Although nourishing the heart is paramount in summer, liver qi deficiency can also make it difficult to nourish the heart, so it's important to pay attention 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 immune function. Modern urban life is stressful, leading to overwork, poor mood, and depression, which in the long run can place a heavy burden on the liver. So, how exactly should one protect the liver in summer?
Hydrate moderately and prevent heatstroke
In summer, you sweat a lot, so you should pay attention to moderate hydration to promote blood circulation and liver metabolism. However, you should not over-hydrate, as it may worsen edema symptoms. Try to avoid cold things as much as possible. Eating too many cold drinks or ice watermelon can easily trigger gastritis, which in turn can lead to a recurrence of liver disease. Drinking ice beer can irritate the stomach, and because it contains alcohol, it will increase the burden on the liver. In addition, patients with abnormal liver function have a lower tolerance than normal people and should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and working in high-temperature environments for long periods, otherwise, they are very susceptible to heatstroke.
Exercise appropriately and balance work and rest
As the saying goes: "Train in the cold of winter and the heat of summer." This shows that exercise in summer plays an important role in health. Regular exercise in summer can enhance physical fitness and improve the body's ability to resist disease. Experimental observations have found that people who often exercise in summer have better heart function, vital capacity, and digestive function than those who do not persist in exercising, and the incidence of disease is also lower. However, strenuous exercise is not suitable in summer, but moderate exercise is still essential. At the same time, you should pay attention to rest to avoid excessive fatigue causing the liver to suffer from ischemia and hypoxia, leading to necrosis of already damaged liver cells.
Reasonable diet and moderate nourishment
The diet in summer should be light and easy to digest, avoid eating too much greasy food to increase the burden on the liver, and pay attention to appropriately supplementing protein, vitamins, inorganic salts, and fiber. In daily diet, attention should also be paid to food hygiene to prevent toxins from unclean food from causing liver damage.
You can eat more foods that clear summer heat and resolve dampness, such as loofah, winter melon, mung beans, Job's tears, lotus seeds, gourd, and watermelon skin. Because you sweat a lot in summer, and sourness can promote fluid production, the seasonings can be slightly 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 brings natural coolness." Many people know this saying, but it's hard to do. The heat can make people irritable and their tempers flare, which makes the body hotter and can lead to heatstroke. The hotter it is, the calmer your heart should be. Try to maintain a peaceful and detached state of mind. In addition, the outdoor temperature is low in the morning and evening, so open the windows to keep the indoor air fresh and cool. At noon, when the outdoor temperature is high, you should close the windows and doors, draw the curtains, and turn on fans or air conditioners. A cool environment can calm the mind and soothe the spirit.
Follow medical advice and do not take medication indiscriminately
In summer, people often alternate between air-conditioned rooms and the outdoors, and it is common to catch a cold due to the sudden change in temperature. When some people have symptoms of a cold such as headache, dry throat, and runny nose, they often habitually go to the pharmacy to buy medicine to take. This practice may not have a big impact on healthy people, but in the long run, it will burden the liver, especially for patients with liver disease. Therefore, experts remind that you should follow your doctor's advice when taking medicine in summer to avoid harming your body.