As spring arrives, many people experience an excess of "spring fire," leading to irritability and agitation. This is because the temperature fluctuations during this season can easily cause illnesses like colds, which may lead to liver infections. Therefore, in spring, it is beneficial for one's health throughout the year to nourish and protect the liver, and clear liver heat. So, what should you eat to nourish the liver in spring?
Three types of dried fruits essential for liver nourishment in spring
1. Raisins
Eating grapes can nourish yin and the liver, giving you a healthy complexion. For the weak, they also have a certain nourishing effect. If grapes are not in season, eating raisins can also serve as a good liver tonic. The fruit acid in grapes aids digestion, increases appetite, and prevents the occurrence of fatty liver after hepatitis. Raisins are an important source of iron for hepatitis patients.
For daily dietary therapy, you can cook raisins with glutinous rice to make porridge, which has an excellent therapeutic effect. However, due to their high sugar content, those who are weight-conscious, diabetic, or prone to diarrhea should consume them in moderation. It is recommended not to eat more than half a handful per day.
2. Dried mulberries
Dried mulberries can be used both as food and medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that mulberries are sweet and sour in taste, slightly cold in nature, and target the heart, liver, and kidney meridians. They are considered an excellent fruit for nourishment, strengthening the body, calming the mind, and enhancing intellect. Dried mulberries have the effect of nourishing yin and blood, nourishing the yin of the liver and kidneys, and are suitable for people with a yin-deficiency constitution of the liver and kidneys, making them especially suitable for patients with hypertension.
It is generally recommended to eat dried mulberries by cooking them into a porridge. Use 30 grams of dried mulberries, 60 grams of glutinous rice, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar. First, wash the mulberries and cook them with the glutinous rice. After cooking, add the rock sugar. This porridge can nourish liver yin, nourish blood, and improve eyesight. Eating a bowl of mulberry porridge daily not only replenishes blood but also beautifies the skin. It is suitable for dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia, excessive dreaming, tinnitus, soreness in the lower back, and premature graying of hair caused by liver and kidney deficiency. However, it should be used with caution by pregnant women.
3. Walnut kernels
Walnuts are rich in protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins, making them the most nutritionally comprehensive food. They have the effect of nourishing the liver and kidneys, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. Walnuts are high in phospholipids, which can maintain normal cell metabolism and prevent the decline of brain cells, making them an excellent brain food. The choline in phospholipids can promote fat metabolism in liver cells, thereby reducing the severity of fatty liver.
Walnuts contain a relatively high amount of fat, and excessive consumption can affect digestion, so it is not advisable to eat too much at once, as it may cause diarrhea. Additionally, to preserve their nutritional value, the thin brown skin on the surface of the walnut kernels should not be removed when eating.