How does your liver filter toxins from the blood?

The liver filters toxins through several mechanisms. Blood from the digestive system flows through the portal vein into the liver, where specialized cells called hepatocytes chemically transform harmful substances. This process, called biotransformation, uses enzymes to convert fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble compounds that can be excreted through urine or bile. The liver also contains Kupffer cells, which are immune cells that physically engulf and destroy bacteria, dead cells, and foreign particles. Many toxins are neutralized through a two-phase process. Phase one uses cytochrome P450 enzymes to break down substances, and phase two attaches molecules like glutathione to make the byproducts easier to eliminate. The resulting waste exits through bile into the intestines or through the kidneys via urine.