Drinking too much soda and eating too much fat and sweet food does not only damage the figure. It also overloads the liver with triglycerides. But a fatty liver is likely to generate cirrhosis or cancer, without consuming even a drop of wine or whiskey.
According to a study published in 2015 in Journal of Hepatology, a daily soda raises 55% the risk of developing fatty liver , the most common chronic liver disease in children. 20% of cirrhosis are not related to alcohol or viral hepatitis, says the French Association for Liver Studies (AFEF).
NASH, a serious disease of modern times
The number of non-alcoholic steatosis (or Nash for "non-alcoholic steato hepatitis") continues to increase. This epidemic is "closely correlated to the epidemic of diabetes and obesity in developed countries," says Dr. Christophe Bureau, a hepatologist at the University Hospital of Toulouse.
When you swallow a lot of fatty and sweet foods, the liver is overloaded. Confronted with too much reserves, he transforms excess sugar into lipids that he accumulates. Suddenly, he tires and fattens. It can end up weighing up to 5% of the body weight, against 2% in the normal state.
"This phenomenon can lead to chronic inflammation that can degenerate into fibrosis," explains Dr. Christophe Bureau. In a few years, one can develop a cirrhosis that can evolve into cancer .
"An unhealthy diet, such as fast food, can cause liver damage in just 7 days," says Dr. Michael Greger, author of "How not to die" (Belfond ed.).
Silent symptoms
The progressive deterioration of the liver is carried out ceaselessly, without the patients feeling any specific symptoms. Only a liver test can alert blood test gamma GT, transaminases and alkaline phosphatase, which reflect the health status of liver cells.
Because when the Nash is installed, it is often already too late. The battered liver is out of breath. Conversely, this pathology is reversible when it is detected early (steatosis and early cirrhosis). In obese people, weight loss of 8 to 10% and recovery of physical activity greatly improves liver function.
No drugs except stopping junk food
This disease is not new, but it has been making headlines since the sports journalist Pierre Menès revealed to have been reached . And the death of singer George Michael, also touched, has created a snowball effect.
There are still no drugs that can cure soda. Only a healthy lifestyle can prevent it and reverse its course at the beginning stage.
To pamper your liver, put the brakes on sugary drinks, white bread and pasta, as well as biscuits and industrial pastries , which also contain additives that the liver must eliminate.
Also reduce your coffee and tea consumption . "Caffeine and caffeine are poisonous alkaloids for the liver, just like tobacco nicotine," says naturopath Christian Brun, author of "Cleansing and draining your liver naturally" (Guy Trenadiel edition).
* hardening of some liver cells due to a healing process, in response to liver inflammation.
