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Surprising Things That Can Damage Your Liver
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Sugar
Too much sugar isn’t
just bad for your teeth. It can harm your liver, too. The organ uses one type
of sugar, called fructose, to make fat. Too much refined sugar and
high-fructose corn syrup causes a fatty buildup that can lead to liver disease.
Some studies show that sugar can be as damaging to the liver as alcohol, even
if you’re not overweight. It’s one more reason to limit foods with added
sugars, such as soda, pastries, and candy.
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Herbal Supplements
Even if the label says
“natural,” it may not be OK for you. For instance, some people take an herb
called kava kava for menopause symptoms or to help them relax. But studies show
that it can keep the liver from working right. That can lead to hepatitis and
liver failure. Some countries have banned or restricted the herb, but it’s
still available in the U.S. You should always talk to your doctor before you
take any herbs to make sure they’re safe.
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Extra Pounds
The extra fat can build
up in your liver cells and lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
As a result, your liver may swell. Over time, it can harden and scar liver
tissue (doctors call this cirrhosis). You are more likely to get NAFLD if you are
overweight or obese, middle-aged, or have diabetes. You may be able to turn
things around. Diet and exercise can stop the disease.
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Too Much Vitamin A From Supplements
Your body needs vitamin
A, and it’s fine to get it from plants such as fresh fruits and vegetables,
especially those that are red, orange, and yellow. But if you take supplements
that have high doses of vitamin A, that can be a problem for your liver. Check
with your doctor before you take any extra vitamin A because you probably don’t
need it.
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Soft Drinks
Research shows that
people who drink a lot of soft drinks are more likely to have non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Studies don’t prove that the drinks were the
cause. But if you down a lot of sodas and have been meaning to cut back, this
could be a good reason to switch what you sip.
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Acetaminophen
You’ve got a sore back,
or a headache, or a cold, and you reach for a pain reliever. Be sure to take
the right amount! If you accidentally take too much of anything that has
acetaminophen -- for instance, a pill for your headache and something else for
your cold, and both have acetaminophen in it -- it can harm your liver. Check
the dose and how much is OK to take in one day. Stick to those limits, and you
should be fine.
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Trans Fats
Trans fats are a
man-made fat in some packaged foods and baked goods. (You’ll see them listed as
“partially hydrogenated” ingredients). A diet high in trans fats makes you more
likely to gain weight. That’s not good for your liver. Check the ingredients
list. Even if it says “0” grams of trans fat, it may still have a small amount,
and that adds up.
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Mistakes Happen
A doctor or nurse gets
nicked by a needle they’ve used on a patient. Or people injecting illegal drugs
share a needle. The needle isn’t the problem. It’s what’s on it. Hepatitis C
can spread through blood. Even if it only happened once, or you’re at high risk
for other reasons (like if you have HIV or your mom had hepatitis C while
pregnant with you), you should get tested. So should everyone born from 1945
through 1965.
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Less Alcohol Than You May Think
You probably already
know that drinking too much is bad for your liver. But you might not realize
that “too much” can happen without you being an alcoholic or addicted to
alcohol. It’s easy to drink more than you think. Many glasses can hold a lot
more than one standard serving, which is 5 ounces of wine (that’s a little more
than half a cup), 12 ounces of regular beer, or 1.5 ounces of liquor. If you
drink, be sure to keep it moderate -- that’s one drink a day for women and up
to 2 per day for men.
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