This largest of the internal organs in the human body plays a major role in metabolism, but its usefulness is not limited to that. It stores glycogen, for instance, the substance that works with insulin to maintain a balance of sugar in the blood. It is responsible for decomposition of red blood cells, synthesizes plasma protein, and detoxifies the body. It is located in the thoracic region of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm. It typically weighs 3.1 to 3.5 pounds and is about the size of an American football. Blood flows to the liver from the spleen, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The major work of the liver is to process the nutrients and byproducts of the digestion of food.

Few human organs are capable of regeneration of lost tissue, but the liver can do that. Even if only 25% of the liver remains, it can regenerate into a whole liver again.

• Hepatitis – inflammation caused by viruses, poison, or autoimmunity.
• Cirrhosis – formation of fibrous tissues replacing dead liver cells. This can be caused by viral hepatitis, alcoholism, or contact with liver-toxic chemicals.
• Haemochromatosis – iron accumulates in the body causing damage to the liver. This disease is typically hereditary.
• Cancer of the liver – usually metastatic from other parts of the body.
• Primary biliary cirrhosis – autoimmune disease of the bile ducts.

• Coated tongue
• Bad breath
• Skin rashes
• Itchy skin
• Excessive sweating
• Offensive body odor
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Red, swollen, and itchy eyes
• Acne Rosacea
• Brownish spots and blemishes on the skin
• Jaundice
• Dark urine

As with other digestive tract organs, the health of the liver can be affected by life style. If the digestive system is healthy, the liver is likely to be healthy. Blood flows to the liver from the spleen, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, and the stomach to be processed and cleansed. If those organs are not able to properly digest food, then the output is deficient. For example, raw foods contain enzymes that aid digestion, yet most of the food eaten nowadays is cooked. There are very few raw fruits and vegetables in the modern diet. It's no wonder there are so many diseases of the liver. Eating foods without the enzymes that raw food provides makes digestion more difficult and leads to toxicity in the body–the source of many of the malfunctions of the liver.

The bacteria that the digestive system needs are killed by cooking. Raw foods provide the bacteria and other micro-organisms that the immune system relies upon. When these bacteria are not in the digestive system, the liver suffers.

Rather than thinking in terms of the diseases of the liver and the things that can go wrong, let's concentrate for a moment on those whose liver is healthy. These are people who never have a digestive problem, whose skin glows, who don't have insomnia, who wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go, and who always have energy and an optimistic outlook.

Robert Ross says he had been a vegetarian for 40 years before he discovered raw food in 1995. He had a chronic illness, which he does not identify, but he says that after changing to a raw foods diet, the chronic illness was cured. He testifies that he felt better after going on this diet than he had for years. He plays blues harmonica, folk guitar, and the didgeridoo. He will be entertaining at the Raw Spirit Festival in Sedona, Arizona September 12-14, 2008. He is a living example of how the raw food diet can enliven and energize. Perhaps it's because his liver is healthier.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari