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Author:
Kevin Stith

The liver processes nutrients from the digestive system. It also removes toxins from the body, and produces a greenish-brown fluid known as bile that is required for digestion. There are a wide number of diseases that affect the liver. They range from chronic illnesses such as hepatitis and cirrhosis to acute conditions such as cancer or bile duct obstruction. Millions of Americans have both chronic and acute liver disease. Liver cancer, portal hypertension and bile duct obstruction are three of the most common liver diseases.

The liver is the largest organ in the body and proper function is essential for life. You cannot live without your liver, as it converts food into stored energy and produces chemicals that are vital to life.

The liver processes carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals that are used to maintain normal body functions. Carbohydrates are stored to maintain energy throughout the day. Proteins are released to the muscles as energy or are stored for later use. Some are converted and excreted through urine. Some proteins are transformed into ammonia that is broken down by the liver and excreted through the kidneys. Bile is produced in the liver and that helps break down fat that is stored in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine. Bile absorbs essential vitamins and after digestion and are returned to the liver and recycled.

There are many types of liver disease and most causes are not known. However, poor nutrition has been attributed to a leading cause of liver disease. It is well known that good nutrition can in fact help the damaged liver to regenerate new liver cells.

Liver Disease provides detailed information on Liver Disease, Liver Disease Symptoms, Fatty Liver Disease, Alcoholic Liver Disease and more. Liver Disease is affiliated with Kidney Stones In Women.

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Hepatitis... I am Hepatitis C I am Hepatitis C a form of hepatitis liver inflammation that is caused by a virus known on the street as HCV. Before HCV was discovered in 1989, they used to refer to me as a related name to my little brothers, "non-A-non-B hepatitus". A laughing stock of the virus world, but that all changed in 1989. Approximately 15 to 20 percent of people are able to deal with me and develop immunity. That doesn't speak for the rest, and also 15 to 20 percent of them that will show acute signs of the me, Hepatitus C. It is known that for each 100 chronic Hepatitis C patients, 20 will develop liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis is a nasty scarring of the liver, which can progress into Liver cancer. I have infected over 180 million people around the world, and am now responsible for the majority of liver transplants, Hepatocellular carcinoma and also the major cause of death among HIV co-infected patients. Most times, people that are carrier me in the chronic state, chronic hepatitis C , will have no symptoms. This doesn't speak well for myself, but without further delay over time I can cause long term damage to the liver. This is due to my blood borne nature. I work slowly and severe liver damage may not develop until 10-40 years after my initial infection. Mixing things up, my symptoms vary based on each individual carrier. Often times they will resemble flu symptoms which include: - body aches - loss of appetite - headaches - diarrhea - fatigue - nausea - nightsweats - abdominal pain - upper right quadrant pain Because, like I mentioned, these symptoms resemble the flue, most people are not aware that they have me until they visit a doctor and have a physical exam. Even then sometimes I can go unnoticed unless they have blood work done. Cases...