Talking about the important organ, the liver (role of the liver) ~ Nutritionist's Column Vol 11 (first part)

Important organ: the liver

Today we'll be talking about the liver.

The role of the liver

The liver plays a very important role in maintaining good health.
It is the largest organ in the human body and is made up of approximately 300 billion hepatocytes.

Our organs are like factories in our bodies and play a very important role.
In addition to breaking down alcohol and harmful substances, this is where many metabolic reactions take place, such as converting nutrients absorbed by the stomach and intestines into components needed by the body and storing them, and producing and secreting bile, which is necessary for the digestion and absorption of fat.

As a factory within the body

Now let me explain each of the functions of the liver.

metabolism

The three major nutrients are carbohydrates, protein and fat.
These are important nutrients that act as a source of energy for our bodies and also serve as components that make up the body.
However, these nutrients absorbed in the small and large intestine cannot fulfill their function in the form they are absorbed.
Therefore, after being digested and absorbed, it is transported to the liver and converted into a form that is easily used by the body.
This process of transformation is called metabolism .
These metabolized nutrients are transported throughout the body through the blood.

Energy synthesis and storage

Carbohydrates ingested through food are broken down into glucose by digestive enzymes.
It is then synthesized into glycogen in the liver and stored in the liver as a reserve energy source.
When the body is not getting enough nutrients due to dieting or other reasons, it breaks down glycogen as needed to convert it into glucose, or synthesizes glucose from amino acids.

Detoxification

Not only nutrients but also food additives, drugs, and bacteria flow into the liver through the portal vein.
The liver has the function of breaking down and detoxifying these harmful substances, converting them into harmless substances.
In particular, because it is involved in the breakdown of alcohol, people who drink a lot of alcohol can suffer from liver fatigue.

Bile secretion

The liver secretes a digestive fluid called bile, which is essential for the digestion of fats.
Bile produced in the liver is stored in the gallbladder, located behind the liver.
When fatty foods enter the duodenum, bile is released from the gallbladder to break down the fat into smaller particles and aid in fat digestion.

In addition, the liver stores vitamins and iron, and breaks down hemoglobin, insulin, and hormones, so you can see that it is a very important organ for our bodies.

When the liver is tired

What happens when your liver is fatigued?

Waste products that should normally be detoxified cannot be filtered out and so remain in the body.
Just the thought of having toxins in your body is disgusting...
In addition, any nutrients that cannot be metabolized as energy are stored as triglycerides.
In addition to the accumulation of unnecessary substances in the body, you will be unable to produce energy, making it difficult to lose weight even if you try to diet.
If you are experiencing symptoms such as difficulty moving your body, difficulty getting rid of fatigue, not enjoying the taste of alcohol, loss of appetite, swelling in your legs, or abdominal bloating, it may be that your liver is fatigued.

In the second part, we will introduce dietary habits and favorite foods to keep your liver healthy.
>> Nutritionist's Column Vol 11 ~ Talking about the important organ, the liver (Part 2: To maintain a healthy liver)

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Nutritionist, Food Education Instructor, Food 6th Industrialization Producer Level 4
Ayako Ishihara

A nutritional advisor in the healthcare field and an agribusiness professional.
She is involved in a variety of activities specializing in the fields of beauty and health, including giving lectures to Miss World Japan candidates.

With the philosophy of "enriching the mind and body through food and realizing a vibrant society where people and communities are connected," he founded i-Field Co., Ltd. in 2013 and serves as its representative.
He is a core member of the food team for "DINING OUT," which opens outdoor restaurants in various regions, and also participates in fashion brand projects.
She is also involved in the promotion of local ingredients, product development and production specializing in "health" and "beauty," branding, concept design, food hygiene, sales promotion, training planning and management, etc. She is in charge of nutritional supervision for GRØN's product development, proposing ways to incorporate them more effectively into consumer health.

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