Last Updated on 10/12/2021 by Steve Wanjie
Functions of The Liver that you must know are discussed here.
Why?
Because many people are asking…
What are the functions of the liver?
Kenyans and many in Africa are asking this question.
Why?
There is an increase in liver disease in this region, and naturally, people want information.
Functions of the river in summary:
- To produce bile. Bile helps clean the small intestines during digestion
- To produce proteins for blood plasma
- To produce cholesterol and proteins that help transport fats through your body.
- To balance and make glucose
- To convert excess glucose into glycogen for storage
- To regulate the levels of amino acids in the blood.
- To store iron and processing of hemoglobin
- To convert poisonous ammonia to urea
- To clean your blood
- To regulate blood clotting
- To resist injections by making immune factors
- To remove bacteria from your bloodstream
- To clear bilirubin from your bloodstream
1. Bile production is one of the functions of the liver
Your liver produces bile.
What is bile?
“Bile is a fluid made and released by your liver and stored in the gallbladder.”
What is the function of bile?
“Bile is a digestive fluid. Its main function is to convert fats IQ in food into fatty acids.”
MedicineNet
- Bile also facilitates lipids absorption.
- Bile eliminates waste products from your body.
Therefore, to keep your small intestines and body healthy, you need your liver to continue producing bile.
2. Production of certain protein for blood plasma
What is blood plasma?
Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood. 55% of your total blood volume is plasma. Plasma is 92% water. 7% of your blood plasma is protein, and 1% is mineral salts, sugars, fats, hormones, and vitamins.
Plasma is a light yellow fluid or liquid.
What is the importance of protein in blood plasma?
To maintain serum osmotic pressure in your body.
“The proteins in blood plasma include the antibody proteins, coagulation factors, and the proteins albumin fibrinogen which maintain osmotic pressure.”
What is the role of blood plasma in your body?
- To maintain osmotic pressure in your body
- To transport blood components throughout your body
Thus your liver produces proteins that enhance the functions of blood plasma.
Otherwise, blood plasma would not be able to carry nutrients, oxygen, and all the other vital blood components to every part of your body, where they are needed.
3. To produce cholesterol and proteins that help transport fats through your body.
“The cholesterol in your body comes from two sources: the food you eat and your liver. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. Cholesterol and other fats are carried in your bloodstream as spherical particles called lipoproteins.”
John Hopkins Medicine
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells in your body.
Why does your body need cholesterol?
Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells.
4. To balance and make glucose
Your liver does four vital, healthy things:
- Make sugar when your body needs it
- Store your blood sugar
- Balance your blood sugar levels in your bloodstream
- Ketone production
5. To convert excess glucose into glycogen for storage
What is glycogen?
Glycogen is a reserved form of glucose.
Glycogen storage is in the liver and the muscles.
What is the role of glycogen?
Glycogen provides a ready source of glucose when blood sugar goes below the required level in your bloodstream.
Therefore, glycogen is another form of stored energy, just like fat in your body.
6. To regulate the levels of amino acids in the blood.
If you have excess proteins, your body (liver) converts amino acids into fat and reserves them in fat stores such as your belly.
Therefore, the liver regulates the storage of amino acids.
7. To store iron and processing of hemoglobin
Iron storage:
Your liver stores the iron needed by your body. Iron is essential for life and to your body’s health. Find more information on iron storage here.
Hemoglobin:
The liver processes hemoglobin, a protein in your red blood cells. The role of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen to every part of your body.
It also transports carbon dioxide from your body to be exhaled out. Hemoglobin gives blood its red color.
8. To convert poisonous ammonia to urea
Your liver converts ammonia (a toxic product) into urea. Urea is removed from your bloodstream by the kidneys and out of the body via urine. Ammonia is poisonous and can not be allowed to stay in your body.
9. To clean your blood
Your liver has the role of cleaning your blood.
How does the liver clean your blood?
- It filters toxins and unwanted products from your blood.
- It breaks down waste into harmless materials for release from your body
- It pulls nutrients from your blood for delivery to your body
10. To regulate blood clotting
Plasma proteins known as coagulation factors promote blood clot formation in your body. The liver produces and regulates coagulation factors.
11. To resist injections by making immune factors
“The liver is a key, frontline immune tissue. Ideally positioned to detect pathogens entering the body via the gut, the liver appears designed to detect, capture, and clear bacteria, viruses, and macromolecules.”
PubMed
Immune factors made by your liver are:
- albumin
- clotting factors
- complement
12. To remove bacteria from your bloodstream
Does your liver fight bacteria?
The answer is yes.
Your liver is the custodian of half the white blood cells that destroy unwanted bacteria in your body. It also does remove rejected bacteria from your bloodstream.
13. To clear bilirubin from your bloodstream
What s bilirubin?
“It is an orange-yellow pigment formed in the liver by the breakdown of hemoglobin and excreted in bile.”
Oxford Dictionary
Your body needs bilirubin, but it is a health problem if you have high bilirubin. High levels of bilirubin may damage your liver. Therefore, you need a healthy liver to clear bilirubin from your bloodstream.
Those are the 13 crucial functions of your liver. From the points discussed above, it is clear that your liver is an organ that your body needs to function well.
In that case, you must take good care of your liver every day through your diet. Some of the foods that help your liver to stay healthy are listed below.
Foods to help your liver stay healthy
Fruits:
- Apples
- Grapes
- Citrus fruits like oranges
- Avocado
Vegetables:
- Cabbage
- Brocolli
- Cauliflower
- brussels sprouts
- kale
Cooking oil:
Extra Virgin Olive oil
Nuts:
- Almonds
- Cashew nuts
- Macadamia
- Brazil nuts
- walnuts
- etc
Drinks:
- Green tea
- Coffee
Other foods to keep your liver healthy:
- Turmeric
- beetroot
- garlic
Supplements:
Detoxilive capsules are a liver supplement. It has no chemicals because it’s made from natural ingredients. This popular supplement is known for improving your liver function naturally.
Keep your liver healthy to enjoy a healthy life with Detoxilive capsules.
How much do Detoxilive capsules cost?
Kenya shillings 1,700 per bottle
How do you get Detoxilive in Kenya?
Call Steve at 0724130446, or Maggie at 0720725469.
Otherwise, if you are facing any liver disease you need all the 5 supplements listed on the info-graphic above.
Functions of The Liver Conclusion:
The liver is the largest gland in your body.
Keep your liver happy.
How do you keep your liver happy?
Some of the ways to take care and keep your liver happy are:
- Make a habit of eating a balanced diet every day
- Maintain your ideal body weight throughout
- Exercise your body regularly
- Do not take alcohol, and if you must take it responsibly
- Avoid toxins and substance abuse
- Say no to contaminated needles
- Live in a clean environment
- Do not overload your liver
What Supplements Lower Cholesterol?
Steve Wanjie is a digital marketing specialist, SEO Expert, expert article writer, blogger, sex educationist, and businessman. He is the founder of Dijito Marketing and Laikipo.com. He works and lives in Nairobi Kenya.
