The detoxification system consists of a number of different organs working together to purge toxins from the body. The chief detoxification organ is the liver. Located to the right of the stomach just above the belly, the liver filters and reduces toxic substances in the blood into chemical compounds that can then be expelled through the skin, lungs, and digestive tract.

Various nutrients are needed for the liver to carry out its two-stage filtration process. Phase I nutrients include Vitamin B6, B12, and glutathione, while Phase II nutrients include Vitamin C, glycine, glutamine, and several more. A lack of any of these nutrients in the body can inhibit liver filtration, so it’s important to make sure you are consuming enough of them from foods and supplements if needed.

Another key player in the detoxification process is the lymph nodes. Found throughout the body, lymph nodes filter a clear fluid called lymph, which comes from blood plasma. Lymph may contain harmful pathogens such as viruses and bacteria, which the lymph nodes then eliminate. In addition, lymph nodes also filter out cellular waste and cancerous cells.