A primary cause of metabolic conditions is the excessive accumulation of sugar in the liver, leading to the formation of liver fat and insulin intolerance. Excess sugar reaches the liver through the hepatic portal, which is located further along in the gut. You can have a small amount of added sugar, but how you eat added sugar matters.

All nutrients are best delivered via a solid food bolus from full meals.

• Sugar bound up in a food bolus gives the gut time to break it down and use it before it gets to the hepatic portal.
• Snacking, especially on carbs and sugars, does not form an effective bolus and can undermine gut health.
• Drinking calories, especially carbs and sugar, even a “healthy” smoothie, express delivers sugar to the liver.