How to protect the liver during Advent and Christmas – healing practice

Prevent fatty liver disease: protect the liver during the “quiet” period

The first Christmas markets in Germany have opened and some supermarkets have been offering chocolate Santa Clauses, Stollen, etc. for months. In the Advent and Christmas season often becomes more feasted than usual. He can do it too liver damage. Experts advise to protect the important organ as much as possible during the “quiet moment”.

Advent, also called “quiet time”, is actually a time when people should come to rest. But visits to the Christmas market and feasts often determine these weeks. The German Liver Foundation recommends one for the Advent and Christmas season Message to turn away from “The same procedure as every year” also while eating, snacking and drinking.

Eating too many unhealthy foods

Many people know that the Advent and Christmas season is often associated with stress and can have negative effects on mental health. Peace and contemplation are by no means always central to the lead up to Christmas and the festive season.

But Advent and Christmas are often not only problematic for the psyche: The liver also suffers from the consumption of too many sugary, fatty and alcoholic drinks – with a simultaneous lack of exercise.

Don’t carry on like every year

The first Christmas market in Germany started at the beginning of November. And no later than the first Advent of the last weekend of November, the others will also be Christmas markets invite you to visit the towns and villages of Germany with mulled wine, bratwurst sausages and cotton candy.

Christmas candies have been on the shelves of some supermarkets since the end of August – and are also being picked up by customers just as early. The celebration of love is increasingly becoming a celebration of food.

And of course this will also be the case this year: even if many people, given the inflation also want to save on Christmas expenses, only a few consider saving on Christmas dinner.

According to the Liver Foundation, a September survey showed that although many Germans want to limit their Christmas spending, they want to limit their Christmas spending. christmas dinner only a few intend to cut spending.

So it seems like the cult ‘Dinner for One’ skit, which airs every year at the end of the year, there will be ‘the same procedure as every year’ for eating and drinking this year – with possible negative effects on the liver health.

Dangerous fatty liver disease

The development of the fatty liver disease of civilization is already described as dramatic by many experts, just like Prof. Dr. Michael P. Manns, Chairman of the Board of the German Liver Foundation.

“In Germany, overweight and obesity (obesity) are increasingly leading to the development and manifestation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In Germany, almost one in three people suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease”explains the doctor.

“In most cases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease develops, from which inflamed fatty liver disease (hepatitis of the fatty liver), followed by cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma, may form on the base of the so-called metabolic syndrome“says Professor Dr. Michael P. Manns.

As the expert explains, metabolic syndrome is a combination of several risk factors, including being overweight – and abdominal fat in particular is a particular risk factor – permanently high blood sugar, elevated blood lipid levels and high blood pressure.

“If the body constantly more calories consumed than it can burn, excess energy is stored as fat – not only in fatty tissue, but also in the liver.”according to the expert.

Alternatives to the usual treats

So that the season of Advent and Christmas does not become an additional season charge a liver may already be damaged, Professor Manns advises to turn away from the usual gluttony and suggest alternatives.

For example, baked fish with rice and seasonal vegetables is a healthier alternative to a roast goose, for example.

“Light soups and fresh salads are recommended as starters. And as a dessert, for example, fruit salad or cottage cheese with fruit. Colorful plates can be healthily filled with apples, tangerines, oranges, walnuts and almonds. If you then have to crack the nuts yourself, you eat less.”said the doctor.

When baking cookies, for example, wholemeal flour can be used instead of wheat flour or oatmeal. Prestigious cookies Cleveland Clinic (USA) suggested as a healthier alternative to traditional cookies include oatmeal cookies with nuts and dark chocolate.

“Cookies often taste quite sweet with a little less sugar. It is also important to exercise between meals, preferably in the fresh air. This reduces stress and is especially important during the colder, darker months of the year to boost the immune system.”, according to Professor Manns. (ad)