Liver
The liver weighs about three and one-third pounds, making it the heaviest gland in the body. It is located in the upper right side of the abdominal cavity under the diaphragm.
Apart from the lungs, it is the only organ which receives both arterial and venus blood. Arterial blood supplies nutrients to the liver tissue; it also receives nutrient-rich but oxygen-poor venus blood from the digestive organs, spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder. The liver takes in these nutrients and can store them in the form of glycogen or fat, use them to synthesize proteins, or use them to alter fats.
The liver converts proteins and fats into carbohydrates, a more usable form of energy. The liver also converts nitrogenous wastes into less harmful substances.
The spleen breaks down red blood cells; some of the components of these cells flow, via blood vessels, to the liver. The liver combines these components with other compounds to produce bile, which is important in fat digestion. It also acts as a storage area for vitamin A, vitamin B-12, and vitamin D.
The liver is sometimes referred to as the "forgotten organ" due to the general lack of awareness for how important a healthy liver is to overall wellness. We know about the blood cleansing demands, and the role the liver plays in detoxifying impurities from the body, but it is not widely recognized for its role in maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol and metabolizing fats. To keep a liver performing at the optimum level, a periodic Liver Cleanse protocol should be employed. Common, well-known ingredients are vital to liver cleansing regimens, including Milk thistle (Silybum), Taurine, and Dandelion root. Essential liver tonic formulas are available, but careful consideration should be followed to rely on liver cleanse products that include proper ratios of herbal ingredients combined with supporting enzyme components for the most potent results.
References
Crafts, R.C. 1985. A Textbook of Human Anatomy. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 906 pp.
Lockhart, R.D., G.F. Hamilton, et.al. 1974. Anatomy of The Human Body. Faber and Faber Limited. London. 697 pp.
Romer, A.S. & T.S. Parsons. 1978. The Vertebrate Body. W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia. 476 pp.
Van Amerongen, C. The Way Things Work; Book Of The Body. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1979.
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