Although nourishing the heart is paramount in summer, insufficient liver qi can make it difficult to do so. Therefore, attention should be paid to summer health preservation. Traditional Chinese medicine considers the liver to be an important immune organ, the body's "life tower," responsible for various metabolic and detoxification functions as well as the body's immune response. Modern urban life is stressful, leading to easy overwork, a bad mood, and depression, which over time places a heavy burden on the liver. So, how exactly can we protect the liver in the summer?
Hydrate Appropriately and Prevent Heatstroke
In summer, we sweat a lot, so it's important to hydrate appropriately to promote blood circulation and liver metabolism. However, excessive hydration can worsen symptoms of edema. Try to avoid cold things; consuming too many cold drinks or ice watermelon can easily trigger gastritis, which in turn can cause a recurrence of liver disease. Drinking ice beer can irritate the stomach, and because it contains alcohol, it will also burden the liver. Furthermore, patients with abnormal liver function have a lower tolerance than healthy individuals and should avoid sun exposure and prolonged work in high temperatures to prevent heatstroke.
Exercise Properly and Balance Rest and Activity
As the saying goes, "Train in the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer." This shows that exercise in summer plays an important role in health. Regular exercise in the summer can enhance physical fitness and improve the body's disease resistance. Experimental observations have found that people who exercise regularly in the summer have better heart function, vital capacity, and digestive function than those who don't, and they also have a lower incidence of illness. However, strenuous exercise is not suitable in the summer, though moderate exercise is still essential. At the same time, rest should be taken to prevent over-exertion, which can lead to ischemia and hypoxia in the liver, causing necrosis of already damaged liver cells.
Reasonable Diet and Moderate Nourishment
The summer diet should be light and easily digestible. Avoid overeating greasy foods to prevent加重 the liver's burden. Pay attention to appropriate supplementation of protein, vitamins, inorganic salts, and fiber. Daily diet should also pay attention to cleanliness and hygiene to avoid toxins in unclean food causing liver damage.
You can eat more foods that relieve summer heat and resolve dampness, such as loofah, winter melon, mung beans, Job's tears, lotus seeds, gourd, and watermelon rind. Because you sweat a lot in summer and sourness can promote saliva production, summer seasonings can be slightly more sour. Lemon tea, plum soup, hawthorn, and yogurt are all good for the liver.
Adjust Your Mindset and Prepare for Summer with Ease
"A calm heart naturally brings coolness." Many people know this saying, but it's hard to do. The heat can make people irritable and easily angered, which in turn heats up the body and can lead to heatstroke. The hotter the weather, the calmer the mind should be. Try to maintain a peaceful and detached state of mind. In addition, in the morning and evening when the outdoor temperature is low, open the doors and windows to keep the indoor air fresh and cool. At noon when the outdoor temperature is high, keep doors and windows closed, draw the curtains, and turn on fans or air conditioning. A cool environment can calm the mind and spirit.
Follow Medical Advice and Don't Take Medication Casually
In summer, it's common for people to alternate between air-conditioned rooms and the outdoors and catch colds due to the sudden changes in temperature. When some people experience cold symptoms like headaches, a sore throat, or a runny nose, they often habitually go to the pharmacy to buy medicine. This practice may not be too harmful to healthy people, but doing it for a long time will burden the liver, especially for patients with liver disease. Therefore, experts remind us to follow medical advice when taking medication in the summer to avoid harming the body.