We all know that we would die without a functioning heart.

But many people aren’t aware that the liver, the body’s largest solid organ, is just as crucial to life and health.

So it’s scary to think that over 100 million Americans have fatty liver disease, which makes the liver less and less able to perform its vital functions — more than 500 of them!

Being without a functioning liver is as life-threatening as being without a functioning heart.

That’s why I was very excited to read a new study showing how a simple fruit extract can prevent fatty liver disease…

Why is the liver so important?

It’s the liver that detoxifies the body. It gets rid of unwanted substances that enter your body through your lungs, skin or mouth, such as food additives, household chemicals and environmental pollutants.

Without the bile produced by your liver, there would be nothing to break down all the vitamins and nutrients you take in through food and supplements, making them useless to the body.

The liver stores blood sugar and breaks down fat, giving you energy to get through the day. It’s also responsible for blood clotting.

It’s clear that without a healthy, functioning liver, your health and indeed your life would be in danger.

The dangers of a fatty liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition where fat accumulates in the liver.

Left untreated, NAFLD can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which in turn can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. At this point, a liver transplant may be the only way to save a life.

But unlike so many other conditions, NAFLD is reversible.

Obesity has always been considered a risk factor for NAFLD, so weight loss has been a primary prevention strategy, along with exercise to reduce excess belly fat.

But a recent study shows that taking a simple fruit extract could be the easiest way to reduce fat in the liver.

Camu-camu, the exotic fruit cure for fatty liver

A Canadian research team has found that the polyphenols in camu-camu fruit reduce levels of fat in the liver.

Camu-camu is a sour berry, similar to a cherry, that’s native to the Amazon rain forest. It’s high in vitamin C and has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce blood sugar.

This exotic fruit is readily available as a supplement in capsule form.

Over 12 weeks, thirty participants took either camu-camu extract or a placebo at different times in this randomized clinical trial.

When the researchers used MRIs to observe fat levels in the liver, they saw a 7.43% reduction in liver lipids when study participants took camu-camu extract. With the placebo, they noted an 8.42% increase in liver fat.  

Why does camu-camu work?

The team identified two possible ways that camu-camu extract helps prevent fatty liver.

It could reduce lipogenesis, the formation of lipid droplets in the liver. It’s also possible that polyphenols are causing oxidation that stimulates the breakdown of lipids.

“A combination of the two mechanisms probably explains the high efficacy of the extract, as we’re playing on both sides of the coin,” says Prof. Andre Marette of the Universite Laval in Quebec City.

What this means for you

If you already have NAFLD, or if your doctor has told you that you’re in danger of developing it, you can start taking camu-camu capsules. They’re easy to order online.

As always, I’d recommend checking with your doctor before starting any new vitamin regimen.

Prof. Marette stresses the need to check products for their polyphenol content and compare a few before ordering one, as not all products are the same.

Sources:

Hepatic disease: a camu-camu fruit extract to reduce liver fat — Eureka Alert

Camu-camu decreases hepatic steatosis and liver injury markers in overweight, hypertriglyceridemic individuals: A randomized crossover trial — Cell Reports Medicine

7 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Camu Camu — Healthline