When an echogenic liver is indicated by an ultrasound test, this may be a sign of certain liver conditions, such as fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, or hepatitis. We’ll discuss five great supplement ingredients that may support the healthy function of this vital organ.
For many, the subject of liver damage is one that is most often associated with lifestyle choices that include the heavy usage of alcohol or drugs. However, while damage to the liver is commonly caused by drug and alcohol use, there are other issues that can lead to liver damage and disease.
Some factors that contribute to liver damage are genetic, or inherited from at least one parent, while other causes are linked to viruses and lifestyle choices. Unsurprisingly, the liver is one of the body’s major organ systems most impacted by the dietary choices of the individual. In order to maintain liver health and function, it is important to understand how the liver functions within the body.
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Echogenic liver:
Liver overview
The liver, as one of the body’s major organ systems, handles several processes. It is a dense, solid organ that can weigh between 3 to 3.5 pounds. There are numerous functions that the liver helps to facilitate, such as detoxifying the blood, producing bile for fat breakdown, transitioning sugar to glycogen for storage and energy, and aiding the body in clotting and digestive systems. Damage to the liver can create a variety of medical problems and health concerns. Severe liver damage can lead to excessive scarring and liver failure, which can be fatal. When being examined for potential liver damage, you may be told that you have an echogenic liver.
Echogenic liver:
Background
Some tools and tests may be used to assess liver damage in patients. These include biopsies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, computed topography (CT) scans, liver function tests, and ultrasounds. Each test measures a specific aspect of liver size, functionality, or damage. The term echogenic is used to describe the images on an ultrasound. More specifically, echogenic refers to the ability to reflect sound, which appears as light.
Being diagnosed as having an echogenic liver means that the liver tissue is more dense than normal. The appearance of light on the imaging results can be a result of a ‘fatty liver’ or that there is damage to the liver. Though some liver damage may be reversible, significant or long-term damage can lead to liver failure. Keeping your liver healthy with proper diet and nutrition is one way to help prevent additional damage to your liver.
Echogenic liver:
Supplements that support liver health
Supplements are one common way individuals can ensure adequate consumption of specific vitamins or minerals that they would otherwise not receive in their daily diet. Though studies on supplement use vary, many suggest that supplemental products aid in liver health. One of the most commonly used supplements for liver disease is milk thistle, also known as silymarin. Milk thistle has been found, in some studies, to aid in insulin resistance often associated with patients with liver disease.
Flax seed is another commonly used supplement among individuals with liver damage and disease. Some studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory properties associated with flax seed have decreased some of the discomforts associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Similarly, licorice root has been demonstrated to have positive effects on NAFLD when combined with proper diet and lifestyle changes.
Some of the more common supplements thought to aid liver health and function include rosemary, olive oil, and ginger. In one study, patients who were given ginger over a twelve-week period showed improvements in NAFLD responses.
Echogenic liver:
The Liver Pill
Finding the right supplement to support your liver health can be a challenge. Many supplements make large claims about their product’s ability to ‘detox’ the liver and repair damage without acknowledging that healthy liver tissue is capable of self-repair in most circumstances. Other supplements contain a host of filler ingredients with only minimal percentages of the active ingredients found in each serving.
Medicine Man Plant Co.’s The Liver Pill, a 100% organic supplement with all-natural ingredients specifically formulated to boost your liver health, is a better option. The Liver Pill contains four powerful herbal aides that have been attributed to improved liver performance: burdock root, rosemary, flax seed, and milk thistle. Thanks to its holistic roots, Medicine Man Plant Co.’s The Liver Pill is a superior liver health supplement to consider adding to your daily routine.
Echogenic liver:
The final word
Finding out that your liver is echogenic might be the warning sign you need to take your liver health more seriously. Lifestyle changes, such as reducing or eliminating alcohol intake and avoiding recreational drugs, can help to reduce your risk for further liver damage. Changes to your dietary plans can help to improve your overall wellness; this in turn improves the performance and function of your healthy liver tissue. Adding supplements that provide nutrients known to improve liver function can be one easy step toward ensuring your continued health.
Further reading:
American Liver Foundation. What does your liver do?
Cambridge Dictionary. Echogenic.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Common characteristics of liver disease.
Hanje AJ, Fortune B, Song M, Hill D, & McClain C. The use of selected nutrition supplements and complementary and alternative medicine in liver disease.
Hepatitis Monthly. Ginger Supplementation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
Mayo Clinic. Liver Disease.
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. Influence of olive and rosemary leaves extracts on chemically induced liver cirrhosis in male rats
Yari Z, Rahimlou M, Eslamparast T, Ebrahimi-Daryani N, Poustchi H, Hekmatdoost A.: Flaxseed supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot randomized, open labeled, controlled study.
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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