LIVER disease is on the rise; and many are not aware they already have it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of deaths from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis has increased every year since 2007. The proliferation of fast-food restaurants, almost in every barangay, could be one of the factors of liver disease.

The liver is a very important organ in the body. It is essential for digesting food and ridding the body of toxic substances. Among the liver function includes:

* Bile production which helps to break down fats for digestion in the small intestine;

* Metabolizes and utilizes nutrients from the food you eat;

* Produces certain necessary clotting compounds for the blood;

* Creates cholesterol which is necessary for building hormones;

* Converts glucose in the blood into glycogen for storage;

* Processes hemoglobin and stores iron;

* Helps create certain immune factors for fighting infection;

* Metabolizes drugs and other toxins;

* Helps break down and clear old red blood cells;

* Regulates and maintains hormone levels.

* Creates ketones for energy when blood sugar is low.

With so many functions, an unhealthy lifestyle could hurt your liver overtime which could lead to fatty liver (early stage of disease) and cirrhosis, which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.

But early diagnosis and treatment may give the liver time to heal.

It is advisable to give your liver a break. Take time to detox and avoid eating foods that hurt your liver.

* Avoid refined carbohydrates. Avoid foods with added sugars, especially sugary drinks with high fructose corn syrup. Stay away from any type of refined grain products including bread, pasta, snacks, desserts.

* Avoid vegetable seed oils. Soybean oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower, peanut oil, and any “vegetable” oils are all highly inflammatory to the liver and digestive system. Linoleic acid, one of the main ingredients in vegetable oils, will lead to elevated liver enzymes and a fatty liver.

* Avoid alcohol. Frequent drinking of alcohol can slowly damage your liver and go unnoticed until symptoms begin to manifest, which mostly happen already at the end-stage of liver disease. If you can’t avoid alcohol, limit your drink to up to two glasses a day.

* Limit carbohydrate intake. Eat a low carb diet to lose excess body fat. This would increase your insulin sensitivity as you exercise to burn fats. This would also help clear the excess fat from the liver and prevent you from having Fatty Liver Disease (FLD).

Are there foods or supplements to help your liver recuperate? Yes. Read on.

* Dandelion. Dandelion is a long known herbal medicine. The yellow flower is safe to mix in salad. You may also buy dandelion tea. Dandelion tea has been used to promote liver function in holistic medicine for thousands of years. Because dandelion is bitter, it is known to stimulate bile flow, which works as a detergent, helping to cleanse, detoxify and rid the liver of excess fats.

* Cruciferous vegetables. Vegetables like kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, turnips, arugula, radishes, collards, cauliflower and bok choy are the best bet. All of these cruciferous vegetables are high in a nutrient called sulforaphane. This nutrient helps to lower liver inflammation and helps to detoxify the liver. Sulforaphane helps to get rid of fat in the liver, detox out poisonous substances, alcohol, and medications.

* Garlic is known as a superfood and a health food for the whole body but it is especially helpful for liver health, though garlic is known to many with hypertension. But overall, garlic has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

* Coffee. Coffee is one of my favorite health foods, and it’s great for your liver as well. Many studies have shown that drinking coffee, especially organic black coffee, protects against fatty liver disease and reduces inflammation.

Drinking coffee helps lower the risk of liver scarring, called cirrhosis in people with chronic liver disease. Coffee drinkers also have a lower risk of developing a common type of liver cancer, and coffee seems to have anti-inflammatory effects on the liver also. Coffee also increases levels of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that protects the liver, strengthens the immune system and aids in energy production.

* Cynarin and silymarin supplements are also immensely helpful to cleanse the liver after medications, detox from dangerous chemical exposure, or recover from chemotherapy for cancer treatments.

But if you’re not a fan of supplements, you can buy artichokes which contain cynarin, and silymarin, which aid in detoxifying the liver, stimulating the kidneys, and increasing the flow of bile. Bile, which is created in the liver, helps digest fats and break down cholesterol. Cynarin can be used as a cholesterol lowering agent, and tests show it can decrease total cholesterol by almost 20 percent and LDL by 23 percent, according to a study.

* Grapefruit is high in an antioxidant called naringin which help reduce inflammation and prevent oxidative damage. Naringin helps the liver’s ability to metabolize alcohol and protects against some of its damaging effects. By Bhaby See