The liver is an important metabolic organ in the body. Its main function is to help the body with metabolism, eliminate toxins produced by the body. The liver is crucial for the body’s health because the health of the liver is a direct reflection of the body’s overall health.
When the liver is damaged, liver function decreases, which in turn weakens the body’s immune system and may lead to liver disease. Liver damage is closely related to various unhealthy habits in daily life.
Notify your parents: Two types of food in the refrigerator may be secretly harming the liver, try to consume them sparingly.
Long soaking of wood ear mushrooms.
Wood ear mushrooms are a common vegetable on our dining tables, favored by many for their crisp texture. Most wood ear mushrooms bought at the market are dried, requiring soaking for about 20-30 minutes before consumption.
If soaked for too long, a bacterium called “Aspergillus flavus” is likely to grow, producing a toxin called “aflatoxin.” This toxin can cause severe damage to the liver, harming liver cells and leading to liver disease or even cancer.
It’s best to consume wood ear mushrooms on the same day they are soaked. Avoid consuming overnight wood ear mushrooms, as even if stored in the refrigerator, they can generate aflatoxin.
Leaving food for too long.
Thrifty habits are a traditional virtue, and we often store leftover food in the refrigerator for later consumption. However, this practice is extremely unfriendly to the liver.
Experiments have shown that when food is left for more than 8 hours, it becomes considered “overnight food.” In such food, nitrite ions are easily produced and increase over time. After metabolism in the liver, nitrosamines are created, a potent carcinogen. Prolonged consumption can lead to necrosis of liver cells, potentially causing liver cancer.
If the liver shows warning signs, what unusual symptoms might the body experience?
Pain in the upper right abdomen.
The liver is the only organ in the body without pain receptors and mainly transmits pain through the liver’s outer membrane.
Due to the lack of pain nerves within the liver, early signs of disease may not be expressed through pain perception. However, when liver cells are damaged, inflammation occurs, causing abnormal swelling of the liver, which tugs on the liver’s membrane, resulting in pain.
Liver palms.
In a healthy individual, the hands should have a consistent pink color. However, in severe liver diseases, patients may develop dark red spots or patches on the fingertips and nail beds, along with a network of visible blood vessels.
This occurs due to impaired estrogen deactivation in the body, leading to its accumulation and stimulating abnormal dilation of blood vessels in the skin, causing liver palms.
For better liver health, adhere to one good habit regularly.
