The largest internal organ of the human body is the liver.
Do you know why the liver is your largest internal organ?
Well, it weighs approximately 3-3.5 or 1.36-1.59 kilograms. You can consider its size the same as a football. And it is the second largest organ in the body, as the first largest organ is the skin.
Every organ performs a specific life-supporting function. The liver performs around 200 bodies, including the supply of glucose and iron storage, and contributes to blood purification.
The liver is located on the right side of the belly. It is reddish-brown in color and feels rubbery when you touch it. You cannot touch the liver from the outside as it is inside the rib cage.
It has two larger sections, the right and left lobes.
There is a gallbladder under the liver along with the pancreas and intestines. They all contribute to processing food.
The other function of the liver also contributes to the filtering of blood that comes from the digestive tract. It removes the toxins from the blood supply and helps in maintaining sugar levels.
The liver produces bile, a fluid that contributes to fat digestion and also carries away waste material.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Israr Ul Haque Toor who is one of the top hepatologists in Pakistan says that, it contains 4 lobes, and each is made up of 8 sections and thousands of lobules. The liver also contributes to breaking down poisonous substances.
Well, the liver does a lot for us, but do we take care of it?
Let’s explore:
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How to Maintain a Healthy Liver
Living a quality and healthy life is possible if we take care of our body organs. Liver diseases can cause potential damage and can affect the other body organs as well.
Here are some healthy tips that can help to maintain your liver function.
Exercise Regularly
Staying physically active or regular exercise enhances the function of every human body organ, such as the liver, and also of the second largest organ in the body. It also promotes blood circulation in your overall body.
Practice Safe Sex
Doctors at Doctors Hospital say that some liver diseases can transmit through intercourse. Make sure that you practice safe sex to avoid diseases, like hepatitis C.
Vaccinate
Traveling to different areas with liver disease outbreaks means that you need to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Vaccination can also provide protection against yellow fever that grows in the liver.
Eat Healthy Diet
Some specific foods can also affect liver function and cause damage. You should eat a healthy diet to maintain liver health.
Let’s get into details about what best foods for your liver you should eat.
Grapefruit: Grapefruit is a great source of antioxidants that protect the liver, including naringin and naringenin. They play an important role in protecting the liver against injury. Both help in reducing inflammation and protecting cells.
Blueberries and Cranberries: Both are rich in anthocyanins that give color to berries. But it also provides many health benefits.
Grapes: All grape types are beneficial for health, but red and purple are most popular for liver health as they contain resveratrol. You can eat grapes or drink their extract as both can maintain your liver health.
Coffee: To promote liver health, you can drink coffee but not in excess. It lowers the risk of cirrhosis and prevents permanent liver damage.
Some foods like too much-refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup can lead to fat buildup that increases the risk of liver disease. Make sure that you avoid foods with added sugar that can cause liver damage, like candy and soda.
Now, we know that the liver is the largest internal organ in the human body and not the second largest organ in the body. But if you ever experience liver disease symptoms, like pale stool color, itchy skin, jaundice, nausea, and vomiting, visit the best hepatologist.
