The Science Behind
Liver Function
Think of your liver as your internal mailroom, where everything you consume is processed, stored, transformed, or prepared for removal from your body.
What impacts the liver
DIET
An excess of fatty foods, sugars, red meats, starchy carbs,and salty snacks can put extra pressure on your liver.
ENVIRONMENT
In busy cities where air quality fluctuates, fumes andemissions can impact liver health.
HOME PRODUCTS
Unsuspecting home products (think cleaning supplies, candles, deodorants, lotions, and soaps) might contain chemicals that can impact your liver.
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
Pesticides, industrial chemicals, and pollutants can impactyour liver as it works to detoxify these substances.
MEDICATIONS
Prolonged or excessive use of medicationscan impact liver health.
The important roles of the liver
Explore each function to see how it is connected to your liver health.
BRAIN FUNCTION
Your liver filters out waste products from the bloodstream, including substances that can affect brain function.
HORMONE HEALTH
Through enzymatic metabolism, the liver helps support healthy levels of hormones.
ENERGY PRODUCTION
The liver convert dietary nutrients into glycogen, the primary energy reservoir for cells. The liver tightly regulates glucose and glycogen levels to stabilize energy reserves.
BLOOD SUGAR
The liver stores excess glucose as glycogen and mobilizes it during energy demand.
FAT METABOLISM
Liver enzymes break down fatty acids for ATP production and synthesize bile acids for lipid absorption. The liver also regulates plasma lipid levels by producing and processing cholesterol and lipoproteins.
CHOLESTEROL
The liver supports cholesterol levels by synthesizing, recycling, and excreting LDL and HDL cholesterol. Proper liver function is critical for maintaining cardiovascular health.
IMMUNE SYSTEM
The liver synthesizes key immune proteins and plays an integral role in immune system function.
PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
The liver converts dietary proteins into the specific amino acids needed for muscle repair and growth.
VITAMIN STORAGE
Acting as a biochemical distribution center, the liver stores fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and essential micronutrients, releasing them as needed.
DIGESTION
The liver facilitates digestion by producing bile, an essential fluid that aids in lipid breakdown, reduces gastrointestinal bloating, and alleviates post meal discomfort.
How you can support your liver
Watch out for stressors
Processed foods, high sugar diets and environmental stressors all get processed through your liver. Overexposure to lifestyle habits like these can slow it down.
Make room for liver supporting foods
Leafy greens, garlic, and berries are super nourishing to the liver, and help it filter unwanted elements from the blood. Try gradually incorporating them into your diet, and you might notice you feel lighter, more energized, and balanced throughout the day.
Get the full picture with liver function tests
Liver function tests are one of the best ways to gain a full understanding your liver health. Most commonly, tests will screen for key enzyme levels like ALT, and AST.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Any information and content found on our website is for general educational and informational purposes only. This information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be medical advice or a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.