Introduction: In spring, when all things come to life, it is an opportune time to nourish the five internal organs. Following the TCM principle of "focusing on different organs in different seasons," nourishing the liver should be the priority for spring. TCM holds that the liver and gallbladder are exteriorly-interiorly related, open into the eyes, govern the storage of blood, and are responsible for dredging and dispersing, with functions of storing and regulating blood, as well as detoxification. Therefore, it is crucial for people to protect the liver to prevent damage. So, how can one effectively promote liver detoxification? Below, the editor introduces a 24-hour detoxification schedule for everyone, hoping it will be helpful.
7:00-9:00 AM: The first thing in the morning is to clear the liver.
These two hours coincide with the time period for OLs (Office Ladies) from waking up to heading to work. During this time, you might encounter several items that can harm your liver.
1. Lipstick: Cosmetics can also damage the liver.
The recent incidents of heavy metal neodymium being found in many well-known skincare products have caused great concern for many OLs. Although the ingredients in cosmetics are not ingested directly, they are absorbed through the skin, enter the bloodstream, and are processed by the liver.
The accumulation of more and more toxic substances in the liver will overload it, potentially leading to drug-induced hepatitis in the user. Neodymium can also lead to liver cirrhosis and even chronic heavy metal poisoning of the nervous system, weakening the body's resistance and causing it to be in a sub-healthy state.
2. Toilet Paper: Regular bowel movements are the first step in protecting the liver.
Because all food digested and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract must be transported to the liver via the portal vein for processing, many foods and medicines that putrefy and ferment in the intestines often produce toxic substances.
Therefore, constipation forces the liver to bear a heavier burden. Ensuring regular bowel movements is the primary task for liver detoxification, as expelling toxic substances from the body in a timely manner can reduce the liver's load.
It has been observed that people who love high-fiber foods can empty their intestines in 12-14 hours, while low-fiber foods may take 28 hours or more. In addition to eating more high-fiber foods, you can also massage your abdomen before going to bed at night.
The specific method is: Use your palm to push and knead from the upper abdomen to the lower abdomen 10 times, and massage from the left and right costal margins to the lower left and right abdomen 10 times, which will make bowel movements smoother.
3. Milk and Apples: Both are liver-loving foods.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the most famous 7 "liver-loving foods" to the public: sweet potatoes, corn, kelp, apples, milk, onions, and winter melon.
Nowadays, many people have developed the good habit of drinking a glass of milk and eating an apple every morning, which can unknowingly reduce the burden on the liver significantly.
9:00 AM-6:00 PM: Don't add to the liver's burden during work hours.
These 9 hours are the time when OLs work and take a lunch break every day. The following 5 items are also encountered and used daily. Which ones are related to liver detoxification?
1. Snacks: They add to the liver's burden.
Chips, candy, and biscuits are snacks that almost every OL stores in their drawer. But eating so much, when can the calories be burned off? Dinner hasn't even been eaten yet!
Irregular eating habits and excessive nutrient intake can disrupt normal metabolism, not only increasing the burden on the liver but also creating the material basis for fatty liver.
So, it's better to clear out the snacks and replace them with fruits or yogurt, isn't it?
In addition, excessive intake of fried foods and caffeine can also stimulate liver cells, increasing the burden on the liver and worsening the damage.
2. Cigarettes: Don't transfer stress to the liver.
When it comes to cigarettes, people first think of the damage to the lungs, but nicotine also damages the liver.
The large amount of carbon monoxide inhaled when smoking hinders the combination of hemoglobin and oxygen, causing hypoxia in the body and damaging the liver.
Moreover, smoking greatly reduces the body's immune response, increasing the likelihood of contracting various diseases.
3. Computer: Protecting your eyes is also protecting your liver.
According to TCM theory, "the liver opens into the eyes," so to protect the liver, you must start by taking care of your eyes, because excessive eye fatigue can also affect the liver.
For OLs who can't do much without a computer, the eyes are one of the most easily injured parts. Therefore, do not stare at the computer screen for long periods.
4. Water Cup: Drinking enough water is also a way to love your liver.
We busy people generally don't drink enough water daily. Adults need to consume 2000-2500 ml of water per day.
Drinking less water will make it difficult for the liver's detoxification work. Only by ensuring an adequate water supply can the liver function normally to decompose and metabolize various toxic substances.
5. Plants: The liver also loves green.
The five zang-organs also have their favorite colors, and the liver's favorite is green.
The green shade of outdoors and lawns are especially liked by the liver. Looking at more green can indirectly promote the liver's metabolic function, achieving twice the result with half the effort for liver detoxification. A small green plant on your desk has the same effect.
At the same time, you should also eat more green foods, because TCM says "green enters the liver meridian," which can play a role in nourishing and protecting the liver.
6:00 PM-7:00 AM the next day.
During these 13 hours, OLs will go through important life events like getting off work, dinner, and sleeping. After work, they might go shopping with colleagues and get a manicure. After dinner, if it feels greasy, they might have a cup of tea, and if they go to a bar, they might have another drink.
Here are the 5 items you might encounter. Do you know which one is related to liver detoxification?
1. Post-meal tea: Tea can also be like poison.
Although tea is a good thing, drinking it at the wrong time can also harm the body, especially damaging the liver.
It is best not to drink tea after meals, especially after eating greasy food, because tea contains a large amount of tannic acid, which can combine with protein to form astringent tannic acid protein. This protein can slow down intestinal peristalsis, easily causing constipation, which increases the toxic effect of harmful substances on the liver.
2. Nail polish: Improper manicuring also damages the liver.
Many large shopping malls now have nail booths with a row of nail technicians performing on-site. When we get tired from shopping, we find a booth to sit down, get a manicure, and rest, which is very convenient. But getting a manicure at these booths can easily lead to skin diseases and infectious diseases from previous customers.
Because nails have an absorption function, unsterilized or improperly disinfected manicure tools can cause cross-infection of some skin diseases. If there is any break in the skin, it is also possible to contract hepatitis and other diseases. Therefore, for those who love beauty, it is best to bring your own set of manicure tools for your next visit.
3. Wine glass: Alcohol is poison to the liver.
Poets say wine is the source of inspiration; merchants see it as a liquid treasure that brings wealth; friends say wine enhances their feelings when toasting. But if the liver could speak, it would definitely say alcohol is poison, because the liver metabolizes alcohol, and in the process, the liver is also poisoned by it.
On the other hand, alcohol not only directly damages the liver but also affects the absorption and utilization of other nutrients, making the damage to the liver even more severe.
4. Pillow: The liver also needs sleep.
The meridian theory of traditional medicine believes that the time around midnight is the "liver meridian" time. Our liver also needs to rest during deep sleep, so you must make sure you go to bed on time to nourish the liver and detoxify.
From 11 PM to 3 AM is the "beauty time" for women. If you don't sleep during this period, your skin will become rough, you will easily feel tired, you may have a bitter taste in your mouth and a dry throat, and you will be prone to irritability. Therefore, the best way to nourish and protect the liver is to go to bed before 11 PM and get a full night's sleep every day.
5. Pills: The liver pays the bill for medicine.
The metabolic pathway of any drug must pass through the liver, and contraceptive pills are of course no exception, whether taken short-term or long-term.
Although not everyone who takes contraceptive pills will suffer from liver damage, how can you be sure you are not the "unlucky one"? If you also take contraceptive pills daily, be sure to have your liver function checked regularly.