Even so, the results add to evidence supporting moderation of sugar-sweetened beverages as part of a liver-conscious lifestyle.

3. Which Everyday Drinks Should You Watch?

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Several common beverages can contribute significant amounts of added sugar:

Regular soda: Often contains substantial added sugar with little nutritional value.
Sweetened iced tea: Bottled and restaurant versions can contain considerable amounts of sugar.
Energy drinks: Some contain both added sugar and high doses of caffeine.
Sweetened fruit drinks: Drinks made with fruit flavoring or juice concentrates may contain added sugars and less whole-fruit fiber than people expect.

Check the nutrition label rather than assuming that a drink is healthy because it contains fruit flavoring, vitamins, or natural-sounding ingredients.

4. What About Diet Soda?

Diet soda generally contains little or no sugar, so it is not equivalent to regular soda in terms of sugar intake.

Some studies have investigated artificially sweetened beverages and liver health, but the findings are mixed. A large observational study published in JAMA in 2023 did not find a statistically significant association between artificially sweetened beverage consumption and liver cancer or chronic liver disease mortality in the population studied.

Water remains an excellent everyday choice, but current evidence does not justify claiming that every diet beverage damages the liver.

5. Warning Signs of Fatty Liver Disease

One reason liver disease can go unnoticed is that early stages often cause no obvious symptoms.

Some people may experience fatigue or discomfort in the upper-right abdomen, but these symptoms are nonspecific and cannot establish a diagnosis.

More advanced liver disease can cause jaundice, abdominal swelling, or swelling in the legs. These symptoms require medical assessment, and new jaundice or significant abdominal swelling warrants prompt medical attention.

If you have diabetes, obesity, abnormal liver blood tests, or other risk factors, ask your healthcare professional whether liver evaluation is appropriate. You should not wait for symptoms to appear before discussing concerns.