Is Natural Sugar Good or Bad for the Liver?

Suggested guidelines for daily sugar and other carbohydrate intake should cause no harm to a healthy liver.

Sugar in Moderation: The Simple Answer

The simple answer to this question is "No," natural added sugar in moderate amounts--no more than 6 tsp. per day for most women and 9 tsp. per day for most men, as suggested in August 2009 by the American Heart Association, is not bad for your liver.

Sugar in Excess: The Debate

There are no health benefits of added dietary sugar to your liver, or to any other vital organ in your body, for that matter. It was suggested in the August 2008 Journal of Nutrition that people who consume too much sugar do "have a high risk of fatty liver disease."

Bottom Line

Whether the sugar is natural or chemically-altered, the debate over its effects on human health continues. And although it has been suggested that sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup can cause more health issues than their natural sugar counterparts, this does not rule out natural sugar as a health culprit as well.

References

• Diet and nutrition on msnbc.com: Cut back, way back, on sugar, says heart group
• time for wellness: fruit juice as bad for your liver as alcohol?

Resources

• rheumatic.org: 146 Reasons Why Sugar is Ruining Your Health