Drinking to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Many of us cannot go a day without drinking a can or bottle of some sugary beverage. A Gallup Poll revealed that nearly 48% of Americans consume sugar-sweetened beverages every day. So if everyone is taking sugary drinks, these beverages must be cool, refreshing and healthy, right? Not exactly.

A major study warns that habitual intake of sugared beverages can increase the risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Not many people are aware that sugary drinks may have such a negative effect on the liver. Another study conducted by researchers from Israel reinforced the findings of this study. The Israeli researchers​ discovered that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is more likely to occur among high consumers of sugared drinks than in non-consumers of these types of beverages.  Especially if the refined carbs are derived from corn, as are the sweeteners in Coke, a dangerously unhealthy drink.

The main characteristic of non-alcoholic liver disease is the accumulation of excess of fats in the liver. The presence of excessive fats in the liver can trigger the development of liver scarring, cirrhosis, cancer, and even total failure of the liver. Some of the risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease include obesity, insulin resistance, and high blood sugar levels. The high sugar content of sugared beverages like Pepsi or Dr. Pepper promotes the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and high circulating levels of sugar—all of which contribute to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common form of chronic liver disease in United States. About 30 - 40% of US adults are suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This disease affects more Americans than cancer, diabetes, heart, and Alzheimer's disease. Between 75 – 100 million men and women in the United States are living with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Removing sugary beverages like Mountain Dew, Red Bull, or Monster products from the list of drinks we consume can help to protect us from developing this dreadful disease that can cause irreparable damage to our liver. Let's not drink to that! 

Additional Information:

(1) Associations of sugar- and artificially sweetened soda with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

(2) Vegetarian diet, food substitution, and nonalcoholic fatty liver

(3) Soft Drink Consumption Is Associated With Fatty Liver Disease Independent of Metabolic Syndrome