Every day, your liver helps your body by providing it with energy, fighting off infections and toxins, blood clotting, regulating hormones and much, much more. To give you an idea of the liver's critical roles, here is a partial list of its functions:
Cleanses blood:
- Metabolizing alcohol and other drugs and chemicals
- Neutralizing and destroying poisonous substances
Regulates the supply of body fuel:
- Producing, storing and supplying quick energy (glucose) to keep the mind alert and the body active
- Producing, storing and exporting fat
Manufactures many essential body proteins involved in:
- Clotting of blood
- Providing resistance to infection
Regulates the balance of many hormones:
- Sex hormones
- Thyroid hormones
- Cortisone and other adrenal hormones
Regulates body cholesterol:
- Produces cholesterol, excrets and converts it to other essential substances
Regulates the supply of essential vitamins and minerals:
- Iron
- CopperM
- Vitamin B12
- Folic acid
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K