Lunchtime Read: Sweet Drinks, Sour News - The Hidden Dangers of Sugary Beverages
We have some grim news for those who frequently drink sugary beverages...
We all enjoy a cold, refreshing drink on a hot day. But did you know that the sweet drinks we often reach for could be harming our health? Recent research has shown that sugary drinks, like soda and juice with added sugar, can increase the risk of liver cancer and other liver diseases. And it's not just sugary drinks – artificially sweetened drinks, like diet soda, can also be harmful but were not clearly associated with liver cancer.
The liver is a vital organ that helps our body digest food, get rid of toxins, and store energy. When we drink a lot of sugary drinks, our liver has to work extra hard to process all the sugar. Over time, this can lead to a buildup of fat in the liver, a condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This can make it harder for the liver to do its job and can increase the risk of liver cancer.
But why are artificially sweetened drinks harmful too? These drinks may not have sugar, but they can still affect our liver. Artificial sweeteners can change the balance of good and bad bacteria in our gut, which can affect our liver. So, even though diet sodas might seem like a healthier choice, they can still be harmful to our liver.
So, what can we do to protect our liver and stay healthy? Here are some simple tips:
1. Choose healthier drinks: Instead of sugary drinks or diet sodas, try drinking water, milk, or 100% fruit juice. If you like fizzy drinks, you can try sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice for flavor.
2. Eat a balanced diet: Eating a variety of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help keep our liver healthy.
3. Stay active: Regular exercise can help keep our liver healthy and reduce the risk of liver diseases.
4. Listen to our body: If we feel tired, have pain in our upper right abdomen, or notice yellowing of our skin or eyes, it's important to see a doctor. These could be signs of liver problems.
The Gritty Piece of Research Information on Sugary Beverages
The research titled "Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Liver Cancer and Chronic Liver Disease Mortality" conducted by the American Medical Association explored the associations between the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and the incidence of liver cancer and chronic liver disease mortality.
The study involved a prospective cohort of 98,786 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years who were enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative from 1993 to 1998 at 40 clinical centers in the US and were followed up to March 1, 2020. The intake of sugar-sweetened beverages was assessed based on a food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline, while the intake of artificially sweetened beverages was measured at the 3-year follow-up.
The primary outcomes of the study were liver cancer incidence and mortality due to chronic liver disease, which includes death from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, alcoholic liver diseases, and chronic hepatitis.
The results of the study showed that during a median follow-up of 20.9 years, 207 women developed liver cancer and 148 died from chronic liver disease. The study found that women who consumed 1 or more sugar-sweetened beverages per day had a significantly higher risk of liver cancer (18.0 vs 10.3 per 100,000 person-years) compared to those who consumed 3 or fewer servings per month. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for liver cancer was 1.85 (95% CI, 1.16-2.96; P = .01). Additionally, the study found that women who consumed 1 or more sugar-sweetened beverages per day had a higher risk of chronic liver disease mortality (17.7 vs 7.1 per 100,000 person-years) compared to those who consumed 3 or fewer servings per month. The adjusted HR for chronic liver disease mortality was 1.68 (95% CI, 1.03-2.75; P = .04). In contrast, the study found that there was no significant association between the intake of artificially sweetened beverages and the incidence of liver cancer or chronic liver disease mortality.
The research suggests that in postmenopausal women, compared to consuming 3 or fewer servings of sugar-sweetened beverages per month, those who consumed 1 or more sugar-sweetened beverages per day had a higher incidence of liver cancer and death from chronic liver disease. The study calls for further research to confirm these findings and identify the biological pathways of these associations.
Remember, our liver is an important part of our body that helps us stay healthy. By making good choices about what we eat and drink, we can help keep our liver happy and healthy.