As the saying goes, "Three parts treatment, seven parts nourishment." Many liver disease patients have liver function damage and should watch their diet. So how to nourish the liver, do you know?
[Foods that Hepatitis B Patients Should Avoid]
1. Avoid Ginger
Hepatitis patients should avoid eating ginger because regular consumption of ginger can cause liver fire. To control the liver fire caused by ginger consumption, you can choose some liver-soothing and qi-regulating foods at the same time.
2. Avoid Soft-shelled Turtle
If hepatitis patients consume soft-shelled turtle, the high-quality protein contained in it cannot be absorbed by the body due to weakened digestion function. This will not only burden the liver but also slow down the recovery of liver function.
At the same time, the decomposition of food by microorganisms in the intestines can cause decay, leading to digestive system symptoms such as bloating, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. In severe cases, it can cause a large number of liver cell death, a sharp increase in serum bilirubin, and severe jaundice, which worsens the condition.
3. Avoid Garlic
Many people use garlic to prevent hepatitis, and even some people continue to eat garlic every day after contracting hepatitis. This is incorrect.
The "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that long-term consumption of garlic "injures the liver and damages the eyes." Garlic is hot in nature and can aggravate fire; it has a pungent taste and strong irritant properties. If it is consumed by someone with internal liver fire, the liver fire will become more intense, and in the long run, it will cause damage.
In addition, the volatile components of garlic can reduce red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood, and may cause anemia, which is not conducive to the treatment of hepatitis.
4. Avoid Lamb
Experts say that lamb has the effects of nourishing qi, invigorating blood, promoting blood circulation, and enhancing cold resistance. However, lamb is very hot in nature, so it should not be consumed by people with symptoms of fever, toothache, oral ulcers, coughing up yellow phlegm, etc.
Patients with liver disease, hypertension, acute enteritis, or other infectious diseases should also avoid consuming lamb during a fever.
5. Avoid Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds contain a large amount of fat. When consumed by people with poor gastrointestinal function such as enteritis or dysentery, or liver disease patients, it can worsen the condition.
The "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon" says, "Maintain the normal energy, and do not let evil invade." Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the spleen is the foundation of acquired conditions and the source of blood and Qi transformation. If the spleen is weak, the source of Qi and blood will be insufficient, the righteous Qi will be weak, and the resistance to evil will be reduced, which is not conducive to the recovery of the body.
In the Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing wrote in the "Essentials from the Golden Cabinet": "When a liver disease is seen, one should know that the liver passes through the spleen and should first treat the spleen." The liver and spleen are closely related physiologically and influence each other pathologically. Therefore, strengthening the spleen and nourishing Qi should be the primary method for treating liver disease.
[General Principles for Liver Nourishing Diet]
Reasonable dietary combination, with high protein and high vitamin diet as the main focus.
First, start with milk and eggs. Milk is rich in nutrients, including high-quality protein, easily absorbed lactose and milk fat, various vitamins, rich calcium and phosphorus, and various trace elements. It can promote the secretion of digestive juices without being affected by appetite, making it an almost perfect natural food for hepatitis patients.
The diet should be light, and soy products, vegetables, lean meat, and freshwater fish are good choices.
Second, consume different fruits appropriately. The main components of fruits are glucose, fructose, and vitamins, as well as various inorganic salts and trace elements such as iron, copper, potassium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, silicon, chromium, nickel, etc. They can be directly absorbed by the body, with high utilization rate and strong nourishing effects, which are beneficial for the recovery of liver disease.
Third, strictly avoid alcohol and smoking, avoid eating rough, prickly, and hard foods, and avoid using drugs that harm the liver.
Fourth, seafood, beef, mutton, animal offal, pork head meat, pumpkin, potatoes, etc., should not be consumed.
In addition, to nourish and protect the liver, the liver needs to "rest" well. Excessive fatigue can seriously deplete Qi and blood, directly affecting the function of liver blood storage. "When people lie down, blood returns to the liver." Going to bed on time and getting enough sleep is the best way to nourish liver blood.
Furthermore, pay attention to drinking more water and eating fruits appropriately to help nourish Yin, moisturize dryness, soothe the liver, and nourish blood, promoting metabolism.
Finally, smoking and alcohol can overload the liver, so try to stay away from them. Also, consume less greasy and spicy food and supplement enough high-quality protein.
