Love These Chinese New Year Treats? Your Liver Might Feel Differently!

Chinese New Year is always celebrated with an array of delicious traditional food, from buttery cookies and Nian Gao (Chinese New Year Glutinous Rice Cake) to refreshing drinks like chrysanthemum tea and even celebratory alcoholic beverages, each adding a unique flavour to the festive joy.  

However, these mouthwatering delights often contain high fats, sugars, and salts, and consuming these foods excessively can increase calorie intake and add strain to the liver. 

When we work overtime, we often feel exhausted —and so does our liver. Our liver processes the foods we eat daily and converts them into energy so that our body can use it; it also helps detox harmful substances and eliminate them.  When we consume more than our liver can handle, the excess fats will be stored in the liver cells, potentially leading to fatty liver disease.  

Alcoholic fatty liver (AFL) is a type of liver diseases that commonly come first and affects approximately 90% of individuals who consume alcohol excessively1. If left unmanaged, it can progress to more severe conditions, including cirrhosis, the long-term liver damage that could lead to liver failure.  

Thus, while savouring your favourite foods and drinks during celebrations, remember to show love and care for your liver. After all, taking care of your liver is not just about your health—it is a heartfelt act of love and responsibility toward your family and friends, ensuring many more joyful celebrations together.

Milk Thistle: A Natural Ally for Liver Health Milk thistle is an herbal supplement that is well-known for its liver-protecting properties; it offers several benefits, including: 

• Shielding the Liver from Damage: Milk thistle has antioxidant properties to protect the liver cells from free radical damage and helps reduce liver inflammation 
• Enhancing Detoxification: Milk thistle supports liver detoxification to remove toxins from the body

Support your liver health this festive season with milk thistle. 

Wishing you prosperity, energy, and good health this Year of the Snake! As you celebrate, let milk thistle gently support your liver.