Vegetables not only contain abundant vitamins but also large amounts of dietary fiber, fruit acids, and inorganic salts. These substances are essential nutrients for the recovery process of patients with liver disease. There are many vegetables beneficial for patients with liver disease, and some are listed below for selection.
Garlic: Belongs to the Liliaceae family, with a pungent, warm, and spicy nature. It is advisable for liver disease patients to consume it cooked. It contains vitamins A, B1, C, etc., and its extracts have antibacterial, antiviral, and blood vessel softening effects.
Water Spinach: Also known as water convolvulus, it has a sweet and neutral nature. It contains protein, fat, inorganic salts, niacin, carotene, etc., and has effects of detoxification and clearing heat to cool the blood.
Shepherd's Purse: A plant of the Brassicaceae family, with a neutral nature and sweet taste. It contains vitamins B and C, carotene, niacin, and inorganic salts. Animal experiments have shown that it can shorten clotting time, has a hemostatic effect, and is suitable for patients with chronic liver disease who have symptoms such as nosebleeds and gum bleeding.
Cabbage: Also known as cabbage, kale, or head cabbage, it has a neutral nature and sweet taste. It is rich in vitamin C, B1, B2, and also contains carotene and vitamin E. Raw consumption is effective for stomach and duodenal ulcers and pain.
Mushroom: There are many varieties, mostly cultivated artificially now, including agaric mushrooms, champignons, shiitake mushrooms, etc., all belonging to the fungi group. It has a neutral nature and sweet taste, containing polysaccharides, vitamins, protein, fat, and inorganic salts. Experiments have proven that its polysaccharides have immune-regulating and anti-tumor effects, and it is advisable for liver disease patients to consume it regularly.
Wood Ear: There are black and white varieties, with a neutral nature and sweet taste, containing fat, protein, and polysaccharides. It can benefit the stomach and nourish blood, having a nourishing effect.
Seaweed: Has a cold nature and salty taste, containing large amounts of iodine, alginic acid, vitamins, protein, and fat. It has the effect of resolving phlegm and dissipating masses. According to research, its extracts can better inhibit platelet aggregation and lipid oxidation, and have anti-ulcer effects.
Lily: Has a neutral nature and sweet taste, containing protein, fat, and colchicine. It has the effects of replenishing qi and the middle burner, benefiting the lungs and stopping cough, and can also soften hard masses and calm the mind. Colchicine has the effect of anti-hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Regular consumption of lily can prevent and treat cirrhosis.
Carrot: Has a slightly warm nature, sweet and spicy taste, rich in vitamin A precursor (carotene), and also contains volatile oil. This product is highly nutritious, strengthens the stomach and aids digestion, and can be eaten raw or cooked. It has a good effect on increasing the vitamin A level of liver disease patients, indirectly preventing the occurrence of cancer.
Tomato: A plant of the Solanaceae family, with a neutral nature, sour and slightly sweet taste, rich in protein, fat, inorganic salts, niacin, vitamin C, B1, B2, and carotene. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling the blood and calming the liver, and can be eaten raw or cooked.
Winter Melon: Has a slightly cold nature and sweet taste, containing protein, vitamins, adenine, and niacin. The peel can promote urination to reduce edema; the seeds can reduce swelling, dissipate masses, and resolve phlegm to stop cough; the flesh can clear heat and quench thirst, and can also detoxify from fish and crab poisoning.
Cucumber: Has a cold nature and sweet taste, containing pentose, vitamin B1, B2, niacin, and protein. Its fine fibers have the effect of promoting the excretion of intestinal toxins and lowering cholesterol, and the contained malic acid can inhibit the conversion of carbohydrates into fat. It is especially suitable for the prevention and treatment of fatty liver.