There are foods that destroy the liver, but we don’t even realize how harmful they are

A quality life with liver disease does not only depend on a healthy diet – you also need to know which foods can worsen liver disease, so you can eliminate them from your menu.

Fatty liver associated with metabolic dysfunction develops when fat deposits in the liver cause inflammation and tissue damage. Over time, this can lead to scarring, known as fibrosis, or to severe liver disease known as cirrhosis, which can also result in the need for a transplant. Metabolic dysfunction, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is not caused by excessive alcohol consumption and usually develops in people who are overweight.

It’s best to avoid certain foods or eat them in moderation, as they can accelerate the accumulation of fat in the liver, worsen inflammation, and accelerate the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis. While experts shy away from completely banning certain types of foods, they do have a clear list of things you should eat as rarely as possible, as well as suggestions for their alternatives that may make it easier for you to avoid these foods.

Fast food
Restaurant food usually contains more sugar, salt, and fat than your liver can handle. A 2023 study found that people who eat fast food for more than 20 percent of their meals accumulate too much fat in their liver. And the damage is greater for people who have diabetes or are overweight.

Red meat
Red and processed meat are high in saturated fat. It is known that excessive consumption of such foods increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and the risk of fatty liver.

These categories include the following foods:

beef, lamb, and pork
hot dogs and sausages
bacon
dried meat products
Carbohydrates and sugary drinks
Beverages with added sugar are harmful to the liver for the same reason as sugary foods. But sugary drinks carry an additional risk: you won’t feel full as quickly, so you can easily consume much more sugar than your body needs.

Alcohol
We don’t need to talk about the harmfulness of alcohol, but it’s important to know that even moderate alcohol consumption additionally deposits fat in the liver. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid alcohol completely if possible.

Eliminating these unhealthy habits can improve liver health, and will also help you lose weight, if that is your goal.