My liver has a bone to pick with Halloween candy

My sweet tooth gets me into trouble all the time.

With Halloween just around the corner, I know my daughter will be taking her little stepbrother trick-or-treating. Naturally, she’ll return with a respectable haul of candy for herself, too. And being the wonderful kid she is, she’ll undoubtedly set aside a few carefully selected pieces for her dear old mom. She knows what I like, and she enjoys sharing.

I can almost hear my liver groaning at the thought. Halloween isn’t exactly its favorite holiday.

That doesn’t change my sugar cravings. Since living with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), I’ve found myself craving sugary foods at the most inconvenient times, including the occasional urge to devour a large slice of coconut cake before bedtime.

Right now, the candy companies seem to have my number. Every grocery store, drugstore, and department store is overflowing with brightly colored packages of sugary temptation. It’s hard to ignore the rising tide of sugar rolling into our lives.

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Sugar high

As a child, Halloween was practically a competitive sport in my neighborhood. One neighbor knew exactly what children wanted: full-size candy bars. Even better, she was a sweet, elderly woman who was legally blind.

I’m embarrassed to admit that my siblings and I visited her house several times every Halloween, collecting another candy bar with each trip. She never seemed any the wiser, assuming she hadn’t recognized us all along and simply enjoyed our visits.

Oh, to be a child again, when my biggest Halloween concern was whether my pillowcase could withstand another five pounds of candy.

These days, I’m an adult, a mother and someone living with compensated cirrhosis. I have considerably more reasons to practice restraint.

According to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, diets high in refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and added sugars are associated with fatty liver disease. Excessive consumption of fructose, a sugar commonly found in sweetened foods and beverages, can also contribute to liver fat accumulation and other metabolic problems.

For people managing MASH, limiting added sugar is one way to support liver health. That doesn’t necessarily mean swearing off every piece of candy forever. It means paying attention to how often we indulge and what we’re eating the rest of the time.

Finding a balance

Fortunately, my daughter and I have gotten better at finding that balance.

We both love candy and dessert, but as she’s gotten older, we’ve become more interested in eating filling, nutritious foods first and saving the sugary stuff for later. I’m lucky to have a teenager who loves most vegetables, enjoys my cooking, and wants to learn how to prepare the healthy meals we share.

The American Liver Foundation recommends limiting foods and drinks with added sugars while emphasizing nutritious eating patterns, including Mediterranean-style meals rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats.

But our healthy dinners provide something that can’t be measured on a nutrition label. Often, it’s just the two of us sitting down together, sharing a meal and talking between bites. We discuss our lives, our dreams, and whatever we’re planning to cook next. Sometimes we solve the world’s problems over dinner. Other times, we’re simply enjoying each other’s company.

Those conversations nourish us in ways that go well beyond the nutrients on our plates. We’re feeding our minds and strengthening our relationship while taking care of our bodies.

I’ve written before about the challenges and rewards of living with liver disease. One lesson I’ve learned is that taking care of myself doesn’t have to mean giving up everything I enjoy. Sometimes, it’s about making better choices without forgetting to enjoy life.

Enjoying treats

I’m sure my daughter will come bearing specially selected treats after she and her little brother suit up for their big night in search of the finest candy and perhaps even the Great Pumpkin.

I’ll be celebrating, too, handing out candy and tiny toys to the neighborhood children. I might even enjoy a few treats myself.

But I’ll go easy on my dear liver. It’s doing better than it has in years, and I have no intention of frightening it back into trouble over a handful of Halloween candy. After all, I’ve worked too hard to get my health back to let a miniature candy bar become the villain in my story.

My liver might not be perfect, but these days, it can certainly dress up and pass for a healthier one.

And that’s the sweetest treat of all.

Note: Liver Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Liver Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to liver disease.