While the liver itself doesn't "increase" blood volume directly, it plays a vital role in supporting healthy blood cell production and function.
The Liver's Role in Blood Health
The liver is crucial for maintaining healthy blood. Here's how:
- Source of Essential Nutrients: The liver is an excellent source of both iron and vitamin B12. (Liver is an excellent source of both iron and vitamin B12, which work in combination to keep your blood cells in good working condition). These nutrients are essential for the proper function of blood cells.
- Iron Storage: The liver stores iron, which is a key component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
- Vitamin B12: The liver also stores Vitamin B12, which is necessary for red blood cell formation.
- Historically Used to Treat Anemia: According to the reference, eating beef liver was one of the earliest treatments for pernicious anemia. (In fact, one of the earliest treatments for pernicious anemia was to regularly eat beef liver.)
Essentially, by providing and storing iron and vitamin B12, the liver indirectly supports the production of healthy red blood cells, a vital component of blood.
