Introduction
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Introduction: According to relevant data statistics in our country, shockingly, the number of people suffering from chronic hepatitis, fatty liver, and cirrhosis and other liver diseases nationwide is as high as about 456 million. This huge number inevitably instills fear and reveals the severe situation of liver diseases in our country.
The occurrence of liver diseases is not incidental. Apart from being related to certain viral infections, the prolonged presence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors is also a significant factor. What impact will these lifestyle habits have on liver health? Let’s find out today.
Frequent liver-damaging behaviors – check them and make early corrections
The liver is an important organ in our body, responsible for many vital physiological functions such as detoxification, metabolism, and energy storage.
However, certain common behaviors that damage the liver can have adverse effects on our liver health. Here are four common liver-damaging behaviors that we should check and correct promptly:
Excessive alcohol consumption
Alcohol is one of the main metabolites in the liver. Prolonged excessive alcohol consumption can damage the liver, leading to diseases such as fatty liver and cirrhosis.
Unhealthy diet
A high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt diet can lead to fat accumulation in the liver, causing fatty liver. Additionally, a lack of vitamins and minerals can also affect liver health.
Drug abuse
Many drugs require metabolism in the liver. Prolonged drug abuse can damage the liver. For example, antibiotics, painkillers, non-prescription drugs, and some prescription drugs may have negative effects on the liver.
Lack of exercise
Long-term lack of exercise can result in a decrease in the body’s metabolic rate, leading to fat accumulation in the liver. Moderate exercise can promote fat burning, reducing the occurrence of fatty liver.
Liver disease – no pain, no itch is a sign of late discovery? Recognize the “itch, pain, yellow” signs and detect abnormalities promptly
“Itch” refers to itchy skin
The liver plays a crucial role in detoxification and metabolism in the body. When liver function is impaired, the body may not effectively eliminate toxins, leading to toxin accumulation that can stimulate the skin, causing itching.
It is important to note that itchy skin can also be a symptom of other diseases. Therefore, if this symptom occurs, prompt medical attention and detailed examination are necessary.
“Pain” refers to right upper abdominal pain and joint pain
The right upper abdomen is the main location of the liver. When the liver is diseased, right upper abdominal pain may be felt.
In addition, the liver is responsible for producing and secreting bile to aid in fat digestion. If the liver is damaged, bile secretion may be affected, leading to fat metabolism disorders and causing joint pain, which may worsen as the condition progresses.
“Yellow” refers to yellow skin, yellow eyes, and yellow urine
When the liver is damaged, the metabolism of bilirubin may be affected, leading to an increase in bilirubin levels in the blood. This elevation can cause yellowing of the skin, eyes, and urine.
These symptoms are important indicators of liver disease. If these symptoms are noticed, immediate medical attention for diagnosis and treatment is recommended.
If your liver is not healthy, can you still eat garlic?
Garlic, a widely used seasoning, has often been speculated by some to have adverse effects on liver health. However, is this really the case? Should garlic be completely avoided once liver problems arise, as many believe?
A study jointly conducted by the School of Public Health at Nanjing Medical University and the Liver Cancer Prevention and Treatment Research Institute of Runzhou, Jiangsu Province, has shed light on the relationship between garlic and liver cancer.
This study involved 3,199 carriers of the hepatitis B virus aged 30 to 70. Their dietary habits, including vegetables, legumes, fruits, eggs, meat, nuts, garlic, corn, and fried foods were meticulously recorded. During several years of follow-up, 270 carriers of hepatitis B were diagnosed with liver cancer.
The study results were astonishing: a significant association was found between the habit of consuming garlic and the risk of developing liver cancer. Specifically, individuals who consumed garlic more than seven times a week had a significantly lower risk of liver cancer compared to those who consumed garlic infrequently.
Furthermore, individuals who consumed both garlic and tea had a 59% lower risk of developing liver cancer compared to those who did not eat garlic or drink tea.
These study findings suggest that garlic may have potential in preventing liver cancer. Adjusting dietary habits may have a positive impact on the health of individuals with liver diseases such as hepatitis B.
So the question arises, can garlic nurture the liver and fight cancer?
Garlic, as a nutritious food, does have certain health benefits. It contains abundant trace elements like selenium, which have antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Additionally, crushed garlic contains allicin, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
However, it should be noted that while garlic does have some health benefits, there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to confirm its anti-cancer effects. Although allicin has positive effects in terms of antibacterial and antioxidant properties, it does not directly treat cancer.
Moreover, excessive intake of garlic can be harmful. Excess garlic can increase gastric acid secretion, irritating the gastrointestinal tract, which is unfavorable for individuals with gastrointestinal diseases.
Individuals with liver diseases should also avoid excessive consumption of garlic, as it not only fails to treat hepatitis viruses but may exacerbate the condition.
Therefore, moderate consumption of garlic is advised. Each intake should not be excessive or rushed. It is recommended to consume 1-2 cloves of garlic per meal and preferably with other foods to reduce gastric irritation.
Doctor’s advice: To keep your liver healthy, avoid three things and eat two fruits
Avoid three things:
Semi-cooked foods
The liver plays a vital role in the digestion and absorption of food, being able to handle and metabolize various nutrients, including proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Therefore, food choices directly impact liver health.
In our lives, semi-cooked foods seem to have become favorites of many young people, such as half-cooked shellfish, drunken shrimp, oysters, sashimi, etc. While these foods offer a certain texture and flavor, they may carry bacteria and harmful substances like liver flukes.
High-fat foods
High-fat foods are the liver’s nemesis. Fatty acids in high-fat foods are oxidized in the liver, producing a large number of fatty acid oxidation products that may damage liver cells.
Furthermore, cholesterol in high-fat foods easily deposits in the liver, forming cholesterol stones, further burdening the liver.
To protect the liver, it is advisable to limit the consumption of high-fat foods and opt for foods rich in healthy fats such as fish, nuts, olive oil, as these contain fats that are beneficial to liver health.
Alcohol
The liver is a vital organ responsible for metabolizing and breaking down various substances in the body, including alcohol. Over 90% of alcohol entering the body needs to be metabolized and broken down in the liver, while the remaining 10% is excreted outside the body through the gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore, liver health is closely related to the amount of alcohol consumed. The main component of alcohol is ethanol, which is converted into acetaldehyde in liver cells.
Both acetaldehyde and ethanol have direct damaging effects on liver cells, leading to cell degeneration or necrosis. Moreover, prolonged alcohol consumption also increases the risk of diseases such as fatty liver and cirrhosis.
Eat two fruits:
Grapes
In traditional Chinese medicine, grapes are considered to have a neutral nature and sweet and sour taste. They have various benefits such as nourishing qi and blood, strengthening tendons and bones, promoting diuresis, nourishing liver yin, warming the stomach and invigorating the spleen, promoting blood circulation, alleviating thirst, etc.
Frequent consumption of grapes can effectively adjust the function of liver cells, counteract or reduce the damage caused by free radicals to the liver, and also have anti-inflammatory effects, rendering proteins in bacteria and viruses ineffective.
Modern medical research has also shown that the polyphenols in grapes are natural free radical scavengers with strong antioxidant activity. These polyphenols can bind with proteins in liver cells, rendering them ineffective and ultimately protecting liver health.
Apple
Apples are rich in various nutrients such as vitamin C, dietary fiber, and antioxidants, which help the liver eliminate toxins and waste from the body, promote liver metabolism and detoxification functions.
Additionally, the pectin in apples can help the liver eliminate excess fat, aiding in the prevention of diseases like fatty liver.
Moreover, apples improve digestion and promote gastrointestinal motility, assisting in food digestion, reducing the time toxins linger in the intestines, thereby relieving the liver’s burden.
Further Reading: Can the liver regenerate?
Physiologically, the liver possesses a potent regenerative ability. Under normal conditions, the liver can maintain its structure and function through self-repair and regeneration.
However, this regenerative capability is not unlimited. When the liver undergoes severe damage or is affected by disease, its regenerative capacity may be limited.
Understanding the liver’s regenerative capacity is crucial in the treatment of liver diseases. In liver transplant surgeries, for instance, doctors consider the regenerative capacity of the donor liver to select the appropriate donor. In drug treatments, the mechanism of action of drugs may also be related to the liver’s regenerative ability.
