How to take care of your heart and liver scientifically? Come and learn these knowledge

March 18th of each year is the National Liver Protection Day, also known as the National Liver Care Day. It is a publicity activity day initiated by the Ministry of Health to raise the public's awareness of loving and protecting the liver. This year's theme is "Early prevention and early screening, stay away from cirrhosis." Today, let's learn about liver disease and learn how to protect the liver.

What are the functions of the liver?

The liver is an important organ in the human body. It has many functions: (1) metabolic function; (2) bile production and excretion function; (3) biotransformation and detoxification function; (4) blood coagulation function; (5) immune regulation; (6) energy and heat generation, water and electrolyte regulation. The liver is also an organ that "works hard" and problems are not easy to detect and are often ignored.

What are the categories of liver disease?

1. Inflammatory liver disease: including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, etc., mainly caused by viral infection or abnormal immune system;

2. Fatty liver disease: including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic fatty liver disease. The main causes are improper diet, long-term sitting, high-fat and high-sugar diet, long-term alcoholism, etc.;

3. Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis: These diseases usually occur when inflammatory liver disease progresses to the late stage, and liver tissue is destroyed due to increased inflammation and fibrosis activity;

4. Liver space-occupying lesions;

5. Other liver diseases.

Which habits are most harmful to the liver?

Irregular diet, excessive weight loss, fatigue, smoking, staying up late, anger, stress, excessive drinking, love of fried or burnt food, moldy food, lack of sleep... these habits are all "invisible killers" of the liver.

What do you need to learn how to nourish your liver?

The liver needs our special protection. We often say to our loved ones: You are my "darling", which shows that protecting the liver is as important as protecting the person you love the most. To learn how to take care of the liver, you need to do the following:

(1) To nourish your liver, you must first sleep well.

Good sleep can make a person full of energy, and sleep is the key to nourishing the liver. Nowadays, many people's liver diseases are actually caused by "overwork". 11 pm to 1 am is the detoxification time of the liver, and the detoxification of the liver needs to be done during deep sleep.

(2) To maintain liver health, you need to stay optimistic.

A good attitude leads to a good body, a good mood leads to a good heart, and all diseases are caused by the mind. For the liver, a comfortable liver can nourish the liver, which means that a good mood is the secret to maintaining the liver.

(3) To protect your liver, you need to quit smoking.

The nicotine concentration in the blood increases when smoking. Nicotine is mainly metabolized in the human body by the liver and lungs, which increases the burden on the liver, especially chronic liver damage.

(4) To protect your liver, you need to drink less or no alcohol.

After alcohol enters the human body, it is first metabolized by the liver. The harmful substances such as acetaldehyde produced in the metabolic process will cause damage to the liver. Long-term and heavy drinking will lead to liver inflammation, fat accumulation and liver fibrosis, and eventually cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, etc.

(5) To nourish the liver, you need to have a balanced diet and eat less greasy food.

The liver needs the support of various nutrients, that is, a balanced diet, reasonable intake, and strict control of fat intake. The five colors enter the five internal organs, green enters the liver, and "green" food can soothe the liver. In spring, the diet should be less acidic and more sweet, and high-protein foods such as chicken, fish, shrimp, etc. Avoid consuming too much greasy food and barbecued food to avoid increasing the burden on the liver.

(6) To nourish the liver, you need to increase exercise.

Exercise can promote blood circulation, enhance the liver's metabolism and excretion capabilities, thereby reducing the burden on the liver. Avoid strenuous exercise and choose moderate and relaxing exercise: walking, yoga, jogging, tai chi, etc.

(7) To maintain your liver, you need to manage stress.

Long-term mental stress can have a negative impact on the liver. It is recommended to learn to relax, meditate, listen to music, do yoga, etc.

(8) To maintain liver health, you need regular physical examinations.

Regular liver function tests are a responsible attitude towards your own body. Through regular physical examinations, we can better protect liver health and improve the quality of life.

Avoid staying up late to protect your liver and beauty; stay away from midnight snacks to protect your liver and stomach; get up early to defecate to lighten the mood and reduce burden; have breakfast on time to stabilize functions; quit smoking and limit alcohol to stay away from toxins; control your weight to maintain a peaceful state of mind; exercise moderately and regulate nutrition.

Nourishing and protecting the liver is the key to keeping the liver healthy. A good lifestyle and a reasonable diet can help prevent liver disease and keep the liver healthy. March 18 is National Liver Care Day. Let us pay attention to liver health and live a healthy life together.