Familiar Drink Found to Protect Against Fatty Liver Disease 0 49

Scientists from Kagoshima University have discovered that daily consumption of traditionally brewed green tea helps prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study, published in the journal Food & Function (F&F), showed that the drink reduces fat accumulation in the liver, improves lipid metabolism, and restores the balance of gut microbiota.

Experiments on mice with a diet mimicking a typical 'Western' diet showed that regular consumption of green tea reduces levels of fats and enzymes associated with liver damage, as well as enhances the excretion of triglycerides from the body. The main active component, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), suppressed fat synthesis in liver cells and activated enzymes responsible for its breakdown.

Additionally, the tea reduced the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes bacteria, which is often elevated in obesity and metabolic disorders. According to the authors, a daily cup of green tea brewed in the usual way could be a simple and safe method for preventing fatty liver disease and related metabolic disorders.