When it comes to Western fast food, fried chicken and French fries immediately come to mind. Research has shown these foods are major contributors to obesity. New studies also reveal that frequent consumption of fried foods not only widens waistlines and raises cholesterol levels but also damages the liver. Eating fried foods for just one month can cause liver damage comparable to hepatitis.
Study: One Month of Fried Foods Damages Liver Like Hepatitis
CBS's "The Doctor," America's most popular professional medical TV program, reported on the 16th citing research findings that consuming fried foods for one month can cause noticeable changes in the liver, triggering enzyme alterations in the body similar to hepatitis.
Cooking food in oil produces highly reactive free radicals that destroy essential fatty acids in food and deplete protective nutrients like vitamins A and E, while elevating transaminase levels in the blood.
Transaminases are essential "catalysts" in human metabolism, primarily residing within liver cells. When liver cells suffer inflammation, necrosis, or toxicity—resulting in cellular damage—transaminases are released into the bloodstream, elevating serum transaminase levels. Damage to just 1% of liver cells can double the concentration of alanine transaminase (ALT) in the blood.
Call to Action: Avoid Fast Food
Even Salads Often Contain Chemical Additives
The United States has approximately 160,000 fast-food restaurants serving 50 million consumers daily. Previous studies indicate that high-sugar, high-fat junk food triggers internal brain changes, accelerating brain aging and causing addiction.Renowned American plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Oden stated on a program: "We are the culprits. The problem is that far too many people still eat fast food, especially children, who treat it as their primary source of nutrition."
He cautioned consumers that even so-called "healthy choices" like salads at fast-food restaurants are often loaded with multiple chemical additives, for which the U.S. currently lacks clear regulatory restrictions.
"Some places add propylene glycol to salads," Oden said, noting it's a antifreeze agent also used as a humectant. "While they claim trace amounts pose no health risk, it's obvious that if given the choice, you wouldn't want to ingest antifreeze."
Propylene glycol is classified as low toxicity with minimal irritation.However, when added to food and beverages, it poses a risk of causing kidney dysfunction, leading some countries to ban its use in food processing.
Foods Beneficial for the Liver:
Lychee: According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, lychee strengthens the liver and pancreas, offering remarkable effects in enhancing vitality and blood circulation.However, excessive consumption may cause nosebleeds, toothaches, or internal heat. This demonstrates lychee's potent nourishing properties.
For women experiencing abdominal pain due to cold exposure, boil 20 grams of dried lychee flesh in one bowl of water for 5 minutes. Drink the resulting broth for rapid relief.This demonstrates that beyond nourishing and strengthening, it also eliminates viruses within the body and calms the spirit. Pig's Blood: According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, pig's blood has detoxifying properties and can be used for stroke, dizziness, abdominal distension, venereal diseases, and whip wounds.
In ancient times, it was already known that consuming pig's blood and other animal blood purifies impurities from the body. In today's polluted environment, daily deep breathing to expel contaminated air, along with regular consumption of pig's blood soup or the aforementioned liver-strengthening herbs, is essential for maintaining liver function.
Black Plum: A weakened liver can cause hangovers even from small amounts of alcohol. Conversely, excessive drinking overwhelms the liver's processing capacity, also leading to hangovers. Therefore, preventing hangovers begins with strengthening the liver and enhancing its detoxification function.
To prevent hangovers, focus on liver fortification. If you wake up feeling miserable, brew dried plum tea with sugar—this provides quick relief. Ginseng decoction also works. Dried plums are available at herbal shops.
Foods known to treat liver ailments include clam soup in Korea and lemon abroad. Chrysanthemum tea is also effective.Purchase honeysuckle and licorice from a Chinese herbal shop, decoct them, and add brown sugar (dark sugar) before drinking. Additionally, herbs like angelica root, raw rehmannia root, scutellaria root, gardenia fruit, bamboo leaf, antelope wine, and moutan bark also possess detoxifying properties. Goji berries are also beneficial for the liver.
Conclusion: Western fast food is now a favorite among most children, with some even consuming it as their primary meal three times a day. This is actually one of the main culprits behind childhood obesity!