The liver is the body’s largest detoxifying organ, and substances like lipids and sugars need to undergo metabolism by the liver. If the liver is not functioning well, it can have a significant impact on overall health. Besides factors like staying up late and poor sleeping habits, diet is the major reason for poor liver health. Now, the “culprits” for liver health have been identified. These foods that we encounter daily should be consumed in moderation, no matter how tempting they may be! Today, let’s get into specifics!
(1) Pickled foods. Pickled foods such as vegetables and meats often contain various seasonings, preservatives, and high levels of nitrites that can burden liver metabolism and have carcinogenic effects. Hence, pickled foods are liver’s enemies.
(2) Raw and cold foods. The liver prefers warmth, and consuming raw and cold foods hinders liver metabolism and can introduce harmful substances and microorganisms to the liver, having adverse effects. Therefore, it’s best to minimize consumption of raw food items like sashimi.
(3) Fried foods. Although fried foods are delicious, they pose significant harm to the liver. The process of frying food destroys essential amino acids, leading to the production of harmful substances that can cause inflammation and cell damage in the liver. Additionally, the oils used for frying can form carcinogenic polymers after repeated high-temperature processing, making fried foods the liver’s natural enemy.
(4) Preserved foods. Some people enjoy consuming preserved fruits like plums during leisure time, but these treats can be taxing on the liver. Preserved foods are often laden with preservatives, colorants, and flavor enhancers that require liver metabolism for processing. Some preservatives contain sulfides, which can severely damage the liver over time, disrupting its detoxification system. The saying, “It takes three days for the liver to detoxify after eating a preserved plum,” holds true!
(5) High-sugar foods. While sweet treats are popular, high sugar consumption leads to the synthesis of low-density lipids in the liver, impairing blood circulation and increasing the liver’s workload. Moreover, the conversion of high-sugar foods into fats can lead to fat accumulation in the liver, triggering fatty liver disease. Therefore, individuals who enjoy sweet foods should consume them in moderation.
It is essential to limit the consumption of these harmful foods and focus on including more liver-friendly options in your diet. Next, we will introduce some foods that help in liver cleansing and detoxification. For those looking to support liver health, consider adding these foods to your diet!
(1) Mung beans. Mung beans can help lower cholesterol, facilitate toxin elimination from the body, promote metabolism, and have a calming effect, reducing liver heat. Consuming mung beans in summer can help in liver detoxification and improve vision.
(2) Hawthorn. Hawthorn has a pleasant sweet and sour taste and boasts numerous benefits. It enhances enzyme activity in the body, aids in cholesterol conversion, and prevents alcohol-related liver issues. Hawthorn can promote blood circulation, relieve liver congestion, calm the mind, and is highly valuable for consumption.
(3) Celery. Rich in dietary fiber, celery can aid in filtering out waste from the body, stimulating toxin elimination, promoting liver cleansing and diuresis. It helps in eliminating harmful substances through urine and supports liver health while also relieving liver congestion.
