Your Liver
The liver is the largest organ on the "inside" of your body. The liver is found behind the lower ribs on the right side of the abdomen.

The liver performs MANY unique and important tasks. To mention just a few for you... your liver:

• Processes carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and minerals to be used in maintaining normal body functions.
• Changes food to energy and cleans alcohol and toxic (poisonous) substances from your blood.
• Makes bile, a yellowish-green liquid that helps with digestion.
• Produces proteins and blood-clotting factors that the body needs.
• Regulates glucose (sugar) in the blood and stores sugar, vitamins and minerals, fats, and other nutrients.
• Helps guard against infection.

When the liver does not function properly, sickness and even death can occur.

When your liver is sick, it can lead to problems like fibrosis or cirrhosis (liver scarring) and liver cancer.

Hepatitis C and cancer are examples of illnesses that can affect the liver.

You cannot live at all without your liver.

Be Good to Your Liver

• Don't take medicines unless a doctor has told you to. Don't use over the counter medicine unless you really need it.
• Use very little or no alcohol.
• Don't inject illegal drugs. Sharing equipment to use drugs can let other people's blood inside you, which can make your liver sick. Needles, cookers, and filters are different kinds of drug use equipment that you should not share. Sharing drug equipment is dangerous. Never touch a drug needle (syringe) that has been thrown away.
• Don't get other people's blood inside you.
• Practice safe sex.
• Do all you can to avoid infection and excess wear and tear on your liver.
• Maintain a healthy diet.