Skip to main content
Logo for WebMD
Logo for WebMD
  • Coronavirus Update
  • Check Your Symptoms
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Dentist
  • Connect to Care
  • Find Lowest Drug Prices
  • Health
    A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Common Conditions
    • ADD/ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Arthritis
    • Cancer
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Eye Health
    • Heart Disease
    • Lung Disease
    • Orthopedics
    • Pain Management
    • Sexual Conditions
    • Skin Problems
    • Sleep Disorders
    • View All
    Resources
    • Symptom Checker
    • WebMD Blogs
    • Podcasts
    • Newsletters
    • Questions & Answers
    • Insurance Guide
    • Find a Doctor
    • Children's Conditions A-Z
    • Surgeries and Procedures A-Z
    • Featured Topics
    • woman experiencing chest discomfort Symptom Checker COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • photo of migraine Slideshow Get Help for Migraine Relief
  • Drugs &
    Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Find & Review
    • Drugs
    • Supplements
    Drug Basics & Safety
    • Commonly Abused Drugs
    • Taking Meds When Pregnant
    Tools
    • Manage Your Medications
    • Pill Identifier
    • Check for Interactions
    • Drug Comparison Tool
    • Featured Topics
    • assorted vitamins Slideshow Vitamins You Need as You Age
    • berry and yogurt on spoon Slideshow Supplements for Better Digestion
  • Living
    Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Diet, Food & Fitness
    • Diet & Weight Management
    • Weight Loss & Obesity
    • Food & Recipes
    • Fitness & Exercise
    Beauty & Balance
    • Healthy Beauty
    • Health & Balance
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Oral Care
    Living Well
    • Women's Health
    • Men's Health
    • Aging Well
    • Healthy Sleep
    • Healthy Teens
    • Featured Topics
    • grocery cart Article Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes
    • walking sneakers Quiz Do You Know the Benefits of Walking?
  • Family &
    Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    All About Pregnancy
    • Getting Pregnant
    • First Trimester
    • Second Trimester
    • Third Trimester
    • View All
    Parenting Guide
    • Newborn & Baby
    • Children's Health
    • Children's Vaccines
    • Raising Fit Kids
    • View All
    Pet Care Essentials
    • Healthy Cats
    • Healthy Dogs
    • View All
    • Featured Topics
    • apple slices and peanut butter Slideshow Smart Snacks When You're Pregnant
    • photo of dogs kissing Slideshow Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats
  • News &
    Experts
    News & Experts
    News & Experts
    Health News
    • Coronavirus News & Updates
    • COVID-19 Vaccines -- Latest Updates Here
    • COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts
    • Social Distancing, Quarantine Explained
    Experts & Community
    • WebMD Blogs
    • News Center
    • Featured Topics
    • photo of coronavirus cell WebMD News Get the Latest COVID-19 News Here
    • photo of person typing Newsletters Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter
  • Mobile Apps
  • Subscriptions
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • My Profile
    • My Tools
    • My WebMD Pages
    • My Account
    • Sign Out

    Hepatitis Home

    • Hepatitis Overview
    • Hepatitis A
    • Hepatitis B
    • Hepatitis C
    • Hepatitis D
    • Hepatitis E
    • News
    • Reference
    • Slideshows
    • Quizzes
    • Videos
    • Questions & Answers
    • Medications
    • Find a Doctor

    Related to Hepatitis

    • Cirrhosis
    • Fatty Liver Disease
    • Liver Failure
    • Hepatitis Vaccine
    • Liver Cancer
    • Liver Transplant
    • HIV
    • More Related Topics
    • Hepatitis
    • Videos

    What Does Your Liver Do?

    Video Transcript

    Your liver is one of the hardest-working organs in your body.

    It's also one of the largest, located on the right side of your belly, just below your diaphragm.

    Your liver works around the clock to break down nutrients from the food you eat into substances your body can use. Taking things like fats and proteins and turning them into energy.

    To help digest fats, your liver produces 1,000 milliliters of bile per day!

    It also plays a key role in keeping your blood sugar level constant.

    If it gets too high, your liver removes some sugar from your blood & stores it as glycogen...

    ...too low, and it breaks down that glycogen to put some sugar back in.

    But that's not all. Your liver also makes special proteins so your blood can clot...

    and it stockpiles vitamins and minerals for whenever your body needs a boost.

    On top of all that, it detoxifies your system by removing harmful substances from your body, like alcohol and medication byproducts.

    Your liver sure does a lot for you! So take care of it! Eat a healthy diet, drink lots of water, and cut back on alcohol.

    Related Videos

    Editor's Picks

    • woman with cup of coffee

      Video

      The Truth About Coffee
    • tongue scraper and tongue

      Video

      5 Ways to Beat Bad Breath
    • couple having sex in bed

      Video

      Why Orgasms Feel Good

    Latest Videos

    Top Picks

    • Take the Liver Test
    • Hepatitis: Who Is at Risk?
    • All About Hepatitis
    • Side Effects of Hepatitis C Treatments
    • How Hepatitis C Affects Your Body
    • When to Get Your Liver Function Tested

    Today on WebMD

    Hepatitus C virus

    What is Hepatitis?

    Types, symptoms and treatments.

    liver illustration

    What Does Your Liver Do?

    Myths and facts about this essential organ.

    tinea versicolor

    What Hepatitis Looks Like on Your Skin

    Your face, eyes & hands can show it.

    doctor and patient

    Fatty Liver Disease

    What causes it?

    Recommended for You

    Hepatitis C Treatment Article

    How Hepatitis C Is -- and Isn't -- Spread

    shingles rash Article

    What Hepatitis Looks Like on Your Skin

    liver illustration Quiz

    How Much Do You Know About Your Liver?

    liver with cancer illustration Slideshow

    See What Happens When Your Liver Fails

    Scientist looking in microscope Slideshow

    Hepatitis: What Puts You at Risk

    Fatty Liver Disease Article

    Fatty Liver: Hepatitis C Complication

    Digestive Diseases Liver Transplantation Article

    When a Liver Transplant Is Needed

    Picture Of The Liver Image Collection

    Anatomy: See and Learn About the Liver

    Tools & Resources

    • Do You Have Liver Lesions?
    • Hepatitis & Other Adult Vaccines
    • See What Your Liver Looks Like
    • Why Be Tested for Hep C?
    • How Not to Wreck Your Liver
    • What Is Fatty Liver Disease?

    Health Solutions

    • Penis Curved When Erect
    • Could I have CAD?
    • Treat Bent Fingers
    • Long-Term Acute Care
    • Enlarged Prostate Facts
    • Cancer Detection
    • Rethink MS Treatment
    • Is My Penis Normal?
    • Risk of a Future DVT/PE
    • Discover hATTR Symptoms
    • Weight-Loss Surgery
    • Liver Transplants Save Lives
    • Bent Finger Causes
    • AFib-Related Strokes
    • Preventing Infection
    • Missing Teeth?

    More from WebMD

    • Finding the Care You Need for MS
    • New Hope for Narcolepsy
    • Eat Better in the New Year
    • Psoriatic Arthritis and Your Sleep
    • What Psoriasis Feels Like
    • First Psoriatic Arthritis Flare
    • Talking to Your Doctor About RA
    • Start a Home Fitness Program
    • Avoiding Crohn’s Flares
    • Common Psoriasis Triggers
    • Relief for Blocked Hair Follicles
    • Types of B-Cell Therapy for MS
    • Tackling Pain of Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Why Prostate Cancer Spreads
    • When Ulcerative Colitis Flares
    • Where Breast Cancer Spreads
    • Logo for WebMD
      • Visit WebMD on Facebook
      • Visit WebMD on Twitter
      • Visit WebMD on Pinterest
    • Policies

      • Privacy Policy
      • Cookie Policy
      • Editorial Policy
      • Advertising Policy
      • Correction Policy
      • Terms of Use

      About

      • Contact Us
      • About WebMD
      • Careers
      • Newsletter
      • Corporate
      • WebMD Health Services
      • Site Map
      • Accessibility
    • WebMD Network

      • Medscape
      • Medscape Reference
      • MedicineNet
      • eMedicineHealth
      • RxList
      • OnHealth
      • WebMDRx
      • First Aid
      • WebMD Magazine
      • WebMD Health Record
      • Dictionary
      • Physician Directory
    • Our Apps

      • WebMD Mobile
      • WebMD App
      • Pregnancy
      • Baby
      • Allergy
      • Medscape

      For Advertisers

      • Advertise with Us
      • Advertising Policy

    © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.

    WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    See additional information.