Are some of your daily food habits secretly causing harm to your liver? A leading gastroenterologist with credentials from Harvard and Stanford has identified three common habits that are directly linked to the development of fatty liver disease, a condition with potentially serious long-term consequences.
The first habit is regularly drinking sugary beverages. Whether it’s a morning juice, an afternoon soda, or a sweetened coffee, this habit delivers a consistent stream of fructose to your liver. The expert warns that this frequent sugar intake forces the liver to continuously produce and store fat, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
The second dangerous habit is a preference for fried foods. If your go-to meals often involve a deep fryer, you may be putting your liver at risk. This habit means a high intake of unhealthy trans and saturated fats, which are known to cause inflammation and fat buildup in the liver. The doctor suggests that breaking this habit by choosing grilled or baked options can make a significant difference.
The third harmful habit is a reliance on ultra-processed and convenience foods. In our busy lives, reaching for a packaged snack or an instant meal is common. However, this habit exposes the liver to a constant barrage of unhealthy fats, added sugars, and chemical additives, placing a heavy burden on its ability to function and detoxify the body.
The expert’s advice is to replace these damaging habits with healthier ones. By consciously choosing water over soda, baked over fried, and whole foods over processed ones, you can break the cycle of liver damage and build a foundation for lasting health.