How does eating too much sugar affect the liver?

What happens to your liver when you eat too much sugar?

Dr Harikumar R Nair, a gastroenterologist at Kinder General Hospital (India), said that consuming too much sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity, but can also affect internal organs such as the liver. This is the cause of fatty liver disease without having to consume a lot of alcohol.

Eating a lot of sugar also triggers the release of dopamine, the feel-good hormone. People struggling with stress or depression may be especially drawn to consuming sugar through food and drink to get this dopamine hit.

However, most of these sugary foods are stored as fat, eventually damaging the liver. This unhealthy cycle can lead to fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and even cancer.

Fruits that contain a lot of sugar

According to Dr. Harikumar R Nair, the sugar molecule in fruits exists in the form of fructose. The amount of sugar varies from fruit to fruit and is higher in juicy fruits like grapes, oranges, watermelons, etc. and lower in fleshy fruits like guava, apples, kiwis.

Dr Harikumar R Nair notes that while fruits are generally considered healthy, excessive consumption of fruits converts fructose into fat in the liver, causing fatty liver.

Hidden Sugar in Packaged Foods

In addition to candies and cakes sold on the market, packaged foods used in cooking, although considered sugar-free, actually still contain a certain amount of sugar such as: Tomato sauce, yogurt, cereals, oats, Malt drinks for children (Boost, Bourvita, Horlicks); Peanut butter; Bread (sold as "milk bread", "fruit bread"); Cookies...

How to protect healthy liver

Exercise regularly and maintain an active lifestyle: Regular aerobic exercise is key to preventing fatty liver disease.

Limit alcohol consumption: Especially for people with metabolic syndrome such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol because both of these diseases combined can increase liver damage.

Eat a balanced diet: Eat foods low in fat and high in fiber. The diet should be low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. Avoid sweets and red meat.

Watch your weight: Your risk of liver disease is greatly reduced if you maintain an ideal BMI.

Additionally, Dr Harikumar R Nair notes that herbal supplements and traditional medicines, especially those without a drug license, should be avoided as most of them are sold as “food supplements”; Get vaccinated against hepatitis B and get screened for liver disease from the age of 40.

In particular, you need to stay away from weight loss drugs and strange cures with no scientific basis that are spread on social networks.

Source: https://laodong.vn/suc-khoe/an-qua-nhieu-duong-anh-huong-den-gan-nhu-the-nao-1369096.ldo