It is estimated that the liver performs over 500 functions for the body, all of which are essential for human health: a handful of these functions are critical to survival.

The liver’s most important functions include

•  regulating and storing sugars for the body
•  filtering and detoxifying the blood
•  producing bile and aiding in metabolism
•  breaking proteins down into simpler amino acids
•  producing cholesterol
•  storing vitamins and other nutrients

One particularly important liver function is the organ’s ability to complete the process of glycogenolysis. After food is consumed, the liver will absorb glucose sugar (obtained from carbohydrates) and store it as glycogen. Later, the liver will convert this glycogen back into glucose, supplying the body with the energy it needs to function properly. The liver is therefore critical to the process of blood sugar regulation in the human body.

Perhaps the most important feature of the liver is its ability to filter toxins out of the bloodstream. These toxins may be inhaled or ingested into the body, or produced by the body during its normal digestive processes. Certain substances, such as drugs and alcohol, must pass through the liver to be filtered and properly processed.

The liver’s filtration system is crucial to human health. At any given time, a full 10% of the body’s blood is contained in the liver, with an incredible 47 ounces (1.4 liters) flowing through the organ every minute. In this filtration process, the liver separates substances that can be used by the body for energy from other substances that should be expelled from the body as waste. These waste substances, such as urea, are dissolved in the blood and transported to the kidneys, where they can be removed from the body. The useful substances are then stored in the liver or released throughout the body for future use.