{"id":824893,"date":"2026-08-25T03:38:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T03:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/824893\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T03:38:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T03:38:12","slug":"hepatologist-reveals-the-one-grocery-item-he-avoids-for-liver-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/824893\/","title":{"rendered":"Hepatologist Reveals the One Grocery Item He Avoids for Liver Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you walk through the grocery store, your financial health may be top of mind these days (groceries are expensive<\/a>!). Or, maybe you\u2019re hyper-focused on foods to support your heart health<\/a>, hormones<\/a> or blood sugar<\/a>. However, Dr. Brian T. Lee, MD<\/a>, a transplant hepatologist at Hoag, suggests people think about their livers<\/a> while choosing their food items for the week. Dr. Lee emphasizes that you need to do more than avoid or minimize alcohol intake to keep it functioning.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe liver is the body\u2019s metabolic processing center,\u201d he tells Parade. \u201cIt helps process the nutrients we absorb, storing some for later and converting others into energy or materials used elsewhere in the body.\u201d<\/p>\n

The grocery store is chock-full of items that support liver health, but it also has some foods you\u2019ll want to steer clear of, as Dr. Lee does (for the most part). <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the body repeatedly receives more sugar, alcohol or calories than it can handle, some of that excess energy can be converted into and stored as liver fat,\u201d he notes. \u201cThere is a strong connection between what we consume and our liver health, making it important to understand how everyday food and beverage choices affect the liver over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

For this reason, Dr. Lee shops intentionally, loading his cart with fiber<\/a> and vitamin-rich produce like fruits and vegetables, whole grains and unsaturated fat (think olive oil <\/a>and avocados<\/a>). However, there\u2019s one grocery store item he doesn\u2019t buy\u2014at least not regularly. Below, he reveals the foods he avoids when shopping, along with tasty alternatives.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\ude7a<\/a>SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week<\/a>\ud83d\udc8a<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m a Hepatologist\u2014This Is the Grocery Store Food I Never Buy\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI personally minimize sugar-sweetened beverages the most,\u201d Dr. Lee tells Parade.<\/p>\n

That means not adding regular soda, sweetened teas<\/a>, lemonade and many sports drinks to his cart. As tasty as they are, Dr. Lee is concerned about the way they can affect his liver and overall health.<\/p>\n

\u201cSugary drinks are so easy to overconsume, with a large amount of sugar and calories without the fullness of eating solid food,\u201d he says. \u201cThe body does not always compensate for liquid calories by eating less food later in the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

For instance, a 20-ounce soft drink can contain around 220 calories and 55 grams of added sugar<\/a>. Compare that to water with a couple of frozen berries, which has no added sugar and few calories. Dietary guidelines state<\/a> that no amount of added sugar is nutritious, but they advise adults to limit intake to no more than 10 grams per meal. A single soda can have more than five times that, which isn\u2019t good news for your liver.<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh consumption of sugary beverages has been highly associated with<\/a> the development of liver fat and eventually chronic liver disease,\u201d Dr. Lee says.<\/p>\n

He also points out that research suggests a link<\/a> between the number of sugary beverages you consume and weight gain.<\/p>\n

That said, sugar-sweetened beverages aren\u2019t the only source of added sugar. \u201cAdded sugars are also a concern and can be found not only in soda and candy but also in breakfast cereals, sauces and flavored yogurts,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t ever have a soda if you want to protect your liver. But moderation is key.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep in mind, a single soda does not cause liver disease,\u201d Dr. Lee notes. \u201cThe problem arises when it becomes the main source of hydration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: Here\u2019s Exactly What Happens to Your Liver When You Eat Bananas<\/a><\/p>\n

Alternatives To Sugar-Sweetened Beverages<\/p>\n

Instead of stocking up on sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and some iced teas, Dr. Lee loads his kitchen with other liver-healthy alternatives and recommends that his patients do the same. His favorites are:<\/p>\n

Water. Quite frankly? \u201cThis is the simplest and best everyday source of hydration,\u201d Dr. Lee says. He says it doesn\u2019t have added sugar or unnecessary calories. If you feel like water lacks fun or flavor, add citrus slices or mint.<\/p>\n

Unsweetened iced tea. Dr. Lee likes the flavor profile and says it comes without the sugar load of bottled sweet tea. \u201cIts main advantage is straightforward by replacing a high-sugar beverage with a flavorful, low-calorie alternative,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

Coffee. Dr. Lee points to strong observational evidence<\/a> that black coffee<\/a> may promote liver health. \u201cRegular coffee consumption has been associated with less advanced liver scarring and lower risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer,\u201d he says. \u201cThis is not proof that coffee directly prevents or treats liver disease, but simply an association. Avoid the syrup, sugar or sweetened creamer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: \u2018I\u2019m a Hepatologist\u2014This Is the First Thing I\u2019d Cut From My Diet To Protect My Liver\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Other Foods To Avoid for Liver Health<\/p>\n

Dr. Lee doesn\u2019t just avoid sugary beverages and foods at the grocery store. Some of his other concerns include foods and drinks that make it easy to consume a ton of saturated fat, refined carbohydrates and calories without feeling full. He says we sometimes call these foods \u201cempty calories.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor liver health, it\u2019s particularly helpful to limit foods that are ultra-processed, fried or high in saturated fats, like French fries, processed meats and packaged desserts,\u201d he notes. \u201cRefined carbohydrates\u2014white bread or rice and pastries\u2014can also be easy to consume.\u201d<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t forget: The liver metabolizes alcohol. \u201cThe greater the exposure to alcohol, the greater the risk of liver injury and disease,\u201d Dr. Lee explains.<\/p>\n

Related: The Common Supplement Hepatologists Wish People Would Stop Taking So Casually<\/a><\/p>\n

The Best Diet for Liver Health<\/p>\n

Count Dr. Lee among the many fans of the Mediterranean diet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is more of a \u2018template\u2019 than a rigid \u2018diet,\u201d Dr. Lee explains. \u201cIt emphasizes vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, fish and olive oil, all of which can support a healthy liver.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Lee also likes that the Mediterranean diet limits: <\/p>\n

\u201cThis template can help address excess liver fat, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and risk of heart disease,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

That said, there are other good-for-your-liver diets out there\u2014think DASH, which is similar to the Mediterranean diet but emphasizes lower sodium intake. He stresses that you don\u2019t need to split hairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe honest conclusion is that the best \u2018diet\u2019 is a high-quality, minimally processed collection of foods that a person can sustain over time,\u201d Dr. Lee notes. \u201cThis is more important than debating small differences between otherwise healthy diets.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Up Next:<\/p>\n

Related: Here\u2019s What Happens to Your Liver When You Eat Garlic Regularly<\/a><\/p>\n

Sources:<\/p>\n

Count the Added Sugars. FDA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Be Smart About Sugar. CDC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Risk of Liver Cancer and Chronic Liver Disease Mortality. JAMA<\/a>. <\/p>\n

This story was originally published by Parade<\/a> on Aug 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Wellness<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When you walk through the grocery store, your financial health may be top of mind these days (groceries…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":824894,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[97],"class_list":["post-824893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=824893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824893\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/824894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=824893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=824893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=824893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}