Alcoholic drinks
When alcohol (ethanol) enters the body, the liver is the main organ responsible for metabolizing it. This process goes through many stages, in which Pethanol is converted into acetaldehyde, a much more toxic substance than Pethanol. Acetaldehyde directly damages liver cells, causing inflammation and destroying liver structure.
According to Dr. David Bernstein, Head of the Nephrology Department at Northwell Health Hospital (USA): "Acetaldehyde is a powerful poison that causes many problems for the liver, from hepatitis to cirrhosis".
Alcohol metabolism also creates free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage cells. These free radicals cause oxidative stress, a condition of imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body. oxidative stress damages liver cells, leading to inflammation and cirrhosis.
Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) has shown that alcohol consumption is one of the main causes of oxidative stress in the liver.
Processed foods are often high in saturated fat and trans fats, which are harmful to health. saturated fats increase bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood, causing fatty liver and hepatitis.
Trans fats are even more dangerous, not only increasing LDL but also reducing good cholesterol (HDL), increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and liver damage. According to Dr. Anna Lok, President of the American Association for the Study of National Diabetes (AASLD): "consuming too much saturated fat and trans fats is one of the main causes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)".
Sugar, especially fructose, when consumed in excess, will be converted into fat by the liver, causing fatty liver. Salt increases blood pressure, puts pressure on the liver and increases the risk of liver disease. Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) has shown that consuming too much sugar and salt is one of the risk factors for chronic liver disease.
Sweet things
Fructose, found in soft drinks, candy, and other sweets, is converted into fat by the liver. When fructose is consumed too much, the liver will produce more fat than it can process, leading to a buildup of fat in the liver, also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD).
According to Dr. Manal Abdelmalek, Professor of Medicine at Duke University (USA): "Fructose is a particularly harmful sugar to the liver, because it is mainly metabolized in the liver and can cause fatty liver disease." Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can progress to non-alcoholic hepatitis (NASH), a more serious condition of hepatitis.
Non-alcoholic hepatitis (NASH) can lead to cirrhosis, a condition in which the liver is scarred and dysfunctional. Fiber is a late-stage liver disease that can lead to liver failure and death.
Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) has shown that consuming too much sugar is one of the risk factors for chronic liver disease.
