About your body
The Liver
The liver is the largest internal organ of the human body and weighs around 1.5kg in the average adult. The liver makes bile which helps break down fats and controls blood sugar. Blood from the digestive system travels through the liver before it goes anywhere else in the body.
The job of the liver is to remove toxins from the body, process food nutrients and fats and help to regulate body metabolism. The liver also destroys poisons and stores vitamins.
A range of conditions can prevent the liver from performing its job. Too many fatty foods, too much alcohol and some viral infections can cause damage and some cancers.
The liver converts carbohydrates into glucose for energy.
The liver produces amino acids from proteins for the production of hormones.
The liver also changes ammonia (a toxic by-product of protein metabolism) into urea, which is then excreted in your urine (wee).