How does the liver clean your blood?

The liver filters blood coming from the digestive tract before it circulates to the rest of the body. It does this through hepatocytes, specialized liver cells that chemically neutralize toxins, drugs, alcohol, and metabolic waste products. These cells use enzymes to break down harmful substances into water-soluble compounds that can be excreted through bile or urine. The liver also removes bacteria and old red blood cells through Kupffer cells, which are immune cells lining the liver's blood vessels. Additionally, it converts ammonia, a toxic byproduct of protein metabolism, into urea, which the kidneys then filter out. Bile produced by the liver carries waste products into the intestines for elimination through stool.