Page 78 - For Men of Understanding

When nothing is eaten between meals and the glucose level of the blood starts
to fall, the liver turns the stored glycogen back into glucose and releases it into
the blood. Therefore, the level of glucose is not permitted to fall critically. The
liver can produce glucose also from fatty acids and amino acids as well, just as
it can convert other carbohydrates, which are not likely to be used in energy
production, into glucose.
Stores blood: The liver has a structure that can expand or shrink. Given
this feature, it can both store blood and release it into the veins.
In a healthy body, the liver can hold 10% of the total blood of the human
body, which makes 450 ml of blood. In some conditions, e.g., when there is a
heart defect in a person, the amount of blood usually circulating in the body
will be too much for the working pace of the heart. In this circumstance, the
liver doubles its blood-retaining capacity and stores 1 litre of blood. Thus, it
allows the heart to work at a tolerable pace.
When need for blood increases, (e.g., while exercising) the liver releases
the blood it has stored into the circulatory system and meets the need for
blood.
Works economically: When glucose is consumed in the muscles, lactic
acid, a surplus of metabolism, is released. As long as lactic acid stays in the
muscle, it gives pain and prevents its operation. The liver collects this acid from
the muscles and can convert it back into glucose.
Produces new red blood cells instead of the dead ones: The spleen and
liver are the locations where new red blood cells are produced replacing dead
ones, and a major part of the proteins are broken down and put to re-use as
amino acids for different purposes. The liver is the organ where iron, which
has important functions in the body, is stored.
The liver is the most developed reserve of the body. All minerals, proteins,
a small amount of fat and vitamins are stored in the liver. Whenever needed, it
delivers the stored substance to the necessary area in the shortest way possi-
ble. It scrupulously controls whether the body has enough energy or not by a
specialised intelligence system. All organs in the body are related to the liver.
Is able to repair itself: The liver has the capability to repair itself. If a cer-
tain part of it is damaged, the remaining cells make up for the defective part
by increasing in number instantly. Even if two-thirds of the organ is amputat-
ed, the remaining part can re-compose the liver entirely.

While repairing itself, the organ removes the ruined or dead cells from the
milieu and replaces them with new ones. A liver cell is specialised enough to
perform more than 500 operations at a time. It usually makes these not suc-
cessively but concurrently.

76 For Men of Understanding