Rejuvenate your body with detoxification during CNY!
How to Protect Your Liver During Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions and festive celebrations, but amidst the joyous feasting, your liver may silently be under immense pressure. Post-festival health check-ups often reveal abnormal liver functions or increased liver strain in many individuals. These issues are closely related to irregular eating habits and lifestyle during the celebrations. What factors impact liver health during Chinese New Year, and how can we protect it?
Major Sources of Liver Stress During Chinese New Year
1. High-Fat, High-Calorie Diet
The New Year offers a variety of delicacies like pineapple tarts, dried meat, shrimp crackers, and festive dishes. These foods are often high in fat and sugar, which, when consumed excessively, increase the risk of fat accumulation in the liver, potentially leading to fatty liver disease.
2. Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption spikes during festive gatherings. While drinking can elevate the celebratory atmosphere, it directly damages liver cells. Chronic excessive drinking can lead to alcoholic hepatitis or even liver cirrhosis.
3. Late Nights and Stress
Late-night entertainment, such as playing mahjong or attending supper gatherings, deprives the liver of adequate rest. Additionally, the stress of preparing for the festivities and financial burdens may further increase the metabolic strain on the liver.
4. Lack of Exercise
Many people become sedentary during the holiday, busy with visiting relatives and attending gatherings. This lack of physical activity slows down metabolism and blood circulation, reducing the liver’s detoxification efficiency.
According to a report by Malaysia's Ministry of Health, the number of cases showing abnormal liver function in health check-ups increases by 20%-30% in the one to two months following Chinese New Year. Fatty liver and alcohol-related liver damage are the most common issues, highlighting the significant impact of unhealthy festive habits on liver health.
Here are some simple but effective tips to keep your liver healthy during the festivities:
1. Diet: Opt for Lighter, Balanced Meals
o Choose Healthy Foods: Limit high-fat and sugary foods, and include more fiber-rich vegetables like broccoli, kale, and carrots.
o Practice Portion Control: Even during festive feasts, eat in moderation and avoid overeating.
2. Alcohol: Limit or Avoid
o Reduce alcohol intake, especially on an empty stomach. Replace alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic options like green tea or lemon water.
o If drinking is unavoidable, limit intake to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink for women (approximately 10 grams of alcohol).
3. Maintain Regular Sleep Patterns
o Ensure 7-8 hours of sleep per day and avoid staying up late. The liver’s repair process peaks between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
o If late nights are unavoidable, take short naps during the day to recover.
4. Increase Physical Activity During Festivities
o Walk more during visits, such as personally delivering greetings to neighbors rather than sitting in the living room snacking.
o Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, such as brisk walking or yoga, to improve blood circulation.
5. Drink a Cup of Vigor Plus
o During the festive period, opt for liver-supporting beverages like Vigor Plus, which contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant with proven liver-protective properties.
o Vigor Plus is made with over 95% curcumin extract, enhanced with piperine and phospholipid technology for better absorption in the gut.
Stolle wishes everyone a happy and healthy Lunar New Year! Let’s work together towards balanced immunity and optimal health!
