Digestion – The liver and the intestine

Just have a look at some of the jobs our liver is doing for us. FOR FREE and 24/7:

In fat metabolism the liver cells break down fats and produce energy. Those cells also produce about 800 to 1,000 ml of bile per day. That’s a full carton of milk! This yellow, brownish or olive green liquid is collected in small ducts and then passed on to the main bile duct, which carries the bile to a part of the small intestine called the duodenum. Bile is important for the breakdown and absorption of fats.
So as you’ve learned before, eat your bitters!

In the metabolism of carbohydrates, it helps to ensure that your blood sugar level (blood glucose) stays constant. If your blood sugar levels increase, for example after a meal, the liver removes sugar from blood supplied by the portal vein and stores it in the form of glycogen. If our blood sugar levels are too low, the liver breaks down glycogen and releases sugar into the blood.
As well as sugar, the liver also stores vitamins and minerals (iron and copper), and releases them into the blood when needed.
The liver also plays an important role in the metabolism of proteins: liver cells change amino acids in foods so that they can be used to produce energy, or make carbohydrates or fats. A toxic substance called ammonia is a by-product of this process. The liver cells convert ammonia to a much less toxic substance called urea, which is released into the blood. Urea is then transported to the kidneys and passes out of the body in urine.
When uric acid lodges around our joints, it can be the cause of problems like gout etc. But that’s another day’s topic.

Is it any wonder that the word liver has LIVE in it?! That is exactly what it helps you and I to do; LIVE! True hero stuff.

Often I am asked about a liver detox and what to take. My best advice is that our liver is like the ocean. Once we stop pouring crap in, it will cleanse all that crap out completely by itself. (Lent was probably invented to give our livers a break 🙂
Here are some of the sources of above info. No, I didn’t have to make it up myself.
Menche N. (ed.) Biologie Anatomie Physiologie. Munich: Urban & Fischer/ Elsevier; 2012.
Pschyrembel W. Klinisches Wörterbuch. Berlin: De Gruyter; 2014.
Schmidt R, Lang F, Heckmann M. Physiologie des Menschen: mit Pathophysiologie. Heidelberg: Springer; 2011.
IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.
Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. We do not offer individual consultations.
Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

I’ve added a catalogue of liver beneficials for you below. How many of those are you consuming on a regular basis? They are actually very easy to have daily. COFFEE!! MY FAVOURITE.

Good bye for today from me. Hope you’re enjoying our little chats. Always happy to hear from you and get some feedback. Love you – bye