3 Drinks That Can Harm the Liver Quickly, and They Are Not Alcohol

When we think about liver damage, alcohol is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But alcohol isn’t the only thing that can hurt your liver. Some drinks that people have every day without even thinking about it can also damage your liver over time. According to Health experts, three of these drinks how can harm your liver.

Sugary Sodas

Lots of people love sugary sodas, but did you know they can hurt your liver just like alcohol can? Sugary sodas are full of fructose, a type of sugar that the liver has to break down. If you drink a lot of sugary sodas, your liver turns that sugar into fat. After a while, this fat builds up, which can lead to a condition called Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

According to a study from the National Library of Medicine, drinking a lot of sugary drinks is linked to fat building up in the liver. If this condition isn’t treated, it can lead to swelling, scarring, and even liver failure. Even worse, sugary sodas can make you gain weight and make it harder for your body to use insulin, which makes liver damage worse. If you like sodas, it’s best to drink less of them or switch to drinks like water or unsweetened tea.

Energy Drinks

Energy drinks might give you a quick boost of energy, but they can also quietly damage your liver. These drinks often have a lot of sugar, caffeine, and other stimulants, which are hard for your liver to handle. The sugar in energy drinks can cause Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, just like sugary sodas.

Energy drinks also have things like taurine, B vitamins, and herbal extracts, which put extra stress on your liver because it has to process all these substances. The Nutrients scientific literature states that too much caffeine can hurt liver function, especially when mixed with other stimulants in energy drinks. Even though energy drinks are popular, you should be careful, especially if you drink a lot of them or if you already have other things that could harm your liver.

Fruit Juices with a Lot of Sugar

People often think fruit juice is healthy, but not all fruit juices are good for you. Many store-bought fruit juices have added sugars and don’t have the fiber that is found in whole fruits. Without fiber, the sugar gets absorbed quickly into the blood, which can cause a spike in insulin and make your liver produce more fat.

Even 100% natural fruit juices can be bad if you drink too much. The liver breaks down the fructose in fruit juice just like it does with the fructose in sugary sodas. Over time, this can cause fat to build up in your liver, which can lead to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Health experts say that eating whole fruits is better for your liver because the fiber helps control how much sugar is absorbed and reduces the stress on your liver.

The Bottom Line

Even though alcohol is usually seen as the main cause of liver damage, these non-alcoholic drinks—sugary sodas, energy drinks, and high-sugar fruit juices—can also cause tremendous problems for your liver. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is becoming more common because of diets high in sugar and processed foods. Doctors recommend giving up these drinks altogether and instead choosing healthier options like water, herbal tea, or whole fruits, which can help keep your liver healthy.