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase, or more commonly known as SGPT, is a naturally occurring enzyme in our bodies and is normally found in liver and heart cells. Being an enzyme, its function is to assist in more efficient means on the usage of energy when generating chemical reactions in our bodies. In other words, it speeds up the process and uses less energy. Since enzymes exist throughout the body, it is normal to see their presence in our blood test results. However, elevated levels of certain enzymes are cause for concern as they may indicate problems in our general health or even regions related to specific enzymes.

There are some possibilities which may cause a high SGPT level in a blood test result. Since SGPT is present in the liver and heart, the hepatic and cardiac regions are the first to look into. When cells in these 2 organs are damaged, SGPT is released into the bloodstream thus resulting in elevated levels of this enzyme.

HEPATIC

Although the occasional drinks and cocktails are considered acceptable practices after work and in dinner parties, social drinking can easily escalate into more excessive drinking habits without exercising proper control. The trend with bad eating habits is steadily growing with processed foods which are easily accessible in the mainstream. These types of foods tend to have low nutritional value, high fat and sodium content. High amounts of alcohol and fat coupled together put an inordinate strain on the liver. Long periods of abuse will eventually cause permanent damage to the organ.

Damage to liver tissue can also be caused by infection due to viral hepatitis, ranging from Hepatitis A, to Hepatitis B which is more acute, or Hepatitis C which can turn chronic and possibly terminal. High intake of certain drugs may also elevate your SGPT level. Some of them comprise of common OTC (Over The Counter) drugs taken over a short term for pain relief and antibiotics, or prescription medication for long-term management of cholesterol levels, heart conditions and antidepressants.

A heart attack can also be a cause of high SGPT level as it disrupts blood flow through the liver. Certain conditions which involve infection and inflammation of the pancreas and gallbladder may also affect SGPT levels.

To detect any abnormalities in your SGPT level, it is advisable to undergo periodic medical check-ups. In doing so, other anomalies can also be spotted and you can bring up your concerns to your doctor for further action.

Leading Causes of High SGPT

HEPATIC

Aphonia Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

Some voice disorders are idiopathic and may occur due to stress. Vocal abuse (e.g., smoking, drinking excessive caffeine or alcohol, excessive exposure to fumes/toxins, etc.) is another potential cause of aphonia. Fear also is often a concomitant and a contributor. Therapy should first be aimed at correcting those conditions which might produce a disturbance in the centers of coordination between the three nervous systems. Then the overtaxed nerve forces of the body as a whole should be relieved, the incoordination which has been a factor in the disease process should be eliminated, and the forces of the body should be coordinated.

General therapy should first be aimed at a cleansing of the system with special reference to the hepatic circulation. Osteopathic manipulations and neuropathic manipulations are both recommended, but in differing degrees. Hypersensitive nervous systems must be handled cautiously and gently. Hypnosis was mentioned but was to be used. Surgery and therapy or either one of these may be recommended. The diet should be corrected and sufficient stimulus of a medicinal nature should be added to keep the body in a normal force. Some cases that are psychological - where the body is amenable to suggestion - would benefit by suggestive therapy.

HEPATIC

Causes of Aphonia

Common Causes and Risk factors of Aphonia

Injuries.

Poor eliminations.

Psychological factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Aphonia

Common Sign and Symptoms of Aphonia

Loss of speech.

Aphasia.

Confusion.

Treatment for Aphonia

Common Treatment of Aphonia

General therapy should first be aimed at a cleansing of the system with special reference to the hepatic circulation.

Osteopathic manipulations and neuropathic manipulations are both recommended, but in differing degrees.

Hypersensitive nervous systems must be handled cautiously and gently.

Hypnosis was mentioned but was to be used.

Surgery and therapy or either one of these may be recommended. Therapy is usually brief.

Diet should be corrected and sufficient stimulus.

Some cases that are psychological - where the body is amenable to suggestion - would benefit by suggestive therapy.

Aphonia Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

HEPATIC

Fatty Liver - Causes and Treatment

Did you know that 33% of the American population suffers from fatty liver and doesn't know about it? Fatty liver, or steatosis, is the accumulation of fat inside liver cells. This fat takes up precious resources and leads to mild liver failure that can grow into cirrhosis and full-blown liver failure. The causes of steatosis are multiple but, fortunately, this is a reversible malady.

Causes of Fatty Liver

STEATOSIS

The main cause of fatty liver today is obesity. Eating too much fat or sugar stresses the liver, which must process it. In time it develops steatosis and its function of burning fat is compromised, reducing metabolism and making weight loss difficult.

Another major culprit is alcohol. Alcohol puts too much stress on the liver's detoxifying function, killing cells which are replaced by non-functional fibrotic tissue (cirrhosis). Drugs (even doctor prescribed and homeopathic remedies) act in the same way, though they are not as aggressive as alcohol and, unless you are overdosing, your liver can regenerate faster than these drugs damage it.

Even if you are not obese and don't take drugs or alcohol, you can still have steatosis. This happens when your diet is not healthy - if you eat too much meat and few vegetables or fruit your liver will be damaged, even if your silhouette doesn't show it.

Treatment of Fatty Liver

The first step in treatment of any disease is removing the causes. So, a diet rich in vegetables and fruit and low in meat, an active lifestyle, restriction of alcohol and other drugs are the first steps. Weight loss is also important, but a fatty liver makes weight loss difficult, so you should concentrate on healing your liver and weight loss follows as your metabolism fires up.

To aid in healing a few herbs have been tested and showed incredible results. Turmeric, milk thistle, and artichoke are the most important. Flax seed oil is also beneficial. These herbs have been combined in several commercial preparations, but you can take them individually as well. They have the added benefit of reducing cholesterol, reversing diabetes, and leading to weight loss.

Fatty Liver - Causes and Treatment

STEATOSIS

What Causes Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a range of disease states, from steatosis (fatty liver) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (also called NASH; steatosis with inflammatory changes) followed by progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The above may mean very little to the average person until you understand what function the liver actually has in your body.

STEATOSIS

The liver, believe it or not, is the second largest organ in your body and is located under your rib cage on the right side. The liver takes care of many jobs in your body. Most importantly it processes what we eat and drink into energy and nutrients our body can use. The liver also filters the blood and removes harmful substances from the blood. It breaks down and removes cholesterol and regulates the blood sugar throughout the body.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the build up of fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat. However, if more than 5% - 10% percent of the liver's weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).

NAFLD tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. Rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD. However, some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors. NAFLD affects up to 50% of overweight people in the United States alone and the figures are similar in other westernised states.

In a few of the cases, fatty liver does not cause any harm; however, for some, the long-term presence of fat in the liver leads to inflammation. This is characterised by swelling and tenderness (hepatitis).

As is the case for a large number of diseases our diet plays a very important role. That being said you would think that by simply going on a diet and losing some weight would be enough to reverse NAFLD.

Well yes, a specific diet can reverse fatty liver disease, but a random diet plan will more than likely fail because of the following reasons.

1. The primary source of energy in people is Glycogen (which is a form of carbohydrates)

2. Glycogen is stored in the muscles and once they are full, it is stored in the liver. This means that once the liver is full the body recognizes that it is full of carbohydrates.

3. Body fat is burned only when glycogen from the blood, muscles and finally liver is depleted.

In people with fatty liver, the liver holds on to the carbohydrates in it's tissues and thus imitates a situation where the body is full of carbs. In this situation, the body "thinks" that there is no need to reach for the body fat because it has all the carbs it needs. Therefore a fatty liver can actually prevent you from losing weight.

On very rare occasions it can even result in our body decomposing muscle for energy instead of burning fat. This wreaks havoc in the body of a fatty liver sufferer.

What Causes Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?

STEATOSIS

Liver Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. It is also known as primary liver cancer or hepatoma and hepatocellular carcinoma is a cancer arising from the liver. The liver performs several vital functions. It processes and stores many of the nutrients absorbed from the intestine. It also makes some of the clotting factors needed to stop bleeding from a cut or injury. Hemangioma (he-man-ge-O-muh) is the most common type of benign liver tumor. It starts in blood vessels and Hepatic adenomas are benign tumors that start from the main type of liver cells (hepatocytes). Women have a much higher chance of having one of these tumors if they take birth control pills, although this is rare. Stopping the pills can cause the tumor to shrink. Hepatic adenomascancer begins in many spots throughout the liver and is not confined to a single tumor. This is most often seen in people with liver cirrhosis and is the most common pattern seen in the United States.

Hepatic tumors also called Liver cancer. Hepatic tumors is are tumors or growths on or in the liver. There are many forms of liver tumors premary is Malignant. Malignant, primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (also named hepatoma, which is a misnomer). These growths can be benign or malignant (cancerous). They may be discovered on medical imaging (even for a different reason than the cancer itself). Most of the time when cancer is found in the liver, it did not start there but spread to the liver from a cancer that began somewhere else in the body. These tumors are named after the place where they began (primary site) and are further described as metastatic. Symptoms can include a lump or pain on the right side of your abdomen and yellowing of the skin. However, you may not have symptoms and the cancer may not be found until it is advanced.

HEPATIC

Some researchers believe that cancer starts with damage to DNA the material that contains the instructions for every chemical process in your body, including the rate of cellular growth. DNA damage causes changes in these instructions. Liver cancer also occurs as metastatic cancer, which happens when tumors from other parts of the body spread (metastasize) to the liver. In the liver cancer some cells begin to grow abnormally. One result is that cells may begin to grow out of control and eventually form a tumor a mass of malignant cells. In the United States, most cancer found in the liver spread there after originating elsewhere. Rather than being called liver cancer, this type of cancer in the liver is named after the organ in which it began such as metastatic colon cancer in cancer that starts in the colon and spreads to the liver.

Causes of liver Cancer

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the main causes of liver cancer. Liver cancer relates to (correlates with) the frequency of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Studies in animals also have provided that hepatitis B virus can cause liver cancer. For example, liver cancer develops in other mammals that are naturally infected with hepatitis B virus-related viruses. Finally, by infecting transgenic mice with certain parts of the hepatitis B virus, scientists caused liver cancer to develop in mice that do not usually develop liver cancer.

Symptoms of liver cancer
Liver cancer is very common larges countries in world wide. Generally is discovered at a very advanced stage of cancer disease for several reasons. In addition, patients from these regions actually have more aggressive liver cancer disease. live cancer tumor usually reaches an advanced stage and causes symptoms more rapidly. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of liver cancer and usually signifies a very large tumor or widespread involvement of the liver and other symptom is weight loss. These symptoms are less common in individuals with liver cancer in the U.S.an additionally symptoms is ascites (abdominal fluid and swelling), jaundice (yellow color of the skin), or muscle wasting.

Treatment of liver cancer

The treatment of liver cancer is overall condition of the patient. First treatment if liver cancer is Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is anot effective not some cases of liver cancer but type of chemotherapy is known as chemoembolization is an important part of treatment for HCC. chemoembolization causes many of the same side effects as other forms of chemotherapy, including abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Second treatment is surgery. Surgery is best treatment for localized resectable cancer is usually an operation known as surgical resection. In some cases, the area of the liver where the cancer is found can be completely removed. Alcohol injection has been shown to improve survival in people with small hepatocellular tumors. It may also be used to help reduce symptoms in cases of metastatic liver cancer. The most common side effect is leaking of alcohol onto the liver or into the abdominal cavity.

Liver Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

HEPATIC

Acute Viral Hepatitis: Causes, Clinical Picture, Complications and Treatment

Acute viral hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver parenchyma for less than 6 months caused by viruses.

Causes of acute viral hepatitis:
Hepatotropic viruses: which includes virus A, B, non A non B (C, E) and Delta agent when it is combined with B virus. Non hepatotropic viruses: as Epstein Barr virus (EBV), Herpes simplex and cytomegallo virus (CMV).

HEPATIC

Clinical picture of Hepatotropic viral hepatitis (A, B, C, E, Delta + B):

It could be one of two types; Non icteric hepatitis or icteric hepatitis as follows:
Non icteric hepatitis: it is a mild form of hepatitis, even it may pass unnoticed, clinically there is a mild Flu-like illness with anorexia (the patient doesn't even like the smell of food and if he was a smoker he wouldn't tolerate the ciggartes smell), Fate: Resolution or it could develop chronic hepatitis. Icteric hepatitis: has 3 phases (pre-icteric, icteric and post icteric) Pre-icteric phase symptoms (about 1 week): Fever, Headache, malaise with marked anorexia and distaste for cigarettes and pain right hypochondrium (anatomical site of the liver) Icteric phase (2-4 weeks): there is some improvement of fever, malaise and headache but Jaundice appears (jaundice: Yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membrane), with jaundice there is dark urine and clay stool. Post-icteric phase (convalescence): there is improvement of general condition gradually but jaundice persists for some time, then after about 3-6 months the patient become in a normal condition.

Complications:
chronic hepatitis specially with hepatitis C. liver cirrhosis (loss of hepatic pattern with portal hypertension). Fulmination which develops rapidly into liver cell failure and hepatic encephalopathy (specially with hepatitis E infection during pregnancy). prolonged cholestasis (prolonged jaundice). relapse could occur. post hepatitis syndrome which is psychogenic. Hepatoma (cancer of liver). Aplastic anemia, purpura. urticaria, arthritis and pancreatitis. glumerulonephritis. vasculitis. ployneuropathy.

the last 5 points of complications are rare except with hepatitis B and C.

Treatment: (non specific treatment)
Rest: it is advisable, but strict confinement to bed is not necessary, rest until the patient becomes clinically normal. Diet: high carbohydrate diet, low fat diet and no restrictions for proteins except with fulminant hepatitis. steroids are contraindicated as it have no benefit and may lead to exacerbation. vitamins. antiemetics. immunoprophylaxis: vaccines and immunoglobulins.

No need for interferon therapy in Acute viral Hepatitis as it is a simple disease that can be cured by immune system, Interferon has been used in some acute cases of hepatitis C with some success.

Acute Viral Hepatitis: Causes, Clinical Picture, Complications and Treatment

HEPATIC

Hepatic Cancer Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Hepatic is a term used by medical professionals for issues related to the liver. Therefore, hepatic cancer is another name for liver cancer. Hepatic cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer.

The causes of most cases of hepatic cancer are unknown, but some cases appear to be connected other liver problems such as hepatitis. Interestingly, hepatic cancer often doesn't start in the liver. It spreads to the liver from other diseased organs through a process known as metastasis. But there are four different kinds of primary hepatic cancer, or cancer that starts in the liver itself.

HEPATIC

Hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins with the hepatocytes, the main type of liver cells. This form of hepatic cancer is often referred to by its initials: HCC.

Cholangiocarcinoma is another type. Cholangiocarcinoma originates in tiny bile ducts inside the liver. This type is also known as bile duct cancer.

Hepatoblastoma is a rare form that strikes children less than 4 years of age. Although the diagnosis is often frightening to parents, hepatoblastoma can usually be treated successfully.

The fourth type of primary hepatic cancer is angiosarcoma or hemangiosarcoma, a rare type that starts in the liver's blood vessels.

There are usually no symptoms of hepatic cancer in the early stages of the disease. But in the later stages, the following symptoms are likely to appear.

pain in the upper abdomen, possibly accompanied by swelling in the area tiring easily and a general feeling of weakness lack of desire to eat along with a noticeable weight loss nausea and vomiting

Jaundice may also appear. Jaundice is a condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes begin to look yellow. This disorder is sometimes called yellow jaundice. The liver is also likely to become enlarged.

To treat hepatic cancer, the doctor must determine the stage the disease has reached. Age and general state of health are also important. Eliminating the cancer completely will be a priority. If this is impractical, the goal then becomes limiting its growth and keeping it from spreading. The doctor will also look for ways to relieve pain and discomfort caused by symptoms.

Treatment options include surgery, with the goal of removing the diseased section of the liver. This is usually done when liver function is still good, the tumor is small, and cancerous cells haven't spread to nearby tissues or organs. This type of operation is known as a partial hepatectomy.

A liver transplant is also an option. In this procedure, the diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy liver from a donor.

Another treatment option involves killing cancer cells with extreme cold or heat. This is a relatively recent technological advance.

Alcohol injection is another recent development in the treatment of cancer. This procedure is done by injecting pure alcohol directly into a tumor. This may dry out the cancer cells and eventually kill them.

Targeted drug therapy can be used to limit the tumor's ability to generate blood vessels. This is another promising recent advance and more research is necessary.

Of course, there's also radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Most people are familiar with these forms of treatment. Both of these treatment options, unfortunately, can have serious side effects.

Hepatic cancer strikes nearly 25,000 individuals each year in the United States alone. The disease results in approximately 18,000 deaths. Hepatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men, and ninth among women. As with all other forms of cancer, early detection offers the most hope for long term survival.

Hepatic Cancer Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

HEPATIC