Sugar, High-Fructose Corn Syrup, and Fatty Liver

When people think about fatty liver, they often think of alcohol and fatty foods. But one contributor that deserves more attention is excessive sugar intake, particularly from sugary drinks and processed foods.

High-fructose corn syrup is a sweetener commonly found in soft drinks, sweetened beverages, and many processed foods, like ketchup and other dipping sauces. Consuming too much added sugar can contribute to fat building up in the liver and increase the risk of metabolic problems, like type 2 diabetes.

How Does Sugar Contribute to Fatty Liver?

Your liver plays an important role in processing the food you eat. When you consume fructose, your liver processes much of it. Excessive intake can increase the amount of fat your liver produces and stores.

Over time, consuming too much added sugar can contribute to fat accumulation in the liver, insulin resistance, and elevated triglycerides. This is one reason nutrition matters so much when it comes to metabolic health.

Why Is High-Fructose Corn Syrup a Concern?

High-fructose corn syrup is used in many processed foods because it adds sweetness and is relatively inexpensive. It's concerning because we easily consume large amounts of added sugar without realizing it. Pay attention to how much added sugar you're consuming, especially from sweetened drinks and highly processed foods.

Read Your Food Labels

Added sugar isn't always obvious. It can appear in foods that aren't particularly sweet, including sauces, condiments, cereals, and packaged snacks.

When checking ingredient lists, look for:

• High-fructose corn syrup

• Corn syrup

• Sugar

• Cane sugar

• Other added sweeteners

Also check the Nutrition Facts label for added sugars. Ingredients are listed by weight, so the closer a sweetener appears to the beginning of the list, the more prominent it is in that product.

The Bottom Line

Excessive added sugar intake can contribute to fatty liver and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. High-fructose corn syrup is found in many processed foods and beverages, making it worth paying attention to when you read ingredient labels.

Start paying attention to what's in the foods you buy. Read the labels, limit added sugar, avoid products with high-fructose corn syrup, and make whole, minimally processed foods the foundation of your diet.