Bilirubin is a natural yellow substance that forms when old red blood cells break down in our bodies. Bilirubin is like a helpful waste product that needs to be removed. Our liver does a fantastic job of clearing it out, and then it’s sent out of our bodies through the digestive system.
Sometimes, if there’s a problem with the liver or other parts of this process, bilirubin can build up and make our skin and eyes turn yellow, which we call jaundice. But most of the time, our bodies handle bilirubin just fine, keeping us healthy and happy.
