4 worst foods for liver health

According to health experts from WebMD, here are four of the worst foods for liver health that you should consider avoiding for a healthier liver:

1. Fatty foods

French fries, burgers, and other foods high in saturated fats are major culprits when it comes to liver damage. Consuming these foods too often makes it harder for your liver to perform its vital functions. Over time, excessive saturated fat intake can cause inflammation, which can then lead to liver scarring—a condition known as cirrhosis.

To protect your liver, choose healthier fats, such as those found in avocados, olive oil, and nuts.

Fries and burger on a plate. Illustration photo by Pexels

2. Sugar

Excessive sugar consumption can also take a toll on your liver. The liver is responsible for converting sugar into fat, but when you overeat sugar, it ends up creating too much fat, which accumulates in the liver. This can eventually lead to conditions such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and other related diseases, including diabetes, according to Harvard Medical School.

3. Alcohol

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is a leading cause of liver damage. Chronic heavy drinking can result in cirrhosis, while even occasional binge drinking—defined as four drinks for women and five for men in a single sitting—can harm the liver.

To minimize the risk of liver damage, consider limiting alcohol intake to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. If you have liver concerns, consult with your doctor to determine if eliminating alcohol is necessary.

4. Packaged snacks

While chips, cookies, and other packaged snacks may be convenient, they are often packed with unhealthy ingredients like sugar, salt, and fat, all of which can contribute to liver damage.

Instead of reaching for these snacks, opt for healthier alternatives such as apples with nut butter or sugar snap peas with hummus.