How bad are sugary drinks for your liver?
A recent study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that drinking one or more sugar-sweetened beverages every day for five to seven years can lead to liver disease. When I tell my patients this, they are often surprised.
How does drinking sugary drinks affect the liver?
When you drink sugary drinks, the sugar and high-fructose corn syrup in the drink turns into fat in the liver. This puts stress on your liver cells and affects your ability to filter toxins from your body. The more fat that accumulates in your liver, the more prone you are to fatty liver disease and cirrhosis, as well as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. However, exercise can help reduce the risk of fatty liver disease.
How common is fatty liver disease?
We see many patients with fatty liver disease, often due to a lifestyle that includes sugary drinks.
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