What is bile?

Bile is a yellow-green liquid made by your liver that helps your body digest fatty foods.

Think of your stomach and small intestine like a washing machine. When you eat fatty foods like cheese or butter, it’s like putting in a heavy, oily shirt. Water alone doesn’t wash the oil off. You need detergent. Bile is that detergent.

Your liver makes bile and stores it in a small sac called the gallbladder. When you eat, the gallbladder squeezes bile into your intestines. The bile breaks big fat globules into tiny droplets. This makes it easy for digestive enzymes to break down the fat so your body can use it for energy.

Without bile, fats would just slide right through you. You might see undigested fat in your diaper or toilet. It keeps your digestion smooth and gives you energy from the foods you love.

Fun fact: Bile also helps your body get rid of old red blood cells and waste products.