The liver is one of the most important organs in our body. It detoxifies various substances necessary for metabolism, synthesizes protein, and produces biochemicals for digestion and growth. The liver also has a role in regulating glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, and hormone production.
A human liver normally weighs around 1.5 kg (3.3 lb)and has a width of about 15 cm (6 in). The standard weight range for men is 970–1,860 gr (2.14–4.10 lb) and for women 600–1,770 gr (1.32–3.90 lb). This makes the liver both the heaviest internal organ and the largest gland in the human body.
The liver has two large sections called the right and the left lobes. The gallbladder lies under the liver, accompanying parts of the pancreas and intestines. The liver and these organs work together to digest, absorb, and process food.
Types of Liver Disease
Hepatitis
Infection of the liver caused by viruses like hepatitis A, B, and C. Hepatitis can also have non-infectious causes, including heavy drinking, drugs, allergic reactions, or obesity.
Cirrhosis
It's a permanent scar from long-term damage to the liver from any cause. This causes the liver to become unable to function well.
Liver Cancer
The most common type of liver cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, almost always happens after cirrhosis is present.
Liver Failure
It has many causes including infection, genetic diseases, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Ascites
Result of cirrhosis. The liver leaks fluid (Ascites) into the belly, which becomes swollen and heavy.
Gallstones
Bile duct infection (Cholangitis) can happen if a gallstone becomes stuck in the bile duct draining the liver.
Liver Facts
Nutrient Center
Your small intestine takes in nutrients from food and passes them into your blood through special cells. The liver is the first stop, it puts the nutrients into forms the body can use, then stores and delivers them where and when the body needs them.
Food Filter
Blood from your intestines also carries toxins. Once anything your body can use is separated, your liver breaks down what’s left so it can be sent out as waste. It either travels in your bile and goes out with your poop, or it goes into your blood, then to your kidneys, and leaves your body when you pee.
Security Gate
Your liver can find and destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, and other germs that get into your body through food. It has the largest group of the immune system that eat germs called phagocytes and can launch an immune reaction when needed.
Fuel Tank and Factory
Glucose, or blood sugar, is a fuel for your body. Your liver keeps around a day’s worth in the form of glycogen. If you don’t eat for a while and your blood sugar gets too low, the liver changes it back to glucose.
The liver also helps keep your energy sources in balance. Not only a big storage tank glucose, but it also takes the amino acids from digested food and converts them into fatty acids. When you run out of glucose, your liver turns those fatty acids into a form of energy called ketones.
Improve Liver Health
Fasting
Depending on the severity of your liver. You can detox by fasting for one to three days. Fasting helps your liver to process nutrients and toxins every time you eat.
Avoid Overeating
You generate stress on your liver every time you eat. This means you should choose your food wisely. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, lots of fiber, and avoid processed foods.
Drink Water
Increase your water intake helps the liver breaks down nutrients and flushes out toxins. Drinking water in the morning stimulates your liver and helps rid the body of toxins it has been breaking down at night.
Stop Drinking Alcohol
The higher someone’s blood alcohol content, the longer it takes to process alcohol. When someone has too much to drink, the alcohol left unprocessed by the liver circulates through the bloodstream.
Alcohol abuse causes the destruction of liver cells, which ends in cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and cellular mutation that may lead to liver cancer.
Exercise
A buildup of fatty tissue can disrupt your liver. Sedentary people often have a bad liver function. So move your body and exercise daily. Even just five minutes of simple exercise such as jogging, walking up and down stairs, or yoga will help improve your liver function.
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