Liver Functions

Liver Functions

The liver is a critical organ that is responsible for a variety of essential tasks and functions within the body; it  has been associated with performing more than 500 functions.

The liver is responsible for:

• Filtering toxins from the blood.
• Creating bile, a substance that aids in fat digestion and excretion. Bile assists in sugar storage, helping the body to transport and conserve energy.
• Producing important proteins, such as those that support the proper clotting of blood and those that regulate fluid transport in the blood and kidneys.
• Metabolizing alcohol, drugs, and medications. Very few toxins exit the body without prior liver metabolization.
• Acting as a vitamin and mineral reserve. The liver stores fat-soluble vitamins A, B12, D, E, and K and the minerals iron and copper until other cells in the body need them.
• Helping  break down and recycle red blood cells.
• Converting excess glucose, a simple sugar in the blood, into glycogen for storage. Glycogen can be reconverted into glucose and then used for energy.
• Regulating amino acids in blood that form the building blocks of proteins.
• Creating certain proteins in blood plasma.
• Creating certain cholesterols and special proteins to assist in transporting fats throughout the body.
• Fighting infection by producing immune response and ridding the blood stream of harmful bacteria.
• Activating enzymes.

If the liver becomes inflamed, its ability to perform vital functions may become impaired. Liver disease and infections are caused by a variety of conditions, including viral and bacterial sources, genetics, and physical changes in the body.

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