What foods inflame the liver? Answers from a nutritionist

The liver is the organ that helps regulate metabolism and in the secretion, storage, and detoxification of substances, so nutrition has a significant impact on it and some foods can inflame the liver, leading to hepatic steatosis, or fatty liver.Fatty liver can be caused by alcohol or by foods, which is why there is non-alcoholic fatty liver, which typically occurs when there is also overweight and when consuming high amounts of fats or sugary foods and beverages, as indicated by clinical nutritionist Jennifer Asencio, to whom we asked several questions to find out which foods inflame the liver.What foods or dishes inflame the liver? Why?The foods that most cause fatty liver are all simple sugars (also known as simple carbohydrates: glucose, fructose, and galactose), for example, milkshakes, desserts, candies, but also things that are very fried, like chips, donuts, pambazos, chilaquiles, golden tacos, wings; those foods that are submerged in fat are primarily what inflame the liver.In general, everything that contains white sugar, brown sugar, honey, piloncillo, cajeta, chocolates, nutella, sugary sodas; for example, milkshakes that contain whole milk and also ice cream and also sugar, will inflame the liver and cause fatty liver.Processed meats can also increase the chances of liver issues, pork meat, especially the fatty parts, carnitas, feet, lard, and organ meats; also, people who are overweight may have fatty liver, but it also depends on being active and exercising.What are the signs of an inflamed liver?In fatty liver that is not linked to alcohol consumption, there is indeed inflammation as it becomes filled with fat, but there is no liver damage yet, and it can reduce inflammation by eliminating fatty and sugary foods; however, having this condition for a long time while continuing to eat the same way can trigger irreversible liver damage, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.The problem is that this type of fatty liver has no symptoms; people with an inflamed liver may feel tired or have some minor discomfort in the abdomen, but there are no symptoms. The only way to know is through a blood test, which checks liver enzymes, and with an ultrasound of the liver and bile ducts, to have an accurate diagnosis.Nutritionist's tips to avoid foods that inflame the liverTo prevent or even treat fatty liver, it is essential to change one’s diet, keep it healthy and balanced, limit the intake of sugar, fat, and alcohol, and exercise. What Jennifer Asencio recommends is not to consume or overindulge in high-fat and high-sugar foods daily; “of course we can have desserts, but it’s best to do it occasionally and not daily.”