Facts You Didn't Know
Amazing Things You Didn’t Know About Your Liver
Your liver is big, busy, and even able to heal itself. Here’s what makes it so special
(Photo: shutterstock)The Liver Is the Second Largest Organ
Only your skin is bigger! You simply can’t live without your liver.
It’s About the Size of a Football
The liver sits under your ribs, on the upper right side of your belly.
It’s Pretty Heavy
In adults, the liver weighs around 1.5 kilograms (about 3.3 pounds). In babies and children, it’s about half that. Amazingly, at just eight weeks old, a fetus’s liver makes up half its total weight!
It Has Around 500 Jobs
Your liver helps fight infections, processes food, makes bile for digestion, stores iron and vitamins, balances fats and sugars in the blood, cleans out toxins, makes energy, breaks down alcohol, and so much more.
Its Biggest Threat? Alcohol
Alcohol causes about 25% of all liver-related diseases.
It Works Hard to Keep You Safe
Your liver constantly filters out harmful things you breathe in, eat, drink, or absorb through your skin like alcohol, smoke, pollution, fatty foods, pesticides, cosmetics, cleaning products, medicines, and even stress hormones. When toxins pile up, the liver struggles to do its job.
Toxic Buildup Can Lead to Disease
If the liver gets too overloaded, it may develop problems like cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty liver, or even liver failure and cancer.
Want to Help Your Liver? Eat Clean
Try to eat fewer processed foods, animal products, and sugary snacks. Instead, enjoy leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats like omega-3s. Drink lots of water, and try to cut back on sugary drinks, caffeine, and especially alcohol.
The Liver Can Heal Itself
Your liver has an amazing ability to regrow. Even if up to 75% of it is removed, it can grow back to its full size and shape.
