The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. This organ works tirelessly from sun up to sun down to ensure that we are healthy and strong. It metabolizes fats, carbs and protein. It detoxifies the blood. It also produces bile which aids food digestion. In return for these and other services that it renders to us, the liver asks that we care for it by eating foods that are liver friendly while avoiding foods that stress or interfere with its smooth functioning. Today, we will discuss about seven foods that can potentially damage our liver. In case you don’t know them, here they are:
Aerated Drinks: This baptismal name may confuse some people but we all know the drinks under discussion. Aerated drinks are drinks that release the hissing sound, ‘shiiiii‘ and some bubbles when they are opened. They are also called soft drink or fizzy drink. Notable examples are Coke, Fanta, Pepsi. In case you are wondering, they made the list because a lot of people are addicted to it. Some drink as much as three bottles in a day. They think that its non alcoholic nature makes it great and that drinking it in place of water is just one way of living the baby girl life. Now, if the above description is you, then, I’ll advice you to listen closely to what I’m about to say next. Excessive consumption of soda leads to weight gain and obesity. Obesity affects the liver by increasing fatty accumulation in it. This increases your risk of non alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Fried Foods: Fried food lovers, please, gather here for a quick update. Are you aware that the fried foods you frequently consume are high in saturated fat? In case you’re not, be yea informed that when saturated fat is consumed in excess, it can make it difficult for your liver to do its work; this can lead to inflammation of the liver and if care is not taken, to irreversible liver damage. Scary right? Well, thank God that this is not your reality yet. After thanksgiving, do the needful. Cut back on your fatty food consumption.
Foods with High Sodium Content: Salt can make food tasty and it can also make it unpalatable. Also, our body needs sodium to perform essential functions but too much of it can cause damage to the liver. It can cause misshapen cells, higher rate of cell death and lower rate of cell division. All of these can lead to liver fibrosis. What does this tell you? It says that moderation is key. So, watch the amount of salt that you cook with and if you buy packaged snacks and processed food, choose products with low sodium content. Your liver will thank you for it.
Vegetable Oil: When you go grocery shopping, read the label. Crucial information about a product can be found therein. Beware of vegetable oils containing Omega -6. They become oxidized more quickly during cooking; non alcoholic fatty liver disease is usually the result.
White Bread: Those that have made bread and tea the family’s morning breakfast every weekdays will not like what I’m about to say now. But the truth must be said without fear or favour. The truth is that most White Bread have high sugar content but lack fibre, minerals and essential vitamins. Regular consumption of these refined carbohydrates may lead to glucose surge in the blood leading to insulin release. This is usually followed by deposits of fat on and around the liver.
Alcohol: Bars, beer parlours and night clubs are thriving businesses today because over half of the working population don’t go home immediately after work. They relax in these hangout spots and they use alcohol and meat to supposedly chase the day’s stress away. I don’t know where they got the idea that alcohol pursues stress. But here is what happens when you drink alcohol. The liver resumes duty. Remember that its primary responsibility is to filter toxins from the blood? Well, the liver sees the alcohol you consume as toxin and it starts trying to get rid of it once it enters the body. It converts ethanol to a toxic substance called acetaldehyde. When you drink excessively, this acetaldehyde builds up in the body and it can cause a lot of health problems like alcoholic hepatitis, liver failure, liver cancer.
Red Meat: This type of meat has high protein content but digesting it is difficult for the liver. This difficulty may result in excess protein build up which may lead to fatty liver diseases that can have adverse effects on the brain and kidney.
In conclusion, the value you place on your liver is evident in the choices you make. So, don’t wait till your liver fails to care for it. Start now by eating the foods on this list in moderation.
Sources
Eat this Not That
Eating Well
Medical News
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