Liver Health & Nutrition: Vital Functions & Detoxification

The liver is vital to your health. If the liver fails suddenly, death could result in as little as 24 hours. Malnutrition is a leading cause of liver disease, so it is important to keep your liver healthy with minimal alcohol and a balanced diet.

Detoxification

• The liver is responsible for removing toxic elements from your body. Although some people swear by detoxification diets like Master Cleanse, doctors say the liver is an excellent natural detoxification agent.

Vitamin Storage

• The liver stores vitamins and then releases them as the body needs them. It stores many vitamins, including vitamin A, B12, C, D, E and K.

Sugar

• When the body needs quick energy, the liver releases some of its glycogen storage, and the body is satiated.

Fat

• If there is too much fat in your diet, fatty cells accumulate in the liver, possibly causing fatty liver disease and other liver complications.

Blood

• The liver helps purify the bloodstream, and it also produces important agents that allow blood to clot effectively.

Bile

• The liver makes bile, which is essential to the breakdown of foods in your body. From the breakdown, the liver saves and stores the nutrients, minerals, sugars and vitamins for later use.