Regular junk food consumption can damage liver

Updated on: Monday, February 18, 2013

Eating junk food regularly is not just bad for your waistline, it can also damage your liver in a way similar to hepatitis, a new study has found.

The results were revealed on the television programme, 'The Doctors,' where it was found that even just a month of eating fast food can cause significant changes to the liver.

The study found regular consumption of fast food items like fried chicken and onion rings are particularly bad for liver, and have many surprising complications and dangers for the people that consume them, 'cbsnews.com' reported.

Dr Drew Ordon of "The Doctors" said, "The amount of fat and saturated fats creates a condition called fatty liver."

"We're all guilty, and every now and then you have to splurge, but the problem is that so many people are getting into eating fast food, especially kids, as their staple, and I think that's the point," said Ordon.

What is interesting about the finding is that even after just a month of consistently eating fatty foods from fast food restaurants, there are significant changes in your liver.

Ordon describes the changes in the liver enzymes as being surprisingly similar to the damage that is seen by hepatitis,which can ultimately lead to liver failure.

They found that French fries, in particular, are one of the most dangerous foods, because of all the added ingredients to the potato.

"We know that they are adding salt, and cooking it in fat, but they're also putting sugar on them too. Why sugar? Because it helps get them golden crispy," said Ordon.

"It's three strikes," he said. Ordon also warns that consumers should be wary of items at fast food establishments marked healthy or fresh because there are not clear regulations for these items, and the food can often have added chemicals, especially salads.

"Some places actually put propylene glycol on the salads, which is anti-freeze, the reason behind that is that it prevents wilting.

"And although they say a little anti-freeze is not going to hurt you, obviously given a choice you don't want to be eating anti-freeze," said Ordon.

Regular junk food consumption can damage liver

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