As the largest internal organ in your body, your liver plays many crucial roles that support your health and well-being. Taking care of your liver, then, is of utmost importance and should be high on your health priority list. If you have fatty liver disease or are looking for ways to detoxify and cleanse, you may not know that you can use essential oils for this purpose.

Why Is Your Liver Important?

Your liver, which is nearly the same size as a football, plays vital roles in the digestion of food, storing energy for later use, and filtering your blood of toxins and wastes. The bile produced by your liver allows you to digest the fats in your diet, access essential nutrients like iron, and break down hormones produced by your endocrine system.

Your liver removes toxins, medications, alcohol, and other pollutants, as well. Without your liver, your body would not be able to process and absorb nutrients and balance your use of sugars, fat, and proteins. In short, your liver gives you life, which is why “live” is included in its name.

What is Fatty Liver Disease?

Your liver naturally contains some amount of fat, which is necessary for its healthy function. However, too much fat in your liver can cause issues. If your liver’s weight is between five and ten percent fat, you have fatty liver disease.

When you have a fatty liver, your body is no longer able to handle fat effectively. Your liver is storing excess fat instead of releasing it for use as energy, for storage elsewhere, or for elimination. There are several types of this disease, including alcoholic fatty liver, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and acute fatty liver, which is rare but occurs in pregnant women.