Fruit juice as bad for your liver as alcohol?
Posted on Sun, 5 Jul 09
Too many sweet foods such as soda and sweetened fruit juice may be as damaging to your liver as alcohol. A group have reported in The Journal of Nutrition that people who consume more dietary sources of sugars, such as soft drink and sweetened foods, have a high risk of fatty liver disease the same liver disease that may affect regular drinkers and alcoholics [1].
It has been suggested that the reason sugar harms your liver is that it feeds “bad bacteria” in our digestive system causing an overgrowth. These “bad bacteria” then produce toxins that enter the blood stream and damage the liver [2].
Fatty liver disease is common in the general population and often goes undiagnosed. Fatty liver can progress to cirrhosis and is associated with liver cancer. Maintaining a healthy body weight, going for a regular diabetes check and avoiding added sugars in processed foods such as soft drinks, fruit juices, baked goods, cereals and sweets and limiting alcohol consumption are important steps towards reducing the risk of fatty liver.
References
1. Thuy S et al. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in humans is associated with increased plasma endotoxin and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 concentrations and with fructose intake. J Nutr. 2008 Aug;138(8):1452-5.
2. Bergheim L et al. Antibiotics protect against fructose-induced hepatic lipid accumulation in mice: role of endotoxin. J Hepatol. 2008 Jun;48(6):983-92.
Image: Veronique Leplat. Science Photo Library.
Tags: Soft Drink, Soda, Liver Disease, Junk Food
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Comments (5)
Hello! Fantastic and very informative post! My nutritionist recommended me to stay away from all fruit juices as well when I always thought they were key in a healthy diet. It infuriates me that things can be marketed as health food and be so hazardous for your health!!!
Posted by Blair
(http://www.videorolls.com/watch/Juice-is-bad-for-your-health)
on
Thu, 1 Jul 10 - 12:00am
I don't drink processed fruit juices, also don't eat processed foods,my advice...avoid everything that comes from a food factory's.
Posted by Liver disease
(http://www.liverdiseaseherbs.info/)
on
Sun, 25 Jul 10 - 12:00am
Wow - I have been using a juicer for some time now to mix fruit and vegetable juice... I may scale back some of the fruit and opt for more vegetable.
Posted by Gates
(http://healthynaturallydiet.com)
on
Mon, 26 Jul 10 - 12:00am
It's kind of like that documentary Super Size Me, since there is soooo much extra sugar and fat and 'natural flavors' that within the 30 day period, the gentleman had started to develop fatty liver disease. Fruit juices are ok as long as they do not contain added sugars, and you don't drink them all day long.
Thanks for the info, and I look forward to more from you!
Posted by Jay loves natural weight loss
(http://www.thinnaturesway.com)
on
Wed, 28 Jul 10 - 12:00am
It's always puzzled me why anyone would want to add sugar to fruit juice anyway--fruits are already sweet!. However, some people are also concerned about the amount of natural sugars contained in fruit. In that case I agree with Gates--add some veggies in with the fruits
Posted by My Juice Cleanse
(http://myjuicecleanse.com)
on
Sat, 31 Jul 10 - 12:00am
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