Fatty liver disease occurs when the fat content in the liver exceeds 5% of its total weight, with fat vacuoles present in liver cells. Foods such as shiitake mushrooms, celery, and lotus leaf porridge are beneficial for patients with fatty liver disease.
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Celery (Photo: TTO) |
With the economic development and improved living standards, the prevalence of fatty liver disease has also increased.
This condition is characterized by the accumulation of lipid droplets, primarily triglycerides, within liver cells, which can be observed under both optical and electron microscopes. The disease progresses silently and is mostly discovered incidentally during liver ultrasounds during regular health check-ups.
In traditional medicine, there is no specific term for fatty liver disease; however, based on clinical symptoms, it can be classified under the category of “accumulation.” Treatment methods are diverse, but dietary restrictions and the use of certain foods as medicinal remedies play a crucial role. So, what should individuals with fatty liver disease eat?
Maize: This grain is particularly suitable for those with fatty liver disease. Modern medical studies indicate that maize contains a high amount of unsaturated fatty acids that can promote the metabolism of fats in general and cholesterol in particular. In traditional nutrition, maize is sweet and neutral, helpful for strengthening the spleen and stomach, promoting urination, and is often used for cases of spleen deficiency, loss of appetite, water retention, difficult urination, edema, lipid disorders, and coronary artery insufficiency. It is commonly consumed in the form of cakes or maize porridge.
Silkworms: With a sweet and salty taste and neutral properties, they benefit the spleen, replenish deficiencies, relieve fatigue, and quench thirst. According to modern pharmacology, silkworms can reduce serum cholesterol and improve liver function. They are typically used as food or ground into powder for consumption.
Goji Berries: Experimental research shows that goji berries inhibit the accumulation of fat in liver cells, promote liver cell proliferation, and enhance lipid metabolism.
Shiitake Mushrooms: These are ideal foods for those suffering from fatty liver disease. Shiitake mushrooms contain compounds that help lower cholesterol levels in the blood and liver cells. They are often used in various dishes.
Tea Leaves: Folk wisdom suggests that tea leaves can help eliminate fatty substances. Modern studies reveal that tea can enhance vascular elasticity, reduce blood cholesterol, and prevent fat accumulation in the liver.
Lotus Leaves: They also help reduce blood fat, lower obesity, and prevent fat accumulation in liver cells. They can be brewed with hot water to drink as tea or cooked into lotus leaf porridge.
Celery: Rich in vitamins, celery helps cool the liver, lower blood cholesterol, promote the secretion of waste products, and cleanse the blood. It is usually consumed as a vegetable.
Additionally, individuals with fatty liver disease should emphasize the intake of fresh vegetables and fruits like leafy greens, chrysanthemum greens, and water spinach, which help cool the liver; tomatoes, carrots, bamboo shoots, winter melon, loofah, and cucumbers, which help clear heat, promote digestion, and support urination; plant oils like peanut oil, sesame oil, and soybean oil, which are rich in unsaturated fatty acids that help lower blood cholesterol; and lean meats and foods made from soybeans, mung beans, and black beans.
For beverages, consider using one of the following medicinal teas:
Dry Tea 3g, Alisma 15g. Steep both in hot water in a sealed container for 20 minutes. This tea helps protect the liver, reduce fat, promote urination, and aid weight loss. Modern research indicates that Alisma can help regulate lipid disorders, lowering cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein, contributing to the prevention of atherosclerosis.
Dry Tea 2g, Curcuma 10g (can be substituted with yellow turmeric), roasted licorice 5g, honey 25g. Chop all ingredients, steep with hot water, and consume throughout the day. This tea relaxes the liver, eliminates stagnation, and promotes urination. Curcuma has been shown to effectively regulate lipid disorders.
Dry Tea 3g, Kudzu Root (sliced) 10g, lotus leaves 20g. Chop all ingredients and steep as tea. This tea detoxifies, lowers blood fat, and aids weight loss. You can also use fresh or dried lotus leaves steeped as daily tea.
Tea Roots 30g, Alisma 60g, Cassia Seed 12g. Chop all ingredients and steep daily. This tea helps reduce blood fat and prevent obesity, making it ideal for those with fatty liver disease accompanied by lipid disorders and coronary artery disease.
Fresh Tea 30g, Hawthorn 10-15g. Steep both in hot water and drink daily. This tea helps reduce fat and aids weight loss. Modern pharmacological research has shown that hawthorn effectively regulates lipid disorders and promotes the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats in the liver.
Camellia Flowers 2g, Dried Citrus Peel 2g, White Poria 5g. Chop all ingredients and steep in hot water in a sealed container for 20 minutes; consume throughout the day as tea. This tea helps strengthen the spleen, eliminate dampness, promote urination, and reduce phlegm.
It is important to avoid overly fatty and rich foods such as animal fats, egg yolks, animal brains and livers, butter, and excessively spicy foods like ginger, garlic, chili, black pepper, alcohol, coffee, and strong tea.
