Digestive healthGeneral wellness

7 amazing facts about your liver

This essential organ weighs about 3 pounds and has more than 500 functions.

LearnDigestive healthLiver disease and fatty liver7 amazing facts about your liver
It's an energy warehouse
It's a detox center
It's a bile factory
It stashes vitamins and minerals
It regenerates itself
It's affected by body weight
It's also affected by alcohol consumption
Show your liver some love

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The liver, one of the largest organs in the body, is a mighty multitasker. It performs critical metabolic functions, converting food into energy. It stores nutrients until your body needs them. It neutralizes toxic substances or makes sure they’re excreted. And that’s not all.

Here’s what you need to know about this important organ, including ways to keep it healthy.

Sources: Kaira A, Yetiskul E, et al. Physiology, ... + 14
  1. Kaira A, Yetiskul E, et al. Physiology, Liver. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.
  2. Trefts E, Gannon M, Wasserman DH. The liver. Curr Biol. 2017 Nov 6;27(21):R1147-R1151.
  3. Columbia Surgery. The Liver and Its Functions. Accessed May 15, 2025.
  4. InformedHealth.org. How does the liver work? Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-.
  5. MedlinePlus. Bile. July 23, 2024.
  6. Mayo Clinic. Bile reflux. January 6, 2022.
  7. UCSF Health. Hemoglobin and Functions of Iron. Accessed May 15, 2025.
  8. MedlinePlus. Fatty Liver Disease. March 19, 2025.
  9. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) & NASH. April 2021.
  10. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. New MASLD Nomenclature. Accessed May 15, 2025.
  11. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 5 Ways to Be Kind to Your Liver. Accessed May 15, 2025.
  12. American Liver Foundation. 13 Ways to a Healthy Liver. June 24, 2021.
  13. Endocrine Society. Pancreas Hormones. January 24, 2022.
  14. InformedHealth.org. How does the gallbladder work? Last updated September 6, 2018.
  15. Medscape. Acetaminophen Toxicity. Updated October 25, 2021.
Written by Deborah Wilburn.
Medically reviewed by Mark Arredondo, MD.August, 2024
Updated onAugust, 2026
Written by Deborah Wilburn.
Medically reviewed by Mark Arredondo, MD.August, 2024
Updated onAugust, 2026
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