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Cirrhosis

What does your liver do?

The liver is one of the largest organs in your body. It has many important jobs. It's like a factory that makes vital substances (such as albumin and factors that help with blood clotting). It cleanses the body of toxins (like alcohol) and bacteria. It produces bile that helps digest food. The healthy liver also gathers and stores important substances for your body to use later, such as sugar and vitamins.

The liver is able to perform these tasks because millions of cells work as a team around the clock. Everything that enters the body through the mouth is digested in the stomach and intestines. These raw materials then enter the liver factory through the bloodstream and the worker liver cells break them down, purify them, make useful products, and get rid of harmful products.

A healthy liver