The liver is a very large metabolic organ in the human body, and is also a particularly important internal organ. Its function is extremely important for human health.
As diet-related health issues become increasingly serious, especially nowadays, people pay more attention to food safety, so when we eat, we choose some foods that protect and nourish the liver.
People with a healthy liver may have these 4 signs, and hopefully you do too!
1. Quick wound healing
For some people with impaired liver function, it is easy to cause a decrease in blood clotting function, slow wound healing, and bacterial infections, which are detrimental to the body.
However, for people with a healthy liver, they can create clotting factors, accelerate wound healing, so if your wounds heal relatively quickly, it indicates that your liver is still healthy, and I am genuinely happy for you.
2. Reddish nails
We often hear in the news that the health of the liver can be seen from the nails! Indeed, if the liver is healthy, the nails are reddish and shiny!
If the liver is damaged, white nails may appear, lacking redness, and may even have some vertical ridges!
This may be due to insufficient blood supply to the liver! If not paid attention to promptly, it may lead to diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis!
3. Good skin
It is well known that the liver has the function of detoxification and excretion. In daily life, our diet and bad habits can introduce toxins into the body, burdening the liver.
If the liver is not functioning well, it may not be able to break down and eliminate these toxins; whereas a healthy liver can effectively detoxify through the liver. Therefore, individuals with a healthy liver have fewer body toxins, leading to smooth, elastic skin.
4. Healthy appetite
In addition to gastrointestinal diseases affecting appetite, liver diseases also have an impact on appetite! For instance, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc., due to obstructed bile secretion, patients often experience aversion to oil, nausea, and vomiting. Conversely, with a healthy liver, food digestion and appetite are naturally unaffected.
“Avoid the “2 Whites” to protect the liver, consider more of the “3 Greens,” your liver may thank you”
[“Avoid the “2 Whites” to protect the liver”]
1. Sugar
For people with liver disease, it is better to consume less sugar because once sugar enters the bloodstream, if sugar is undigested, it will exist in the liver in the form of fat, increasing the burden on the liver, leading to obesity, causing fat infiltration of liver cells, affecting their normal function.
2. Pork fat
Pork fat also causes significant damage to the liver. Many people have a preference for pork fat, especially elderly individuals, who almost always consume some pork fat with every meal.
The good taste of pork fat can increase appetite, and there is a saying among the public that “a spoonful of pork fat is equivalent to ten doses of medicine,” so people tend to consume it more often.
However, for modern individuals, excessive consumption of pork fat is not beneficial for the body’s functions; the high fat content in pork fat, when consumed excessively, increases the internal fat content, causing obesity, further burdening the liver and causing damage.
[“Embrace the “3 Greens” to nourish the liver, consider more”]
1. Asparagus
For individuals with liver diseases wishing to nourish the liver, eating asparagus in daily life can be a good choice. Asparagus contains a rich amount of chlorophyll, which has a liver-nourishing effect.
Moreover, the amino acids in asparagus can help relieve drunkenness, enhance liver function, prevent liver disease, so consuming a moderate amount of asparagus can elevate liver health.
2. Spinach
Spinach is known as a “model student of nutrition,” rich in vitamins, carotene, and various minerals, supplementing the body with necessary nutrients. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that eating spinach in spring can help nourish the liver-yang. Spinach also helps to relieve coughs, acting as a qi-relieving and phlegm-dissipating agent, often consumed to counteract drunk poisoning.
3. Artemisia Scoparia
Artemisia scoparia’s fragrance has the function of soothing liver qi, aiding digestion, and promoting bowel movements. Artemisia scoparia contains special scented volatile oils that help soothe the liver qi. Regular consumption of artemisia scoparia benefits releasing liver qi and improving symptoms caused by liver stagnation such as irritability, frequent sighing, chest and hypochondrial distention, and other symptoms.
Autumn is the golden season for nourishing the liver! 4 suggestions to help you protect and nourish the liver
1. Maintain a peaceful mindset to nurture the liver
Emotions are closely related to the liver; prolonged mental stress and anxiety can lead to liver qi stagnation, causing various liver diseases; intense anger harms the liver, so those with liver problems should avoid anger, as rage can cause liver qi counterflow, blood overflow with qi, damaging liver function.
Therefore, to maintain a healthy liver, learn to control anger, strive to stay calm, optimistic and cheerful, extinguishing liver fire, promoting normal liver qi circulation.
2. Dietary adjustment to nourish the liver
After the beginning of autumn, appetite tends to increase, which can burden the liver. Additionally, the dry autumn weather leads to dehydration in the body, affecting the liver’s detoxification processes and causing liver damage.
According to the concept of “Five-Colored Diet” in traditional Chinese medicine, the liver corresponds to the color green, so consuming more green foods in autumn can help regulate liver qi, relieve liver stagnation, aid liver detoxification, and support liver protection and nourishment.
Vegetables like spinach, celery, broccoli, winter melon, etc., are beneficial for liver care. Moreover, try to consume less spicy and greasy foods to reduce liver damage.
3. Adequate water intake for liver nourishment
Autumn is dry, making the body prone to dehydration. The liver plays a vital role in the body’s detoxification processes and metabolism, both of which require water. Inadequate water intake can slow down liver metabolism.
Sufficient water intake stimulates bile production in the liver, facilitates liver and overall digestive system functioning, aids in body detoxification, controls excessive bile secretion, reduces harmful mucous formation in the body, and helps dissolve gallstones.
4. Moderate exercise for liver nourishment
Engage in moderate physical activity daily and gradually adjust exercise intensity according to individual liver function. Initially, light jogging without affecting comfort levels is recommended, with jogging time controlled based on fatigue.
Nourishing the liver is not an overnight process; consistency is key, just like with anything else. Healthy foods are found in nature, and we should seek out foods for health and wellness in natural sources, improve daily dietary habits, have a balanced diet, and ultimately take good care of our liver.
To comfortably enjoy autumn, it is crucial to maintain liver health. The above good practices benefit liver function enhancement. Additionally, it is essential to avoid activities detrimental to liver health, especially smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and improper drug use, all of which negatively impact liver health.
