LIVER disease remains one of significant health issues and many are not aware of it.

Liver diseases afflict millions of people worldwide, with more than two million deaths caused by complications.

In the Philippines, a lower middle-income country in Southeast Asia, liver diseases accounted for 27.3 cases per 1000 deaths.

Due to a severe incline in environmental toxins, sedentary lifestyles, and the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, the annual increase in the incidence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) has become a global public health problem.

A fatty liver is also associated with high levels of fat in your bloodstream (triglycerides)…

Which is a huge concern as medical experts call high triglycerides “a ‘silent’ problem with big implications” such as a four-fold increase in the likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke.

When you have extra fats, there’s a tendency of elevated blood sugar levels which can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Here are certain foods that could hasten the progress of liver inflammation into dangerous levels.

* Crackers. This popular snack may seem innocent enough, but they’re not an excellent option for your liver health. Any foods with refined carbs or sugars, can be problematic for the liver, according to research. It can be easy to just munch on crackers mindlessly, but keep your hard-working liver in mind the next time you reach for a sleeve.

* Salted or processed/cured meats. Too much fatty meat and/or salt is a problem for the liver. Cured meats like prosciutto, or even cold cuts like ham, bologna, or salami, are foods that are overeaten by many. Opt for high-quality, lean meats like chicken or seafood.

* Fruit cups. In a 2013 study, over-consumption of fruits can actually introduce too much fructose to the body, which the liver may have issues processing and can result in fatty liver issues. Canned and packaged fruits are also often packed with artificial sweeteners and added sugars.

* Common condiments. Often the more dangerous sources of fructose are those in which the sugar content is less obvious, such as ketchup and salad dressings. Just one tablespoon of ketchup contains four grams of sugar, and one serving of French salad dressing has six grams of sugar.

* Vegetable and seed oils. Sunflower, corn, soybean, and “vegetable” oils are omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich. The American Society for Nutrition found in 2020 that this “fatty acid composition rather than the amount of fat, may actually be the key factor inducing obesity.”

Overuse of these oils has also been implicated in the rise of system-wide inflammation, modern lifestyle diseases, and contributing to NAFLD. Even worse, when heated, the polyunsaturated omega-6 fats found in these common cooking oils generate a substance known as hydroxynonenal, which researchers now believe caused cell degeneration and cell death.