1. Our liver stores the iron reserves we need, as well as a lot of vitamins and other minerals. Without it, we wouldn’t have the strength to carry on.

2. Liver makes bile to help digest our food. Without it, we waste away to nothing.

3. Liver detoxifies poisonous chemicals we give the liver, and that includes alcohol, beer, wine and drugs (prescribed and over-the-counter) as well as illegal substances. Without it, our “bad” habits would kill us.

4. It stores energy, like a battery stockpiling sugar (carbohydrates, glucose and fat) until we need it.

5. It makes the blood that got our system going even before we were born. Without it, we wouldn’t be here.

6. It manufactures new proteins that our body needs to stay healthy and grow. Without it, we wouldn’t grow properly.

7. It removes poisons from the air, exhaust smoke and chemicals that we breathe. Without it, we would be poisoned by pollutants.

8. It makes clotting factors that stop the bleeding when we accidentally prick ourselves. Without it, we would bleed to death.

9. It helps defend us against the germs going into our body all the time. It takes those cold germs, flu bugs and other germs we encounter, and knock them dead or at least weaken them. Without it, we would be a sitting duck for every infection known to man.

Ways to love our liver:

1. Don’t drink too much beer, alcohol or wine. Even one drink is too much for some people and could scar the liver for life.

2. Watch those drugs. All drugs are chemical, and when we mix them up without a doctor’s advice,  we could create something poisonous that could damage the liver badly. Liver scars easily and those scars, called cirrhosis are permanent. Medicine is sometimes necessary. But taking pills when they aren’t necessary is a bad habit. All those chemicals can really hurt a liver. Be careful with aerosol sprays. Remember, liver has to detoxify what we breathe in, too. So when we are cleaning with aerosol cleaners, make sure the room is ventilated, or wear a mask. That goes double for bud sprays, mildew sprays, paint sprays and all those other chemical sprays we use. Be careful what you breathe.

3.Watch what gets on your skin. Those insecticides you put on trees and shrubs not only kill bugs they can get to the liver right through our skin and destroy its cells, too. Remember they’re all chemicals. Cover your skin with gloves, long sleeves, a hat and mask every time insecticides are in the air or if you’re handling them.

4. Don’t eat too much fatty food. The liver makes the cholesterol our body needs, and it tries to make the right amount. Eat a good well balanced nourishing diet. If we eat the right stuff for the liver, it will really do its stuff for us.

WARNING: The liver can’t and won’t tell us that it is in trouble until it almost at the end of its rope .. and ours. Remember: It is a non-complainer. Over loading the liver with drugs, alcohol and other junk can destroy it. This maybe the only warning we will ever get.

What to do:

1. Check the liver out with our doctor.

2. Blood screening tests can identify some trouble.

3. If the liver is soft and smooth, that’s good. If it is hard and bumpy, that could mean trouble.

4. If our doctor suspects trouble, ULTRA SOUND and CT scans can look into it.

The life of the liver and ours depends on how we treat the liver.