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Why Your Liver Needs This Spring Salad (+ Easy Recipe)


Spring is here! Spring is associated with the Wood element in Chinese medicine. This is the season to attend to the Liver and Gallbladder organs because they are connected to the Wood element. If you like to eat according to the seasons, in spring, the diet should be the lightest of the year and contain foods which emphasize the yang, ascending and expansive qualities of spring. This looks like eating fresh greens, sprouts, all the pungent herbs (basil, fennel, rosemary, dill), young beets, carrots, grains, legumes, and seeds. Food preparation can emphasize raw and sprouted foods which have cleansing and cooling properties, which can be helpful after the heavy foods of winter. The spring salad recipe at the end of this blog post helps support overall liver health.



The Liver in Health & Disease


The Liver is the most congested of all organs in the modern human. We live in a highly toxic world, so the liver has to work extra hard removing the excess chemicals, plastics, toxins, and pharmaceuticals out of our system. This detoxification can overload the Liver and disrupt the hundreds of intricate biochemical processes that the liver is involved in.


Traditional Chinese medicine tells us that a healthy liver establishes a smooth flow of energy in the body. People with healthy livers are calm, they have unerring judgement, and can be naturally effective as leaders and decision makers.


When the Liver energy is obstructed, stagnant, or overheated, the energy flow becomes dysfunctional and causes physical and emotional problems.


Some examples of how a dysfunctional Liver manifests in traditional Chinese medicine:


Physical Symptoms

  • Allergies

  • Lumps, swellings, distended abdomen, chest, or breasts

  • Chronic indigestion

  • Menstrual problems

  • Headaches and/or neck and back tension

  • Fatigue

  • Eye problems

  • Stiff, inflexible body

  • Skin disorders

  • Muscular pain

  • Tendon problems

Emotional Symptoms

  • Emotional repression

  • Anger, frustruation

  • Resentment

  • Impatience

  • Depression

  • Moodiness

  • Impulsiveness

  • Emotional attachments

  • Poor judgement

  • Difficulty in making decisions

  • Mental rigidity

  • Negativity


Dietary Recommendations for Optimizing Liver Health

  • Eat less

  • Reduce your toxic exposure: pesticides in food, microplastics, endocrine disruptors in household cleaners and body products

  • Avoid foods which obstruct the liver: meat, cream, cheese, highly processed foods, and alcohol

  • Include moderately pungent foods, herbs, and spices to move stagnant Liver energy: watercress, aliums, mustard greens, turmeric, basil, cardamom, mint, dill, ginger, fennel, cruciferous veggies: cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, brussel sprouts, strawberry, peach, cherry

  • Include bitter and sour foods to move stagnant Liver energy: vinegar, lemon, lime, grapefruit romaine lettuce, asparagus, quinoa, arugula, radiccho.

  • Foods which help cool and detoxify the liver: mung beans, celery, seaweeds, lettuce, cucumber, tofu, mushrooms, radish, spirulina, and chlorella.


I want to reiterate that this is not medical advice. If you feel like your Liver is stuck and are interested in how acupuncture and herbal medicine may support your Liver, I'd love to chat!



Spring salad for Liver health

Spring Salad for Liver Health

This salad focuses on bitter greens paired with a lemon herb vinagrette to get your Liver moving from the long, cold winter.


Serves 2

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 romaine heart chopped

  • Arugula couple of handfuls

  • 1/4 of radiccho thinly sliced

  • 1/2 English cucumber diced

  • 1 carrot sliced or shaved

  • 1/4 cup of chopped olives

  • 1/4 cup of feta cheese

  • 1/4 of roasted pumpkin seeds


Roasted Chickpeas

  • 1 can of chickpeas drained and dried

  • 1/2 tsp of cumin

  • 1/2 tsp of smoked paprika

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

  • salt & pepper


Lemon Herb Yogurt dressing

  • 1 lemon

  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt

  • 1/4 cup of chopped parsley

  • 3 scallions

  • 1/2 tbsp maple syrup or sweetner of choice

  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard

  • 1 small clove of garlic

  • 1/2 tsp of salt

  • Black pepper

  • 1/8 cup of olive oil


Steps

  1. Roast your chickpeas. Preheat oven to 425°F. Drain, rinse, and dry your chickpeas in a clean dish towel on a roasting tray. Once dried, remove dish towel and drizzle with 1 tbsp of olive oil, salt & pepper. Toss to coat. Roast until crispy - probably 30-40 minutes depending on your oven. Once they are crispy, pour into a bowl and add 1/2 tsp of cumin & 1/2 tsp of smoked paprika, drizzle of olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Set aside.

  2. Make Lemon Herb Yogurt dressing. Add lemon, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, 1/4 chopped parsley, 3 scallions, 1/2 tbsp of maple syrup, 1 tsp dijon mustard, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 tsp of salt, black pepper, 1/8 cup of olive oil to the blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings.

  3. Wash and chop veggies for salad - 1 romaine heart, 1/4 of radiccho, 1/2 cucumber, 1 carrot, 1/4 cup of olives and add to a large bowl. Add a couple of handfuls of arugula and 1/4 cup of feta cheese to the bowl.

  4. Toss with dressing.

  5. Top with crispy chickpeas, roasted pumpkin seeds, and protein of choice.

  6. Enjoy!




Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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