The great majority of people treated for liver ailments suffer from chronic hepatitis of the liver. Chronic hepatitis, though serious, is no reason to lose hope. If mistreated, however, it can develop into cirrhosis of the liver and even liver cancer. Whether you suffer from liver disease or have a healthy liver, now is the time to reaffirm just how important the liver truly is.
Help your hard-working liver with early detection and treatment.
In Japanese, the word “kanjinkanyo” meaning “vital or critical” is written with the kanji character for “liver or heart.” As the word suggests, the liver plays an extremely important role in our body.
In very general terms, the liver builds and synthesizes beneficial substances inside the body. For this reason, the liver is often referred to as “the chemical factory of the human body.” Let us examine exactly what functions the liver performs.
1. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
Sugars that we eat are absorbed first by the intestines, then converted by the liver into glucose, a form of sugar used as an energy source by all of the body’s organs and tissues to keep them working normally. The liver stores glucose and releases it as needed to regulate the body’s blood sugar level.
2. Builds Proteins
Proteins from the foods we eat are initially broken down into amino acids in the intestines. These amino acids are then synthesized by the liver into beneficial proteins such as albumin, which maintains the osmotic pressure of the blood, and enzymes essential to chemical reactions in the body.
3. Synthesizes and Eliminates
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is essential to the human body because it is the substance which builds cell membranes, various hormones and vitamin D. The liver uses fats, sugars and proteins from the foods we eat to create cholesterol. When cholesterol levels become excessive, the extra cholesterol is returned to the liver and excreted from the body as bile.
In the next issue, we will discuss more liver functions.
(The information provided should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. Consult your physician before attempting any new program. Readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of developing serious medical conditions.)
