How the Body Detoxifies

Lindsey Elmore, PharmD, BCPS
4 min readFeb 25, 2019

Despite our best efforts to avoid toxins, encountering them is a fact of life. They are in the air we breathe, water we drink, foods we consume, products we use on our bodies and in our homes, medicines we take. . .the list goes on. Removal of these toxins is a natural process of our bodies. Here is a look at how the body detoxifies.

What is Detoxification?

According to Merriam-Webster, detoxification is the process of removing a harmful substance (such as a toxin). Our bodies have an effective detoxification system that involves 3 primary organs.

The Liver

The liver’s major function is filtering toxic substances to prevent them from passing into your bloodstream. Thus, the liver is our first line of defense against toxins.

The Kidneys

The kidneys’ role in detoxification is the constant filtration of blood and excretion of toxins in the form of urine.

The Colon

The colon’s main role is to flush out toxic chemicals. In other words, it is the “dumping station” for the liver, kidneys, and lymph system. In average person’s…

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Lindsey Elmore, PharmD, BCPS

Dr. Lindsey Elmore makes science simple and writes about essential oils, food, and supplements.