When it’s warm you may be tempted to grab a refreshing soda to cool you off this summer. Wait – before you reach for that sugary drink, what does the latest research show?

A recent study conducted by Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis points out that excess consumption of fizzy or canned drinks which are loaded with sugar may damage your liver functions.

You might have been familiar with more well-known research that established excessive sugar consumption may lead to heart ailments, risk of stroke, breast cancer, and obesity. Thanks to more recent research, we’re starting to learn the damaging impact of excessive sugar consumption and liver disease.

This new research shows that sugar may damage liver functions too. Avoiding sugar sweetened drinks proves to be the key to preventing fatty liver disease, the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Although chronic liver diseases are usually associated with alcohol consumption, this study points out that excess consumption of fizzy or canned drinks which are loaded with sugar may damage your liver functions.

Many San Diego residents are becoming aware of how to read sugary drink labels and are often surprised at the high levels of sugar. Once you know how much sugar is in a drink, you can make healthier decisions for yourself and family.

The pre-clinical research conducted at Washington University School of Medicine found that:

• GLUT8 (a molecule that carries large amounts of fructose), is present naturally in fruit and is added to soft drinks.
• Under observation, that blocking or eliminating GLUT8 in mice led to the reduction of fructose entering the organ and thus preventing the risk of developing fatty liver disease.
• GLUT8 is required for fructose to get into the liver. If you take away or block this transporter in mice, they no longer get diet-induced fatty liver disease.

How does this new research, along with what you already know about the negative effects of excessive sugary drinks, make you consider changing your consumption level of these drinks?
We believe in the ethos – start asking questions and find support.
Schedule your consultation and we will be happy to answer your questions about liver disease and moving ahead to lead a healthy lifestyle.