Let's get it straight, there are a hundred good reasons to say no to a glass of carbonated drinks, colas, and packaged sweetened beverages. We understand they help quench your thirst, provide a sugar rush, and even aid digestion at times. But trust us, all these are just temporary solutions. In fact, every kind of commercial soft drink negatively affects your body. A simple Google search yields multiple studies linking these beverages to heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, and more. Adding to the list of side effects, a recent study found that consuming soft drinks every day might put your liver at risk. Conducted by researchers at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, the findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Also Read: Believe It Or Not! Even 1 Soft Drink A Day Could Be Harmful - Here's Why
How Soft Drinks Affect Your Liver Health - The Study Findings:
This was an observational study conducted on 98,786 women for 20.9 years. The researchers analyzed patients based on their self-reported liver diseases and deaths due to fibrosis, cirrhosis, or chronic hepatitis. They found that "women consuming one or more servings per day had significantly higher rates of liver cancer and chronic liver disease mortality" compared to those consuming three or fewer servings of sweetened beverages per month.
"To our knowledge, this is the first study to report an association between sugar-sweetened beverage intake and chronic liver disease mortality," said the first author, Longgang Zhao of Brigham's Channing Division of Network Medicine. However, the study authors also noted that more research is needed to validate their observations linking sugary drinks to liver health risks.
Also Read: Sparkling Water Vs. Club Soda: What Lies Beneath The Bubbles
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Our Observation:
Considering the above findings, we suggest taking precautionary measures rather than regretting it later. This means eliminating sugary beverages from your diet and replacing them with healthier alternatives. And guess what? There are multiple drink options available that may help cleanse your liver naturally while quenching your thirst. Let's explore some of the popular liver-healthy drinks.
Here are 5 Refreshing Drinks That Are Good For Your Liver Too:
1. Grape Juice:
Sweet, crunchy grapes are a storehouse of nutrients, especially resveratrol, known to provide several health benefits. According to several studies, this nutrient may increase antioxidant levels in the body, reduce inflammation, and naturally cleanse toxins from the liver.
2. Green Tea:
Green tea contains a type of polyphenol called catechin, known for its powerful antioxidant properties. Studies have found that the antioxidants in green tea help reduce the levels of liver enzymes in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Hence, experts often suggest replacing sugary drinks with green tea to promote liver health, but, of course, consume it in moderation.
3. Coffee:
According to several reports, coffee is considered one of the best drinks to promote liver health. Wondering how? The beverage contains the antioxidant glutathione, known to neutralise harmful free radicals produced naturally in the body, as reported in a study published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry.
4. Beetroot Juice:
Beetroot is often considered a superfood due to its extensive range of nutrients. It also contains nitrates and antioxidants called betalains, which may help reduce oxidative damage and inflammation of the liver.
5. Nimbu Paani:
Lemon is one of the many citrus fruits known to help flush out toxins from the liver. They contain a high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants that can help prevent several liver diseases. You can mix the tangy juice with water and enjoy a glass of refreshing nimbu paani anytime during the day.
(Note: The above-mentioned drink options are not a part of the study)