Understanding How Alcohol Affects The Liver

August 11, 2012 0 Comments

The liver is considered as the largest organ of the human body. Its main function is to help in the metabolic process of the body and help in the digestion process. The liver produces bile which aids in the digestion of excess fat. It also plays other functions by decomposing and regulating high volume of complex molecules. This is the reason why the liver is also considered the area of detoxification.

Alcohol dehydrogenase or ADH is a substance found in the liver that breaks down alcohol molecules and reduces alcohol content in the blood. This enzyme can be found in the stomach as well. When an individual drinks one glass of alcoholic drink, he may not feel the effects of the drink. This is because the body controls the alcohol content by breaking it down- first in the stomach, then in the liver. The amount of alcohol dehydrogenase is higher in men compared to women and this is the reason why men have higher tolerance for alcohol than women. When the liver is functioning well, alcohol intake is not a serious problem because it can be excreted from the body through sweat and urine.

The liver plays a great contribution to the whole well being of the body. Damage of the liver can be very harmful and fatal. Liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer are serious cases. Excessive alcohol intake for example damages the normal functions of the liver. Alcoholism has been considered as the main cause of liver cirrhosis. This is a chronic disease where there’s degeneration of the liver tissues. Some alcohol treatment centers have examined patients with liver diseases and that they need medical treatment with their disease coupled with rehabilitation.

There are many dietary supplements sold in the market that claim to protect the liver from any diseases. This may be true but having a healthy lifestyle is still the number one solution to having a healthy liver. People who enjoy binge drinking may not feel, see and know the impact of their behaviour immediately but constant neglect of their health will soon have serious negative results. The body, just like any machine, can withstand and adjust to its environment. The liver in particular can tolerate a certain amount of alcohol at a given time but too much of anything is indeed harmful. People who love to consume alcohol should take necessary actions and establish self control before it’s too late. Should there be a problem of alcohol addiction, visiting nearby alcohol rehab centers can help individuals know how to handle it and how to solve this problem.

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