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5. Bilirubin

One of the main waste compounds that bile helps the body eliminate is bilirubin. Red blood cells contain the red pigment hemoglobin, which in turn contains heme. When the body begins to break down red blood cells, it strips heme molecules from the hemoglobin. Then, through various processes, the heme becomes biliverdin. Though biliverdin can have many effects, the body usually breaks it down further into bilirubin. The yellow pigment in bilirubin is responsible for the yellow coloration of bruises and jaundice.

Bilirubin bile body BlackJack3D / Getty Images

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