
Plants can help prevent liver damage in women caused by fat accumulated during menopause, revealed researchers at the University of Georgia. Studies of post-menopausal animals has shown that a mix of phytochemicals, along with vitamin D, may help protect the liver against inflammation caused by the accumulation of fat.
Study's lead author Colette Miller said, "Women going through menopause have an increased tendency to store fat in their liver. They also have increases in visceral fat, the fat around their organs, where inflammation also occurs. Many popular weight-loss supplements cause fat to mobilize in the body, increasing the accumulation of fat in the liver. Over time, the extra fat can lead to inflammation and scarring."
The plant compounds used by the researchers- resveratrol, found in grapes; genistein, found in soybeans; and quercetin, found in apple peels and onions- have all been shown in previous studies to be fat-busters, causing fat cells to burst and release their contents.
The study appears in the journal Obesity.
Source: Medindia
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