What is Healthy Liver Function?
A healthy liver efficiently performs hundreds of vital functions, essential for overall well-being. It acts as the body's central processing unit, filtering blood, producing essential substances, and eliminating waste products.
- Filtering Blood: The liver continuously filters blood, removing toxins, harmful substances, and waste products like old red blood cells. [Source: Cleans toxins (harmful substances) out of the blood. Gets rid of old red blood cells.]
- Bile Production: It produces bile, a crucial digestive fluid that aids in the breakdown of fats in the small intestine. [Source: Production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion]
- Nutrient Metabolism: The liver metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, making them usable by the body. [Source: Metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates and fats so your body can use them.]
- Nutrient Storage and Release: It stores vital nutrients like vitamins and releases them as needed. [Source: In fact, the liver can be credited with performing at least 500 vital functions. It regulates blood sugar, makes vitamins, maintains blood at… ]
- Drug and Medication Metabolism: The liver processes medications and other substances, breaking them down for excretion. [Source: “Your liver removes all toxins, clears medication from your body and metabolizes [breaks down] all your food,” says Dr. Alqahtani. It also adjust cholesterol… ]
- Protein Synthesis: The liver produces many essential proteins, including albumin, crucial for maintaining blood volume and pressure. [Source: Mayo Clinic Liver Function Tests, which lists Albumin as a key measurement]
- Immune Function: The liver plays a role in immune function, helping to fight off infections. [Source: The liver is a large organ in the abdomen that performs many important bodily functions, including blood filtering. It is also considered a gland.]
Indicators of Healthy Liver Function:
Normal ranges for liver function tests (LFTs) vary, but generally include:
- ALT (Alanine aminotransferase): 7 to 55 units per liter (U/L)
- AST (Aspartate aminotransferase): 8 to 48 U/L
- ALP (Alkaline phosphatase): 40 to 129 U/L
- Albumin: 3.5 to 5.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL)
- Total protein: Specific ranges vary based on lab and method used. [Source: Mayo Clinic Liver Function Tests]
Note: These are general ranges. Individual results should be interpreted by a healthcare professional.
Maintaining a Healthy Liver:
Adopting a healthy lifestyle plays a crucial role in supporting liver health. This involves:
- Maintaining a balanced diet.
- Limiting alcohol consumption.
- Avoiding illicit drug use.
- Practicing safe sex to prevent viral hepatitis.
- Taking medications as prescribed and avoiding over-the-counter painkiller overuse.
- Regular exercise.
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
[Source: Multiple sources including Johns Hopkins Medicine articles on liver health and maintaining a healthy liver.]
