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The Liver – Your Body's Refinery

Next to your skin, the liver is the largest organ in your body, weighing three to four pounds in the average adult. You may not think of your liver as a particularly exciting organ, however, it is an incredible chemical machine and performs an amazing number of different functions – over 600 in fact. The liver performs so many functions that we cannot live long without it. These vital functions include the following:

• The liver manufactures the anticoagulant heparin and most of the other plasma proteins.

• The reticuloendothelial cells of the liver destroy worn-out red blood cells and some bacteria.

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• Liver cells contain enzymes that either break down poisons or transform them into less harmful compounds. For example, when amino acids are burned for energy, they leave behind toxic ammonia as a byproduct which is converted to urea by the liver cells. Moderate amounts of urea are harmless to the body and are easily excreted by the kidneys and sweat glands.

• Newly absorbed nutrients are collected in the liver and either processed for use or stored. The liver can transform excess glucose into fat and cholesterol, as well as turn non-carbohydrates, like amino acids, into glucose depending on the body's needs.

• The liver stores micronutrients like copper, iron and vitamins A, B12, D, and K. It also stores some poisons that cannot be broken down and excreted. (This is why high levels of DDT are found in the livers of animals and humans who eat sprayed fruits and vegetables.)

• The liver manufactures bile, which is used in the small intestine for the breakdown and absorption of fats. Along with being the busiest organ in your body, the liver, unfortunately, is also the most abused organ.

Many of us know about the importance of taking care of our hearts and our lungs, for example, but we really don't give a second thought to our livers. A properly functioning liver is vital for good health. …due to the incredible amount of toxic chemicals that we are exposed to today, our livers are working overtime – and they need help.

Today, more than any other time in history, we are exposed to hazardous toxins in our environment. In fact, each year billions and billions of pounds of harmful chemicals are released into the air and deposited into the ground and into our water supplies. In addition, we breathe in polluted air and eat food that is grown in contaminated soils – not to mention the pesticides and insecticides that are sprayed on our fruits and vegetables.

We are even exposed to harmful chemicals at home every time we use a cleaning agent, put on makeup, take a prescription drug or drink from the tap. Unless we live in a bubble that isolates us from our environment, we cannot avoid exposure to these toxins altogether. As a result, we are at increased risk of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer and a number of mental and/or behavioral disorders such as depression and attention deficit disorder.

One of the major functions of the liver is to screen out these toxins or neutralize them so that they are no longer harmful. But due to the incredible amount of toxic chemicals that we are exposed to today, our livers are working overtime – and they need help. That's why I formulated Liver Support. Liver Support helps keep your liver, the body's refinery, operating at full speed and helps protect it from damage and from shutting down. It's a simple and easy step you can take to defend your body against today's environmental assaults

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