The Hidden Dangers of Sugar: Dr. Sethi's Liver Health Insights

Did you know that sugar is a silent killer of your liver? Doctor and health expert Saurabh Sethi explains 3 ways sugar can be bad for your liver, as well as how you can protect yourself.

1. High Sugar Intake Leads to Fatty Liver

One of the main issues is that sugar (especially fructose) impacts directly on the liver. In this case, the liver turns that excess fructose into fat when you eat too much sugar. This fat accumulation can result in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). When it comes to products, never buy anything that has "high fructose corn syrup" in the ingredient list.

2. Sugar Triggers Inflammation

Sugar also gives rise to an inflammatory response in the liver. Oxidative stress causes damage to liver cells when you take high sugar amounts. The inflammation may lead to a condition known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is essentially liver disease with individuals showing levels of severity over time.

3. Frequent Sugar Consumption Causes Insulin Resistance

If you eat a lot of sugar, your body begins to develop insensitivity towards insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance of the liver and other tissues is common because they have a reason to turn against resistance leading it to type 2 diabetes or fatty liver. It was called Adult Onset Diabetes, but we now see some very young kids with it because of high-sugar diets (type 2).

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In short, the rise in sugar consumption is linked to serious health issues like fatty liver disease and diabetes, which used to be associated mainly with adults. To keep your liver healthy and avoid harming yourself, carefully watch your sugar intake and choose healthier snacks instead.