3 foods that damage your liver faster
Many scientific studies have shown that these foods not only increase the risk of liver disease, but can also lead to other serious health problems.
The liver is one of the most important organs in the body, responsible for detoxifying, metabolizing nutrients and regulating many physiological functions.
However, modern lifestyle with unhealthy diet is putting a lot of pressure on the liver, leading to health problems such as fatty liver, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
There are three types of food that, the more you eat, the more damage your liver will suffer:
Fast food and fried foods
Fried foods and fast foods are high in bad fats (Photo: Getty).
Fried foods and fast foods are popular foods in modern society. However, they contain a lot of saturated fat and trans fat, which are agents that directly damage the liver.
A study published inJournal of Hepatologyhas shown that high intake of saturated fat and trans fat is strongly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
These fats increase the amount of fat accumulated in the liver, impairing liver function and causing hepatitis. When this condition persists, it can lead to cirrhosis or even liver cancer.
In addition, fast food often contains a lot of salt and sugar, which increases blood pressure and harms the digestive system, while increasing pressure on the liver when it has to process toxins accumulated from an unhealthy diet.
Foods high in refined sugar
Fructose is converted directly into fat in the liver, increasing the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Photo: Getty).
Refined sugar, especially fructose, is a major ingredient in many soft drinks, commercial fruit juices, and candies. Studies have shown that consuming large amounts of fructose can lead to fatty liver and other liver-related problems.
According to a study published in the journalHepatology, fructose is not processed normally by the liver like glucose. Instead, fructose is converted directly into fat in the liver, increasing the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Long-term consumption of high fructose can also cause chronic hepatitis, promoting cirrhosis.
In addition to affecting the liver, refined sugar also increases the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, two major risk factors for liver disease.
Moldy food
Moldy food seriously damages the liver (Photo: Getty).
Moldy foods, especially nuts such as peanuts, corn, and rice, can contain aflatoxin, a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxin is a potent liver carcinogen and can cause serious liver damage when it accumulates in the body.
A study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016 showed that aflatoxin is the leading cause of liver cancer, especially in areas with high consumption of mold-contaminated food.
When food containing aflatoxin is eaten, this toxin will directly damage liver cells, causing inflammation and leading to irreversible damage. In the long term, consuming moldy food can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
In addition, research has shown that aflatoxin not only damages the liver but can also affect the immune system, weakening the body's ability to fight other infections. This further increases the risk of liver-related diseases.
To reduce the risk of aflatoxin, consumers should pay attention to proper food storage, especially nuts and grains. At the same time, they should avoid eating foods that show signs of mold, even in small areas, because aflatoxin can spread quickly through food.
