Doctors talked about the increased risk of liver disease due to sugary drinks
Regular consumption of soda, sugary juices, and energy drinks can increase the risk of developing serious liver diseases, including cancer. Doctors explained how excess sugar affects the body and what measures will help reduce long-term risks. All the details are in the Izvestia article.
The effect of sugar on the liver
Oncologist, Chairman of the oncological council of JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg clinic), PhD Ruslan Basanov explained that the liver acts as the main filter and metabolic center of the body: it is here that carbohydrates, including sugar, are processed from food. However, with a regular excess of sugary drinks, the organ gets an excessive load.
"With the constant intake of large amounts of sugar, fat begins to accumulate in the liver, which can lead to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In the early stages, it can manifest itself only as fatty hepatosis, but over time it can turn into inflammation — non—alcoholic steatohepatitis," the expert explained.
An additional risk factor is a violation of tissue sensitivity to insulin. The development of insulin resistance and an increase in blood sugar levels create conditions for chronic inflammation and cell damage. In the future, this may contribute to the appearance of mutations and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer.
Large studies show that drinking one or more servings of sugar-containing beverages per day is associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma by about 10% for each additional serving. Scientists also associate the high level of consumption of such drinks with an increased risk of liver disease and mortality from related complications.
Why are sugary drinks more dangerous than regular sweets
Endocrinologist Anna Dzyuba of the multidisciplinary clinic "K+31" at Lobachevsky explained that the main problem of sugary drinks lies in their liquid form.
"They practically do not cause a feeling of satiety, so a person can imperceptibly get a lot of calories. In addition, sugar from drinks is rapidly absorbed, causing a sharp increase in blood glucose levels and a corresponding release of insulin," the specialist said.
Unlike foods with fiber, sugary drinks do not give the body a feeling of fullness. Therefore, a person can drink several hundred extra calories without even perceiving it as a full meal.
Regular consumption of drinks with high fructose content is especially undesirable. This type of sugar is mainly processed in the liver and, in excess, can increase the formation of fatty deposits inside the organ.
Symptoms and diagnosis
The danger of liver diseases lies in the fact that in the early stages they often develop with almost no symptoms. A person may not feel any deterioration for a long time, even if the pathological processes have already begun.
As it progresses, you may experience constant fatigue, weakness, decreased performance, heaviness or discomfort in the right hypochondrium, loss of appetite, nausea, and unexplained weight loss. In the later stages, yellowing of the skin and eyes, swelling and other signs of serious liver damage are possible.
However, such symptoms are not specific and can occur in different diseases. Therefore, doctors recommend not waiting for the appearance of pronounced complaints, but regularly monitoring the condition of the liver.
For the prevention and early detection of disorders, experts recommend taking biochemical blood tests to check the level of ALT, AST, bilirubin, GGT and other indicators, and if there are risk factors, undergo liver ultrasound.
Who is it especially important to give up sugary drinks?
Cutting down on soda, juice, and energy drinks is especially important for people with pre-existing health problems. The high-risk group includes patients with fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, overweight and obesity.
Caution is also necessary for people with chronic liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis, as well as those who have had cases of severe liver disease or cancer in their family.
At the same time, sugary drinks are harmful not only for people with diagnoses. Even in a healthy person, the daily consumption of such products increases the likelihood of developing metabolic disorders in the future.
How to reduce sugar intake
According to oncologist Ruslan Basanov, it is not necessary to abruptly give up the habit — it is more effective to change the diet gradually.
"If you drink 1-2 sugary drinks a day, start by reducing to 0.5–1 per day, then up to several times a week, and ideally until complete withdrawal," the specialist recommended.
As a substitute, doctors recommend choosing regular water, mineral water without gas, water with lemon, lime or mint, unsweetened tea or coffee without added sugar. If it is difficult to completely abandon the sweet taste, it is better to gradually reduce the amount of sugar so that the taste buds adapt.
It is also important to consider hidden sugar. Large amounts of sugar can be found not only in soda, but also in energy drinks, sweet yoghurts, ready-made coffee drinks and some juices. Experts recommend paying attention to the composition: if the product contains more than 5-7 grams of sugar per 100 ml, it can already be considered a sweet drink.
Additionally, weight loss, regular physical activity and alcohol restriction help protect the liver.
"Reducing the amount of sugary drinks is one of the available ways to reduce the burden on the liver and reduce long—term risks. This is especially important for people with metabolic disorders and chronic liver diseases," the doctors emphasize.
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