The liver is an important organ in the human body, responsible for synthesizing various nutrients, metabolizing substances, detoxifying and purifying the body, which is crucial for people’s health. In modern times, due to work-related stress, staying up late, drinking alcohol, coupled with processed foods, it is easy to increase the liver’s detoxification burden, harm the liver, weaken the body, and affect the liver’s detoxification and repair time. Therefore, taking good care of the liver is particularly important. So, how should we nurture and protect our liver on a daily basis? The best method is dietary regulation.
These foods are known as the “guardians” of the liver. Eating a little every day can nourish and protect the liver, keeping liver diseases at bay!
1. Grapes
Grapes are fruits that people with excessive liver heat should eat more of. Grapes are rich in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and polyphenols, which are very useful for supplementing the body’s needs and adjusting liver cell functions. Additionally, grapes have antioxidant properties that can reduce damage to the liver from free radicals.
2. Schisandra
Schisandra is known as the “holy hand of liver protection.” It particularly contains lignans, which are the “nemeses” of liver disease. They can inhibit harmful free radicals, protect liver cell membranes, and repair liver damage. Therefore, for a fatigued liver, schisandra can alleviate liver pressure, allowing the liver to relax.
3. Vitex Negundo
Vitex negundo has detoxifying effects and can combat hepatitis viruses while enhancing immune function; it is neutral in nature and sour in taste, entering the liver meridian, which can nourish the liver yin, soothe the liver, and protect liver cells. It also has diuretic and jaundice-reducing effects, helping with the excretion of bilirubin, thus playing a role in detoxification, alleviating jaundice, lowering transaminases, and restoring liver function. According to clinical usage reports, vitex negundo is most effective for acute hepatitis (acute phases of Hepatitis A and B) and is effective for chronic hepatitis and carriers of the Hepatitis B virus.
4. Celery
Eating more celery can aid in digestion, thus preventing and treating gastrointestinal discomfort. Additionally, eating more celery can help clear internal heat from our body, thereby soothing the liver and being beneficial for liver health.
5. Bitter Melon
Bitter melon is cold and bitter in nature, with effects of cooling, detoxifying, and nourishing. It is rich in nutrients, particularly dietary fiber and vitamin C, which effectively supplement liver energy. Bitter melon plays an important protective role for the liver; it not only protects the liver but also reduces the incidence of liver cancer.
6. Dandelion
Dandelion has liver-protective and diuretic effects. In the summer, drinking dandelion tea daily can dispel damp heat, especially related to liver heat and excess liver fire. Besides clearing liver heat, dandelion can also detoxify the liver.
7. Winter Melon
Winter melon is a great summer dish that helps replenish moisture and electrolytes while also cooling and dispelling heat. It has the effects of clearing heat, reducing summer heat, and relieving fire, making it a perfect anti-heat food. People can eat more winter melon to cool down; consuming boiled winter melon can assist with diuresis and reduce water retention.
8. Mung Bean Soup
Mung beans are cold and sweet in nature, capable of cooling, detoxifying, and alleviating irritation, suitable for those who are irritable and restless. Regular consumption helps to detoxify the liver, effectively relieving headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, dry eyes, bitter mouth, foul breath, and pain in the flanks.
