By Dr. Gianfranco De Angelis
An organ often overlooked
The liver is undoubtedly one of the most important organs (given the complexity of the work it does) and at the same time more delicate than the human body.
Many athletes have a religious cure for their body for aesthetic purposes, they give up alcohol, manipulated foods, they don't smoke, they lead a strict lifestyle, but then they turn out to be inconsistent, resorting to steroids and drugs of any kind as long as they improve performance . As we all know, steroids act on the liver, which is forced to undergo a series of distortions that upset its precise biological balance, with the related and inevitable consequences. Another danger that the liver runs is to be intoxicated by the large amount of proteins mistakenly introduced by athletes in the (wrong) attempt to increase muscle mass.
However, any diet that is too rich in a certain nutrient at the expense of others could cause liver damage. To better understand the complexity and functions of this organ we will give a brief explanation of a physiological type. The liver is a gland that carries out so many and complex physiological functions that it becomes one of the most important organs of our body. The multiple aspects of hepatic activity can be summarized as follows: metabolic function, antitoxic function, hematopoietic function, circulation regulation function, excretion function. In order not to dwell too much I will only talk about the metabolic function, the one that interests us most closely.
Metabolic functions of the liver
Carbohydrate metabolism. The liver has the important function of maintaining a constant level of glucose in the blood; in this sense it plays a leading role: in fact it transforms the glucose coming from the intestine into glycogen which, in this form, is stored. It also transforms excess glucose into reserve fats, and finally has the right to release glucose from its glycogen, maintaining the optimal level of glucose in the blood.
As far as protein metabolism is concerned, the liver is of paramount importance, since it synthesizes them. In addition, it largely ensures the catabolism of amino acids. We also remember that the production of plasma proteins takes place in the liver.
Lipid metabolism. The liver intervenes favoring the oxidation processes of fatty acids, also contributing to the transformation of the fats themselves.
From this brief but interesting picture, it is clear that the liver supplies our body with all the vital substances it needs: the proteins for its growth and to constantly replace the cells that are destroyed and the nitrogen compounds that degrade; carbohydrates to maintain a constant level of glucose in the blood so that it acts as a fuel for energy functions; fats, for a longer-lasting source of energy and for some chemical-biological roles (let us remember, for example, that some vitamins act only thanks to the presence of fats and that steroid hormones derive from cholesterol).
Through nutrition, nutrients are taken, which, after some transformation processes, are prepared by that very efficient chemical laboratory which is the liver in order to be used where and when they are required. If there is a request (energy, plastic etc.) from the body and the liver does not have that specific substance available, it will be forced to "borrow" it from another substance, transforming it to adapt it to the needs of the case, and to provide it for use. This is why it is necessary to follow a balanced diet .
Food tips
It must be borne in mind that all "difficult" foods to digest produce a great commitment to the liver: in this regard, fats of animal origin, fried foods, etc. are not recommended.
The excess fats (besides being toxic and poorly tolerated) tend to accumulate in the liver and, unless required, are subsequently stored as reserves in the storage sites (adipocytes) and in the blood (high cholesterol and high triglycerides). Although one of the hepatic functions is the elimination, in the form of bile salts of excess cholesterol in the body, it is always good to limit the intake of foods rich in fat, which overload the digestion and therefore the liver. As an alternative to using animal fats, olive oil is highly recommended. Furthermore, manipulated foods, preserved foods (especially those with dangerous chemical additives and toxic dyes) are not recommended. It is highly recommended to eat natural foods as they are integral to their vitamin-mineral heritage and get used to preparing them in a simple way. Try to eat seasonal fruit, that is fresh, rich in sugars (fructose), which has a beneficial and protective action against the liver, improving its efficiency and increasing its resistance to damage factors.
We must also follow a very simple rule to be applied to the table, that is eating calmly, taking time to chew food well.
Before concluding, we can therefore add that the liver does not get sick easily, but it is possible to poison it quickly: poor digestion, an unhygienic work environment, an incorrect lifestyle, etc. are sufficient. It is evident that frequent intoxications inevitably lead to the malfunctioning of the liver and to possible diseases and morbid alterations.
The true athlete, who places his health and physical efficiency above all other goals, has the duty to safeguard the health of his liver with a perfect lifestyle. The importance of having a perfectly efficient liver, indirectly benefits again, not only in the physical and organic state of health, but also in the muscular progress that is always subordinated to the liver function.
