The three worst drinks that accelerate fatty liver and cirrhosis, according to experts; what to drink instead?

Fatty liver and cirrhosis are the worst conditions your liver can suffer from. Fatty liver involves having excess fat in your liver, which causes extreme damage to the organ that helps with digestion, regulating blood chemicals, metabolism, and detoxifying chemicals. And while there are several contributing factors, one simple and overlooked risk factor might be your choice of beverages.

According to California liver specialist Dr. Saurabh Sethi, there are three worst drinks, which young people often consume in excess, that can cause fatty liver disease and cirrhosis, both of which are fatal and life-threatening.

What drinks are dangerous for the liver?

Soft drinks

“Today, many young people consume it without even being aware of the associated risks,” Dr. Sethi said on his Instagram account. According to Dr. Sethi, many people think that soft drinks are healthy and drink them even instead of water. While soft drinks are often promoted as “zero sugar” and “zero calories,” they contribute greatly to increasing the body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage in teenagers.

Additionally, daily soft drink consumption is associated with increased hypertension and risk of vascular events, as well as type 2 diabetes. “Soda is loaded with added sugars that can lead to insulin resistance, which leads to fatty liver,” said Dr. Sethi.

Alcohol

Any amount of alcohol is a risk factor for fatty liver, “and can accelerate the progression of fatty liver to cirrhosis,” he added.

According to studies, alcohol causes fat buildup, inflammation and scarring. Statistics indicate that in 2021, 16.5 percent of all liver transplants in the United States were due to alcoholic liver disease, making it the third most common cause of transplants, behind chronic hepatitis C and liver cancer. However, Dr. Sethi said that while it typically has no symptoms, alcoholic fatty liver disease is often reversible if a person completely abstains from alcohol.

Energy drinks

According to Dr. Sethi, excessive consumption of energy drinks has serious adverse effects on the liver. Studies indicate that it is important to be aware of the potential health risks associated with consuming these energy drinks, which are loaded with sugar. “They are high in sugar, which worsens fatty liver,” he said.

Experts say that compared to other sugars, fructose in energy drinks may be processed preferentially by the liver, causing an abnormal buildup of fat that can progress to scarring and liver damage.

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, researchers say that consuming energy drinks can also be so damaging to the liver that it can even cause acute hepatitis, which is often fatal.

What drink to drink for liver health?

Dr. Sethi recommends drinking tea and coffee, which he says help reduce the risk of liver damage, liver cancer, and the progression of liver disease. Both also prevent fatty liver disease by reducing fat accumulation and inflammation and increasing antioxidants in the liver.

Both tea and coffee, loaded with caffeine, also stimulate autophagy, a process that helps damaged cells live longer and function better.