Liver Health

The liver is a large triangular‐shaped organ located at the top of the abdominal cavity under the ribs on the right hand side. It is our largest internal organ, weighing about 1.5 kg. The liver has a wide range of functions, including the production of bile for digestion; excretion of waste products; synthesis of proteins, hormones and coagulation factors; key roles in carbohydrate and fat metabolism; and it is a vital organ for the processes of detoxification. Detoxification is the processing and removal of toxic substances from our body, including toxins absorbed from our environment and diet, as well as those produced from our own metabolic processes.

The most common cause of liver disease is non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (fatty liver). This is where fat accumulates in the liver cells, and is associated with overweight and obesity, and diabetes. Cirrhosis is a condition of the liver that involves severe scarring, and has many causes, including alcohol abuse.