Sugary Drinks Can Cause Fatty Liver, Doctor Warns

Daily consumption of sugary beverages like bubble tea, juice, and soda poses a significant risk to liver health, potentially leading to fatty liver disease, according to Dr. Cho Wei-ju, a gastroenterologist at Yunlin Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. He notes that while many are aware of alcohol's harm to the liver, the impact of these "non-alcoholic" drinks is often overlooked.

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The summer is not as scary as the sun, but the cup you casually buy every day.

Dr. Cho explains that the "metabolically associated fatty liver disease" (MASLD) is not limited to obese individuals or those who consume alcohol. Factors such as increased waist circumference, elevated triglycerides, and rising blood sugar levels can also indicate the presence of fatty liver. He emphasizes that even individuals who do not appear overweight can develop this condition.

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It's not just related to alcohol, but also to weight, waist circumference, blood sugar, blood lipids, and dietary patterns.

Fatty liver disease often progresses silently, with no early symptoms. Dr. Cho advises individuals to consider their daily habits, particularly if they regularly consume sugary drinks. He suggests that beyond standard liver function tests (GOT, GPT), monitoring waist size, weight, triglyceride levels, and blood sugar is crucial. An abdominal ultrasound can provide a clearer picture of liver fat accumulation and overall abdominal health.

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You think it's just that you're tired in the summer, but in reality, your liver may have been working overtime silently for a long time.

To mitigate the risk, Dr. Cho recommends reducing daily sugary drink consumption to one or two times per week. This change, he states, significantly lessens the metabolic burden on the liver, which accumulates daily from such beverages. He also reminds readers that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful and advises against drunk driving.

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For the liver, this is one less metabolic debt that accumulates every day.