The liver, located under the diaphragm, is responsible for the metabolism of nutrients through enzymes, and plays an essential role in normal metabolism such as detoxification, immunity, and hormone regulation. It is known that the liver has more than 500 functions, so it is called the chemical factory of our body. Since there are many types of work that the liver is responsible for, it is easy to be exposed to various diseases as it comes in contact with various bacteria and harmful substances. However, due to its excellent recovery ability, symptoms do not appear well even if the disease occurs, and after the disease has progressed to a certain extent, it often manifests as various symptoms such as jaundice, fatigue, urine color change, epigastric discomfort, and muscle pain. It can be said that the reason why the liver is also called the silent organ is due to these characteristics. In order to manage the liver, which plays such an important role, in a healthy way, you need to eat a balanced diet of fresh vegetables and fruits, which are effective in activating hepatocytes and removing toxins from the liver. In addition, regular aerobic exercise and sufficient rest and sleep to prevent liver fatigue are also important management rules to protect liver health. In addition, since the liver is responsible for the metabolism of various essential nutrients necessary for physical activity such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, it is important to reduce the intake of foods and drinks that cause liver function deterioration as much as possible. So, today, let’s learn about various food information that can cause liver dysfunction and cause various liver diseases.
food bad for the liver
1. Alcohol
One of the most detrimental effects on the liver is alcohol. When alcohol is consumed, it is absorbed in the intestine and metabolized through the liver. In particular, if you drink too much alcohol, damaged liver cells do not have time to recover. This action causes excessive accumulation in hepatocytes and at the same time causes destruction of hepatocytes and an inflammatory reaction, increasing the risk of alcoholic liver diseases such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis.
2. Fatty meats and processed foods
Excessive consumption of oily meat, processed foods, and instant foods can also harm liver health. Foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol not only promote fat synthesis in the liver, but also increase insulin resistance, which leads to decreased liver function. Some people who do not drink alcohol at all are diagnosed with fatty liver during a health examination. Since this type of fatty liver is non-alcoholic fatty liver caused by excessive consumption of animal fat, it is recommended to reduce animal fat intake.
3. Refined Grains
Excessive intake of refined grains such as refined wheat and white rice can also exhaust the liver and cause fat accumulation in the liver cells. These refined grains are composed of simple carbohydrates with one sugar molecule, so they have great advantages as a fast energy source. However, it can quickly raise blood sugar, which stimulates insulin secretion from the pancreas, and stores large amounts of energy in cells, leading to excessive fat accumulation in the liver and surrounding tissues.
4. Fructose drinks
Excessive intake of carbonated drinks and fruit juices can also harm liver health. These fructose drinks contain highly refined high-fructose sugar, which can lead to fat build-up in the liver and liver toxicity if consumed in excess. In addition, the high fructose in these carbonated drinks can be made into triglycerides in the liver, which can increase triglyceride levels in the blood. This action can cause not only liver disease but also various cardiovascular health risks.
Other foods
Various salad dressings, sauces, ketchup, etc. often contain fructose, so it is a good idea to avoid excessive consumption. Also, be careful because mold on old nuts, barley, sorghum, and rice can act as harmful substances. In particular, mold such as aflatoxin cannot be removed even by heating or washing, which can cause liver cancer. Also, be careful as hepatitis A virus can be transmitted from unsanitary or raw food. Other proteins such as beans, tofu, eggs, and fish have the effect of helping the regeneration of liver cells, but if you have liver cirrhosis, it may cause hepatic coma, so intake should be reduced.
