The function of the liver is to get rid of toxins from the blood. Obviously, like the kidneys, the sound and healthy functioning of the liver is of great importance to the proper functioning of the rest of your body systems. The liver also processes nutrients in the blood into forms that your body can use, produces necessary proteins and cholesterol, and converts glucose into glycogen.
Can you impair the proper functioning of the liver? Yes, poor diet and excessive alcohol intake can impair the functioning of the liver and even cause significant and permanent damage. Viral infections and environmental toxins can also cause liver damage. When the liver fails to filter toxins from the blood properly, hepatitic encephalopathy can result, causing confusion and other mental symptoms, as can malnutrition, weight loss, and hemorraging.
Learn more about liver disease and disability.
