How Can I Protect My Liver?
To protect the liver, it is essential to adjust lifestyle and dietary habits. Avoid staying up late for extended periods as the night is a crucial time for the liver to rest adequately. Appropriate physical exercise can be conducted to enhance the body's immunity. Additionally, abstaining from alcohol and smoking is crucial, as alcohol is metabolized through the liver, and long-term alcohol consumption may lead to alcoholic liver disease. Incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into the diet is also beneficial.
1. Adequate Sleep: Resting well can reduce physical exertion, increase blood flow to the liver, and provide more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to promote the recovery of liver cells and reduce the physiological burden on the liver. However, excessive emphasis on bed rest and sleep for all liver patients can increase their mental burden, affecting the regulation of the brain and the coordination of internal organ functions, which is not conducive to the body's metabolism. Those who sleep less than 4 hours per night experience a 50% reduction in immune system function, while obtaining sufficient sleep restores immunity completely.
2. Drinking Plenty of Water: Drinking plenty of water replenishes body fluids, enhances blood circulation, and promotes metabolism. It also stimulates the secretion of glands, especially the digestive glands, pancreatic juice, and bile, aiding in digestion, absorption, and waste elimination, thereby reducing the damage caused by metabolites and toxins to the liver.
3. Using Traditional Chinese Medicine for Liver Protection: According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver cannot be supplemented directly as it can lead to internal heat. Instead, nourishing the spleen and kidneys can nourish the liver. For those with spleen deficiency, medications such as Renshen Jianpi Pills, barley, Chinese yam, and gorgonia fruit porridge can be consumed. For those with kidney deficiency, Liuwei Dihuang Pills, wolfberry, and Gastrodia elata chicken soup can be taken. For those with excessive liver fire, Danzhi Xiaoyao Pills and chrysanthemum tea can be used to protect the liver.
