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"Mr. Wu, your liver function indicators are a little abnormal."
The doctor pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose, flipped through the report in his hand, and said calmly.
Wu Yu is a creative director at an advertising agency, and lately he has always felt that his memory is getting worse and worse. The copywriter who was still typing on the computer just now, turned around and went to the pantry to pour a glass of water and came back and forgot all about it.
Two days ago, he accidentally forgot the key data of advertising in front of customers, and almost made a joke. In order to find out what was going on, Wu Yu made up his mind to go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination.
While waiting for the doctor to interpret the report, Wu Yu began to recall his recent life status, thinking that he was also a regular rest, and his diet was not too casual.
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The only hobby is the colorful herbal tea in the office. "Drinking herbal tea can clear away heat and detoxify and keep your body healthy." Wu Yu comforted himself in his heart.
The doctor seemed to see through Wu Yu's mind and smiled, "Mr. Wu, you usually drink a wide variety of herbal teas, right?" Wu Yu nodded, and couldn't help but have some doubts in his heart.
"In fact, long-term consumption of certain herbal teas can cause a burden on the liver and affect endocrine balance." The doctor explained, and began to elaborate.
"First of all, herbs like Prunella vulgaris and Houttuynia cordata, although they have the effect of 'clearing heat and detoxifying' in traditional Chinese medicine theory, can easily damage the liver when used in excess.
Medical studies have shown that these components increase the metabolic burden on the liver. ”
Doctors recommended a 2019 study in which a group of participants who regularly drank herbal teas containing these ingredients generally had higher liver function indicators than those who did not. In particular, 40% of them experienced elevated liver enzymes.
Wu Yu listened attentively, and his heart couldn't help but tighten, "Could it be that these herbal teas have made me feel tired and forgetful recently?" ”
"The possibilities are high. Although herbal teas claim to be natural, some of the ingredients in them can really cause harm to the body. ”
The doctor's expression became more and more serious, "This reminds me of a case: Xiao Zhang is an IT engineer, and it is common for him to work overtime and stay up late, and in order to 'protect the liver', he has to drink a cup of herbal tea every day."
As a result, half a year later, he felt tired and weak, and went to the hospital for an examination, only to find that his liver function was abnormal. ”
The doctor continued, "Cassia seeds, which are commonly found in herbal teas, are mainly composed of anthraquinones, which can be burdened to the liver if consumed in large quantities for a long time.
These components can damage liver cells, blocking their repair function, which can lead to liver damage. ”
Wu Yu was secretly surprised in his heart, he didn't expect that the seemingly ordinary herbal tea would hide so many health risks. He nodded in understanding, listening more intently to the doctor's analysis.
"There are also herbal teas, such as licorice tea, which are addictive in their sweet taste, but excessive intake of glycyrrhizic acid can also cause health problems." The doctor said,
"Too much glycyrrhizic acid can cause high blood pressure, hypokalemia, and even heart health. According to a study published in the Journal of the United States Medical Association, 30% of people who overconsumed licorice tea experienced an increase in blood pressure. ”
Wu Yu thought of the rows of licorice tea in the pantry in his office, and couldn't help but be a little afraid.
The doctor paused, then said, "There are also herbal teas with certain herbs added, such as honeysuckle tea and chrysanthemum tea, which are cold in nature and may disturb the body's endocrine balance for people with weak constitution or long-term drinking. ”
Wu Yu silently calculated in his heart, he usually drank honeysuckle tea when he felt a little angry in his mouth, and had a cup of chrysanthemum tea when he was dizzy, these habits seemed to be healthy, but they were not.
"Improving eating habits is actually quite simple, the key is to pay attention to balance and moderation." The doctor advised, "Herbal tea can be drunk, but not in excess." What's more, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a balanced diet and exercising, is the secret to staying healthy for a long time. ”
Wu Yu nodded in agreement and decided to adjust his living habits from today onwards. He was secretly glad in his heart that although the physical examination found a problem, he finally woke up in time.
Before leaving, the doctor said earnestly: "Mr. Wu, herbal tea is not a bad thing, but it is too much. The health of the body needs to be maintained with our hearts, and we must not ignore the small details of life. ”
Walking out of the hospital, the sun was just right, Wu Yu took a deep breath and felt that he should start planning a healthy life again. He decided to reduce the intake of herbal tea, increase the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits, and slowly develop healthy habits.
In the following months, Wu Yu insisted on improving his diet and regular work and rest. He was pleasantly surprised to find that his memory gradually returned to normal, and he felt more energetic. At the company meeting, Wu Yu was no longer embarrassed by forgetting things.
However, Wu Yu always had a question in his heart: why does seemingly healthy herbal tea have such a big impact on the human body? What is the science behind this?
To answer this question, we need to explore how the human liver works. The liver is an important metabolic organ in the body, and it is responsible for detoxification, metabolism of drugs and chemicals.
Some of the ingredients contained in herbal tea may produce harmful substances in the process of metabolism in the liver, which in turn can damage liver cells.
Recent studies have found that the active ingredients in herbs interact with the liver's detoxification enzymes in some cases to form toxic intermediate metabolites.
These products may cause oxidative stress in liver cells, leading to cell damage and even death. Long-term accumulation of liver cell damage can lead to abnormal liver function.
In addition, some components in herbal teas, such as anthraquinones and glycyrrhizic acid, may also further increase the metabolic burden of the liver by affecting the secretion and flow of bile in the liver.
Therefore, although herbal tea has a long history of application in traditional medicine, in modern society, scientific drinking is particularly important.
In summary, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating habits is the key to maintaining good health. Caution should be exercised when it comes to certain beverages, especially herbal teas that contain active herbal ingredients.
Finally, let's consider the question: how can we better balance traditional eating habits with modern health science in modern society?
The answer to this question varies, but the key lies in the scientific knowledge of the composition of the food and the understanding of one's own physical condition.
When choosing a diet and lifestyle, you should combine your own physical characteristics and consume different types of food in moderation. Through a diversified diet and healthy lifestyle habits, we can better protect our health.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not just a matter of diet, it involves all aspects of life, including exercise, mental health, lifestyle habits, etc.
In order to truly achieve health, we need to improve our self-management ability in an all-round way, continue to learn and absorb new health knowledge, and face every choice in daily life with a scientific attitude.
Therefore, Wu Yu is not only changing his eating habits, but also replanning his life and pursuing a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
And this may be the philosophy of life that every modern person needs to seriously think about and practice.
After these changes, Wu Yu not only worked more efficiently, but also lived a more fulfilling and meaningful life, he realized that health is the most important wealth in everyone's life, and only through scientific methods can we better enjoy every day of life.
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!
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[1] Kong Yu. What you should know about dyslipidemia[N].Public Health News,2024