What are the best foods for gallbladder health. How can you manage gallbladder pain through diet. What foods should you avoid if you have gallbladder issues. What dietary changes can help prevent gallstones.

Understanding the Gallbladder and Its Function

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver. Its primary function is to store bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver, and release it into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of fats. When the gallbladder is affected by disease or develops stones, it can lead to various uncomfortable symptoms and complications.

What is gallbladder disease?

Gallbladder disease is a term used to describe several conditions that can affect this small but important organ. These conditions may include:

• Gallstones
• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Cholelithiasis (presence of gallstones)
• Cholesterolosis (buildup of cholesterol in the gallbladder wall)
• Biliary dyskinesia (improper functioning of the gallbladder)

The Importance of Diet in Managing Gallbladder Issues

Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining gallbladder health and managing existing problems. A well-planned gallbladder diet can help alleviate symptoms, prevent complications, and support overall digestive health.

How does diet impact gallbladder function?

The foods we consume directly affect the production and composition of bile, as well as the frequency and intensity of gallbladder contractions. A diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol can increase the risk of gallstone formation and exacerbate existing gallbladder issues. Conversely, a balanced diet rich in fiber and nutrients can promote healthy gallbladder function and reduce the likelihood of complications.

Foods to Avoid with Gallbladder Problems

When dealing with gallbladder issues, it’s essential to be mindful of the foods that can trigger or worsen symptoms. Here’s a list of items to avoid or limit in your diet:

• Saturated fats (found in red meat, full-fat dairy products, and certain vegetable oils)
• Fried and greasy foods
• Processed and packaged snacks
• High-cholesterol foods (such as egg yolks, organ meats, and shellfish)
• Refined sugars and artificial sweeteners
• Caffeine and alcohol
• Spicy foods (for some individuals)

Why are these foods problematic for gallbladder health?

Foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol can increase the risk of gallstone formation and exacerbate inflammation in the gallbladder. Processed foods often contain unhealthy fats and additives that can strain the digestive system. Caffeine and alcohol can stimulate gallbladder contractions, potentially causing pain in individuals with gallstones or other gallbladder issues.

Recommended Foods for a Healthy Gallbladder Diet

A gallbladder-friendly diet should focus on nutrient-dense, low-fat foods that support digestive health. Here are some foods to include in your meal plan:

• Fruits and vegetables (especially leafy greens)
• Lean proteins (such as skinless poultry, fish, and plant-based proteins)
• Whole grains (like brown rice, quinoa, and oats)
• Legumes and beans
• Low-fat dairy products (in moderation)
• Healthy fats (such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts in small amounts)
• Herbs and spices (for flavor without added fats)

How do these foods benefit gallbladder health?

These foods are generally low in saturated fats and cholesterol, which helps reduce the strain on the gallbladder. High-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help regulate cholesterol levels and promote healthy digestion. Lean proteins provide essential nutrients without excessive fat content, while healthy fats in moderation can support overall health without overburdening the gallbladder.

Meal Planning and Portion Control for Gallbladder Health

Proper meal planning and portion control are crucial aspects of a gallbladder-friendly diet. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day to avoid overloading your digestive system.
2. Stick to regular meal times to promote consistent gallbladder function.
3. Use smaller plates to help control portion sizes.
4. Include a variety of foods in your diet to ensure you’re getting a range of nutrients.
5. Drink plenty of water to support digestion and overall health.

How does meal timing affect gallbladder function?

Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help regulate bile production and release, reducing the strain on the gallbladder. Consistent meal times can also help establish a regular pattern of gallbladder contractions, potentially reducing the risk of complications.

Cooking Methods for a Gallbladder-Friendly Diet

The way you prepare your food can significantly impact its effect on your gallbladder. Here are some cooking methods to consider:

• Steaming
• Boiling
• Grilling
• Baking
• Roasting (with minimal oil)
• Poaching

These methods generally require little to no added fats, making them ideal for a gallbladder-friendly diet. Avoid deep-frying, pan-frying with excessive oil, and cooking methods that require large amounts of butter or other saturated fats.

What are some tips for flavoring food without relying on fats?

To add flavor to your meals without relying on fats, consider using herbs, spices, citrus juices, vinegars, and low-sodium broths. These can enhance the taste of your food without putting additional strain on your gallbladder.

Supplements and Herbal Remedies for Gallbladder Support

While a healthy diet should be the primary focus for managing gallbladder health, some supplements and herbal remedies may offer additional support. However, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before adding any supplements to your regimen.

What supplements may be beneficial for gallbladder health?

Some supplements that may support gallbladder function include:

• Vitamin C (may help reduce the risk of gallstones)
• Lecithin (may help dissolve cholesterol)
• Milk thistle (may support liver and gallbladder health)
• Turmeric (may have anti-inflammatory properties)
• Peppermint (may help relieve digestive discomfort)

Remember, these supplements are not a substitute for a healthy diet and should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

Living with Gallbladder Issues: Lifestyle Considerations

In addition to dietary changes, certain lifestyle modifications can help manage gallbladder problems and promote overall digestive health:

• Maintain a healthy weight (obesity is a risk factor for gallbladder issues)
• Exercise regularly to support digestion and overall health
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques or mindfulness practices
• Avoid rapid weight loss, which can increase the risk of gallstone formation
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day

How does exercise impact gallbladder health?

Regular physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight, improve digestion, and potentially reduce the risk of gallstone formation. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling.

Post-Gallbladder Surgery Diet and Recovery

If you’ve undergone gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy), your diet will need to be adjusted during the recovery period and potentially long-term. Here’s what you need to know:

What should you eat immediately after gallbladder surgery?

In the first few days after surgery, focus on:

• Clear liquids (water, broth, apple juice)
• Gradually introduce soft, low-fat foods
• Small, frequent meals
• Avoid fatty, spicy, and gas-producing foods

As you recover, you can slowly reintroduce a wider variety of foods, but continue to follow a low-fat diet for several weeks or as advised by your doctor.

How long does it take to adjust to life without a gallbladder?

Most people adjust to life without a gallbladder within a few weeks to a few months. During this time, your body learns to regulate bile flow directly from the liver to the small intestine. Some individuals may need to make permanent dietary changes to manage symptoms like diarrhea or indigestion.

Living with gallbladder issues or recovering from gallbladder surgery requires patience and attention to your diet and lifestyle. By following a gallbladder-friendly diet, maintaining healthy habits, and working closely with your healthcare provider, you can manage symptoms effectively and support your overall digestive health. Remember that everyone’s needs are different, so it’s essential to personalize your approach based on your specific condition and medical advice.

Gallbladder Diet: Foods for Gallbladder Problems

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The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped sac located underneath your liver. Your gallbladder’s main function is to store the bile produced by your liver and pass it along to the small intestine. Bile helps you digest fats in your small intestine.

The term “gallbladder disease” is used for several types of conditions that can affect your gallbladder.

Read more here.

In my last post I told you that my husband was in hospital but I did not have the time to explain in detail what happened.      You can read about it in my other blog.

I have also had my gallbladder removed several years ago and I remember that I had to avoid fatty food, coconut, alcohol, caffeine, dairy etc.

However, when I found out that my husband also had stones in his gallbladder I did an online search to refresh my memory.  The information I found is contradictory and although in one site you may read that you should eat something, in another you are told not to eat it.

I also tried to find relevant recipes but there were only a few, which I did not like, so this is one of the reasons I decided to record what I have prepared for my husband, which is based on the list and translation of the general instructions given by his doctor.

Disclaimer:  

I’m not a doctor, I’m not a surgeon and I’m not a dietician.  Each person may have different symptoms, so please consult your doctor before following this diet.

General instructions:

Ιf you have gallbladder disease and/or gallstones, following a healthy gallbladder diet can have a large impact on your health.   A gallbladder diet is similar to a “regular” healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, minimal animal fats such as dairy, butter, fatty meat, and eggs, no fried foods and  “white” and processed foods should be avoided.

Foods that are recommended in diseases of the gallbladder should be low in fat (both saturated and unsaturated) and low in cholesterol and rich in fiber.

Saturated fats are found in red fatty meat, as well as animal fats such as full fat dairy products such as cream, butter, cheese, suet, tallow, lard, egg yolk, as well as certain vegetable products such as cocoa (chocolate), coconut oil, palm oil and hydrogenated oils (margarine, shortening). White meat (chicken, turkey) contain smaller amounts of saturated fats. Lean meats in general contain moderate amounts of saturated fats.

Saturated fats should be avoided in all chronic and acute cholecystopathies.  In acute cases such as acute cholecystitis, gallbladder colic, cholangitis, empyema and gallbladder mucocele (hydrops), acute pancreatitis they should be totally avoided.

Cholesterol is present in large amounts in egg yolk, seafood (scallops, shrimps, prawns, crayfish, lobsters, octopus, squid, etc.), offal, kidneys, liver of animals and poultry and all fat meats and their products.

It should be noted that the consumption of foods that do not contain cholesterol (such as pasta, pastries, meats, oils, breads, etc. ) causes the body to an overproduction of cholesterol and saturated fat, which ultimately is about the same as if one consumes foods that contain fat and cholesterol.

Food rich in cholesterol should be avoided in chronic cholecystopathies such as chronic cholecystitis, simple cholelithiasis, the cholesterinosis and adenomyosis of the gall bladder in acute situations where the saturated fats should be totally avoided.

Unsaturated fat is found in vegetable oils (soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, etc.), nuts and fish. Olive oil contains mainly unsaturated and some saturated fat.

Unsaturated fat should be avoided and these acute diseases of the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis, gallbladder colic, gallbladder empyema, acute cholangitis and acute pancreatitis). In chronic diseases such as simple cholelithiasis and chronic cholecystitis, unsaturated fats can be consumed in small quantities and as long as the chronic situation does not become acute.

A healthy gallbladder diet

The meals should be taken three times a day and should always be in small portions.  Additionally they should be cooked in a healthy way, without many sauces, salt and spices.

Sweets, sugar, pasta, white bread and bread products and dried legumes should be consumed in small quantities because they are fattening.

The same diet should be followed even after cholecyctectomy both in cases of laparoscopic or open surgery for a period of 1 1/2 – 2 months and always according to the doctor’s advice.

After surgery, your diet should transition from liquids to soft solid foods. This diet is to reintroduce food back into your system after having surgery on your digestive tract.

After the lapse of the two months you can gradually  add up food to your diet but limiting your fat intake as your liver still produces bile and continuously drips it into your digestive tract.

It is best to consume more “good” vegetable oils which should replace animal fat but care should be taken to consume them in moderation because these will also increase body fat.

Nutritional recommendations in Cholecystopathy

What to eat and What to avoid

Potatoes, rice and pasta without butter with a little bit of olive oil of other “good” vegetable oil (in acute case the use of any oil may be terminated)	Fatty meat, such as lamb, duck, fatty minced meat, animal fat, charcuterie, tinned food, offal, liver, fatty meat products
Raw or cooked vegetables, fresh or frozen with a little or no olive oil.  Dried legumes in small quantities with a little olive oil	Meat soups, chicken soups, fish soups, fried food in general, fatty pies with butter or too much oil, butter, shortening, too much oil, egg yolks, coconut oil
Lean meat in very small quantities, baked, grilled or broiled without any broth (beef, veal, pork or lamb or goat)	Fish roe, caviar, bottagra
Chicken, turkey, fish, grilled, broiled, boiled without the skin, in regular portions.	Skin of poultry, turkey or fish
Skimmed milk, low fat cheese, low fat yoghurt, low fat feta. Egg whites.	Cakes, cookies, biscuits, desserts with butter, cream, cream cheese, eggs or too much oil
Bread, rusks, cake without butter and little sugar. Ripe fruit, preferably without the skin	Alcoholic drinks. Avocados
Coffee, tea, herbal tea, vinegar.	Full fat milk or full fat dairy products
Spices in moderation, condiments in small quantities provided the food does not contain butter, eggs, fatty oils etc.	Fatty sauces with butter, cream, eggs etc

When I spoke with my husband on Monday morning and he told me that  the doctor told him he could come home, I was overjoyed firstly because my husband would come back home but also because I hated getting out in the cold, especially in the afternoon, after lying to rest for an hour.

This year was the worst ever winter I can  remember in Athens.  I compare it to the negatives in old films where you see everything reversed.

Everything is upside down.  Our winters are usually mild, with a few days rainfall, a few days with low temperature around 10 – 12 degrees Centrigrade and the majority of days are sunny with temperatures around 12 – 17 degrees in January, around 18 – 22 or even 25 degrees in February and March, which sometimes is cold around 12 – 17 degrees but with lots of sunny days as well.

This year it was exactly the opposite.  We had long stretches of consecutive rainy days, a lot of windy and cold, cloudy, consecutive days for weeks with very low temperatures, not exceeding 15 degrees.  We did not see the ‘Halcyon days’ during January and the only sunny weekend I can remember was the one we went to Sparta.

I know some people may be laughing with us because they are used to temperatures below zero but for God’s sake, we are in Athens, so we’re not talking about freezing weather and our houses are not insulated properly for cold weather.

When it snows in Athens everything paralyzes because we never have tyres suitable for snow nor do we have chains for our tyres.  All our clothes are suitable for milder winters, so it’s natural to feel the cold even more.

Apart from all this cold weather, we did not have the best heating conditions even at home.  This year we had to cut down on heating expenses because of the economic crisis so we only had heating for a couple of hours during the evening.    During the day sometimes it’s colder inside than outside.

Going to the hospital every day by public transportation was very difficult.  I left home dressed very warm because our home was like living in Siberia, as due to the economic crisis, our central heating was on for just a couple of hours in the evening.

Reaching the hospital, was the opposite.   Upon entering the hospital, it was like suddenly entering a tropical zone with 30 degrees C inside!!

The worst part was the one leaving in the evening to go back home and waiting at the bust stop for the bus to come!!  Some times, I had to wait about half an hour!

Any way, I am glad this is now behind us and hopefully, I shall be posting some new recipes I have made for my husband.

Until then I have updated some older recipes because even if they are healthy, these have to be adjusted not to have many spices, eggs, full fat dairy etc.

Recipes adapted for Gallbadder Diet:

Deconstructed Pastitsio with Anthotyro and Paprika

Chicken with Leeks, Greek Yoghurt and Pesto 

Anginares (Artichokes) a la Polita

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Courgettes, Spinach & Pesto

Perka sti Ladokolla (Perch en Papillote) with Rosemary & Garlic

Greek Fava Soup

Vegan Borscht (Beet Soup)

Artichoke & Celeriac Soup

Makaronia me Kima (spaghetti with Meat Sauce)

Milokopi (Bearded Umbrine) with Roasted Vegetables

Chicken or Turkey Burgers

Pumpkin-Potato Puree

Ingredients

What you can eat:

• Bread and bread products, rusks, crackers etc., without butter.
• Eggless small shaped pasta (preferably boiled and served with some olive oil) or boiled rice.
• Lean meat (veal, chicken, turkey), roasted or boiled.
• Lean fish (perch, pandora, cod, sole, mullet), grilled or boiled.
• Skimmed milk and products made from skim milk (low fat cheese, myzithra or other low fat cheese), Greek yoghurt (without the top crust), rice pudding, other puddings in small servings.
• Boiled eggs, only the egg white.
• Raw olive oil.
• Leafy greens boiled and served with olive oil, boiled zucchini, carrots, artichokes, fresh tomatoes without the skin.
• Boiled or baked potatoes or mashed potatoes.
• Ripe fruit, compotes, jams, fruit juices, jellies.
• Beverages (light tea, coffee, camomile).
• Desserts without butter, eggs yolks or heavy cream.

Instructions

Avoid eating and drinking:

• Food rich in cholesterol (lamb brains, egg yolks, butter, offal, sweetbread, cocoa,
• fatty meat or fatty fish).
• Pork, game, canned food.
• Sauces and spices.
• Ful fat milk and products made of full fat milk, cheese.
• Fried and sauteed.
• Charcuterie, salted cod, herring, sardines, pickles, seafood, cuttlefish, shellfish,
• octopuses, mussels, oysters.
• Olives, aubergines, okra, onions, cabbage, radishes, cucumbers, legumes, nuts.
• Cold food or drinks.
• Wine and other spirits.

Did you make this recipe?

Tried this recipe? Tag me @ivyliac and use the hashtag #kopiaste!

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi!

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Foods to Eat (and Avoid!) to Take Care of Your Gallbladder

You likely don’t get up each day and give your gallbladder much thought, right? Maybe your heart, digestive system, and even your joints and your muscles, but your gallbladder? Eh, not so much. That is unless it starts to give you trouble. Then, it’s likely all you think about. But we should all know how to take care of our gallbladder since it’s important for our overall health and can greatly be affected by how well we take care of ourselves.

First though, what does the gallbladder do and where is located?

Gallbladder 101

Not to be confused with your actual bladder, the gallbladder sits right under your liver. Shaped like a tiny pear, the gallbladder stores bile that’s produced by your liver during digestion. Before you sit down and eat each delicious meal or snack, your gallbladder is full of bile. After you eat, it stores bile from the fat you eat, and starts to fill up until it’s full. As digestion and elimination hum along as normal, the gallbladder releases the stored bile into your small intestine where it enters into ducts (tubes). As it does, the bile helps digest the fats you eat. Though people can have their gallbladder removed and be fine, some people who have it removed may find they have issues with diarrhea and malabsorption.  The take-away: Your gallbladder is there for a reason, so take care of it however possible.

Symptoms to Look Out For

If a person’s gallbladder isn’t functioning normally, it’s likely due to inflammation in the gallbladder, trouble digesting high amounts of fat, or could be because a duct in the small intestine has become clogged. If a duct is clogged, this causes a back-up of bile, the condition known as gallstones. Gallstones can cause immense pain after a high-fat meal because the bile storage and release process aren’t functioning as they should. Symptoms of gallstones include extreme pain after eating, nausea, vomiting, pain for days right under your ribs, and poor digestion after meals. You can have tests done at your trusted health professional’s office to see if you have gallstones. If so, you’ll have to have removed and will need to watch your diet carefully by eating a low-fat diet. If you don’t test positive for gallstones or another disorder related to your gallbladder, you may just be eating too many high-fat or inflammatory foods. If this is the case, switching up your diet is easy to do.

Foods to Eat for Your Gallbladder

Generally, not all fats are bad, so don’t get the impression you need to eat a fat-free diet. However, maintaining a healthy weight is key to taking care of your gallbladder since obesity increases your risk for gallbladder disease. The key is to choose smaller amounts of fat at each meal and eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and legumes (if you tolerate them), and modest amounts of nuts, seeds, avocados, coconuts, and olives (no more than 2 tablespoons per meal, but for some, it may be less). Avoid oils that are more refined than the whole foods they come from and are very hard on your gallbladder, especially when eaten in excess.

Also, focus on adding fiber to your meals since a low-fiber diet is often associated with gallstones or gallbladder problems.

Here are some high-fiber foods to choose:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Leafy Greens
• Herbs
• Celery
• Carrots
• Sweet Potatoes
• Artichokes
• Onions
• Asparagus
• Apples
• Oranges
• Bananas
• Berries
• Zucchini
• Pineapple
• Papaya
• Cherries
• Whole Grains
• Beans
• Legumes

Foods to Avoid

Foods to avoid include animal fats, which lead to high cholesterol and are very hard on the body to digest, fried foods, processed foods, and oils. This will also help you naturally manage your weight, heart, and overall health much easier. Many researchers believe that gallbladder problems stem from the Western diet that is high in animal fats and processed, refined carbohydrates (which can also lead to obesity and gallbladder problems). You can follow our healthy, low-fat vegan meal plan if you’re unsure of what to eat to naturally set you up for success.

So, as with most health tips, when it comes to taking care of your gallbladder, healthy, whole foods from plants win again. Thank goodness, because we love them!

Try some of our recipes to get started and see our Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for more helpful information.

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Gallbladder Diet and Natural Treatment Protocol

Fact Checked

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This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information.

With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.

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This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies.

Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased.

The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.

By Jillian Levy, CHHC

September 5, 2017

Many adults suffer from gallbladder problems during middle or late adulthood, especially women, who develop gallstones much more than men do. (1) And cholecystectomy, surgery to remove the gallbladder, is one of the most common operations performed on adults in the United States every year. Yet it’s common for even those who have gallbladder issues to be a bit unsure of what the gallbladder does exactly and that a gallbladder diet can help prevent and treat certain issues.

The gallbladder is a little pear-shaped pouch tucked behind the lobes of the liver. Its main job is to store up the cholesterol-rich bile that’s secreted by the liver, which then helps the body digest fats and lipids within the diet. Of all the people who experience some sort of gallbladder trouble in their lifetimes, roughly 70 percent of the time that trouble is in the form of gallstones, which form when bile contains excessive amounts of cholesterol.

A variety of problems can occur in the gallbladder in addition to the formation of gallbladder stones, such as the development of gallbladder inflammation (called cholecystitis). What types of factors contribute to gallbladder diseases or emergencies? These can include obesity, eating a poor diet that contributes to nutrient deficiencies, rapid weight loss, taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills), food allergies and certain genetic factors.

Some of the warning signs that you may have a gallbladder problem can include pain and signs of swelling around the gallbladder or frequently having digestive problems due to poor absorption of fats. Treatments that can help naturally prevent or resolve gallbladder issues, and very importantly don’t require surgery, include eating an anti-inflammatory gallbladder diet, avoiding refined fats and allergen foods, doing a gallbladder flush to resolve painful stones, and supplementing with anti-inflammatory herbs and enzymes as part of a gallbladder diet.

Gallstones Prevention, Gallbladder Diet and Other Natural Treatments

1. Follow a Gallbladder Diet

The foods below can help reduce gallbladder distress because overall they’re easier for the body to digest, contain only natural fats and supply important nutrients like antioxidants and fiber:

• High-fiber foods — Aim for 30–40 grams of fiber per day, which can help reduce the risk of gallstones. Good sources of fiber that support digestion are soaked/sprouted beans and legumes, nuts, seeds along with fresh veggies and fruit.
• Beets, artichoke and dandelion greens — These vegetables especially help support liver health, have detoxifying effects and can improve bile flow, which breaks down fat. You can also consume more fresh produce from making your own vegetable juices or smoothies. Try to add potassium-rich foods like avocado, leafy greens, tomato, sweet potato and bananas.
• Unrefined healthy fats (including olive or coconut oil) — Coconut oil contains one of the easiest forms of fat for the body to digest, called medium-chained fatty acids. I recommend consuming healthy fats in small amounts over the course of the day, only about one tablespoon of oil at one time, or about two tablespoons of sprouted nuts and seeds. This is because you don’t want to overconsume fats, which puts more stress on the liver and gallbladder. Extra virgin olive oil is another anti-inflammatory fat with many benefits.
• Sprouted nuts and seeds — Sprouted flax, chia, hemp and pumpkin seeds are easier to digest and can reduce inflammation. But only consume one to two tablespoons of sprouted nuts and seeds at a time.
• A diet high in plants, including raw foods — People who eat a gallbladder diet high in raw plants like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds tend to have lower occurrence of gallstones. These foods are naturally high in water, electrolytes, antioxidants and fiber but low in salt and fats. Consuming a vegetarian diet is also associated with decreased gallstone risk, as is avoiding processed meats or allergenic dairy foods.
• Lean protein foods — Including lean sources of organic protein in a gallbladder diet can relieve stress. Consider chicken, turkey, grass-fed beef, bison, wild-caught fish and organic protein powder, including protein from bone broth powder.

On the other hand, gallbladder problem foods to avoid on a gallbladder diet include:

• Fried foods and hydrogenated oils — Fast foods, processed oils, and fatty packaged meats or cheese can be some of the hardest foods to properly digest. To cut the amount of unhealthy fats in your diet, reduce intake of lunch/deli meats, convenience foods like chips or cookies, salami and other cured meats, pork products, processed dairy, and conventional, grain-fed animal meat.
• Sugar and simple carbohydrates — Sugar can increase the likelihood the gallstones due to weight gain and inflammation.
• Foods you might be allergic to — Gallbladder problems are potentially related to food allergies. Potential allergens include dairy products, gluten, shellfish, peanuts or nightshade vegetables.
• Conventional dairy products — These foods are pro-inflammatory and can cause your body to produce more gallstones. This includes cheese, ice cream, pizza, etc.
• High-fat meals — It’s been found that gallbladder attacks often follow heavy meals, and they usually occur in the evening or during the night. Any food high in fat can potentially worsen gallbladder issues. This applies most to refined vegetable oils (like sunflower, safflower, canola, corn, etc.) but can also include even healthy vegetables oils like olive oil in some cases — or even things like almond butter. While having some healthy fats is important, portion control is key. If symptoms become worse when eating even healthy fats, further reduce how much you have at one time or try another type of fat instead.

2. Use Gallbladder Herbs, Acids and Enzymes

In addition to changing your diet, here are other natural gallbladder supplements to reduce pain and inflammation that should coincide with a gallbladder diet:

• Milk thistle (150 milligrams twice daily) — It’s been shown that milk thistle increases bile flow and aids the liver and gallbladder in detoxification. Research has found that milk thistle is a natural hepatoprotective and works in some of the following ways: It has antioxidant activity, is a toxin blockade at the membrane level, enhances protein synthesis, has antifibrotic activity, and is also capable of producing anti-inflammatory or immunomodulating effects. (2)
• Lipase enzymes (two caps with meals) — This enzyme can offer improvements in fat digestion and the use of bile.
• Bile salts or ox bile (500–1,000 milligrams with meals) — Bile salts and ox bile might help improve the breakdown of fats and can greatly improve gallbladder distress.
• Turmeric (1,000 milligrams daily) — Turmeric and its most active compound, curcumin, have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce gallbladder swelling and improve bile flow. (3)
• Dandelion root (500 milligrams with meals) — Dandelion has been used for centuries to improve multiple digestive processes, support health of the liver and regulate use of bile.
• Barberry — This plant extract may help treat GI troubles, fight infections, and cleanse the liver and gallbladder.
• Rosemary oil — Mix three drops of rosemary oil with quarter teaspoon of coconut oil and rub over gallbladder area twice daily to help with cleansing and reduce inflammation.

3. Maintain a Healthy Weight without “Crash Dieting”

Being overweight or obese might increase your chances of having gallbladder problems, such as gallstones. This seems to be especially true in overweight, middle-aged females due to the effects that hormonal changes (especially of estrogen) seem to have on the liver. Obesity has been shown to contribute to higher levels of cholesterol in the liver and can contribute to many different digestive dysfunctions. (4)

Research also shows that people who don’t maintain healthy weight might experience more inflammation and swelling within the gallbladder, especially if they have large amounts of fat around their waists called visceral fat. Tips for safely reaching and staying at a healthy weight (without over-stressing the digestive organs due to “crash dieting”) include:

• Avoiding “yo-yo dieting” (gaining and losing over and over again). Most yo-yo dieting is the result of fad dieting. Research shows that people who lose more than three pounds per week might have a greater chance of getting gallstones than those who lose weight more slowly and without drastic measures. (5)
• Under-eating due to other health concerns, recovering from weight loss surgery or other reasons for rapid weight loss can also contribute to nutrient deficiencies or electrolyte imbalances that stress the liver.
  
• Reach a healthy weight safely by focusing on consuming more high-fiber foods as part of a gallbladder diet, drinking water in place of sweetened beverages, eating mindfully, being more active and controlling stress, which can contribute to hormone imbalances or emotional eating.

4. Exercise Regularly

Stay active throughout adulthood and even into older age to protect yourself against gallstones. (6) This is beneficial for hormonal balance, reducing inflammation, overall digestive health and maintaining a healthy weight without needing to dramatically cut calories. The general recommendation is 30–60 minutes of moderately intense exercise each day, plus several times per week performing strength or full-body HIIT/burst training.

5. Discuss Medications with Your Doctor

If you currently take medications, including oral contraceptives (birth control pills), hormone replacement drugs or cholesterol medications, then discuss with your doctor whether these might be contributing to your gallbladder problems. It’s been found that hormonal medications increase the body’s estrogen stores, which has an influence on cholesterol production. (7)

Common Gallbladder Problems

Gallstones

Some 10 percent to 20 percent of all adults have gallstones, whether they realize it or not. One in every five adults over the age of 65 is believed to have at least one stone. (8) Gallstones that don’t cause symptoms are called asymptomatic, or silent, gallstones. Gallstones (cholelithiasis) are tiny, solid pieces of matter made up of things like calcium and cholesterol deposits that can stick together and become lodged inside the gallbladder. The gallbladder normally contains only liquids and is not meant to store solid matter, which is why even tiny stones rubbing inside the gallbladder can cause pain and inflammation.

When there isn’t enough bile to saturate the cholesterol, the cholesterol begins to crystallize and then forms a solid gallstone. Risk factors for developing gallstones include being a woman over 40, pregnancy or other hormonal changes, diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and having gallstones run in the family.

Gallbladder Inflammation (Cholecystitis)

Cholecystitis is usually caused by gallstones blocking passages leading to and from the gallbladder, leading to bile accumulation, duct problems and sometimes tumors. Bile duct problems can contribute to gallbladder issues, but these are rare and only the cause for distress in about 1 percent of patients who need gallbladder surgery.

Some signs you might be developing gallbladder inflammation are having severe pains in your upper right abdomen, pain radiating to your right shoulder, along with nausea or a fever. (9) The biggest risk associated with cholecystitis is the gallbladder becoming so inflamed that it ruptures — often resulting in surgery, hospitalization, and sometimes use of antibiotics and painkillers combined with several days of fasting.

Might You Need Gallbladder Surgery?

It’s estimated that a whopping 750,000 surgeries are performed every year in North America alone in order to remove patients’ painful gallstones and treat cholecystitis. Surgery is needed most in the occurrence of severe gallbladder inflammation or the development of large gallstones that become very painful. Most gallstones don’t need be removed, however, especially if they don’t cause symptoms (many don’t).

Facts about gallbladder surgery:

• Because cholecystitis can happen over and over again in some patients, surgery to remove the gallbladder is sometimes a last-resort option. Following removal, the gallbladder is not actually needed for survival or digestion because bile can be made to flow into the small intestines. Therefore the gallbladder is said to be a “non-essential organ.” (10)
• A patient having “gallbladder attack” is one reason doctors might choose to perform surgery. Usually one major attack means that more episodes will happen in the future.
• Gallbladder removal surgery is called cholecystectomy, which is performed either invasively or non-invasively. Most often surgery called laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed using a very small camera attached to a tube that’s inserted through tiny incisions in the abdomen.
• In high-risk patients, gallbladder surgery is usually performed within 48 hours of entering the hospital. Recovery can require staying for several days at the hospital afterward.
• Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery is the newer, non-invasive way to remove the gallbladder that leaves behind less scarring and discomfort. It’s still considered an alternative way to remove the gallbladder so it’s not as widely available yet, but we can expect this to change with time.
• Any surgery poses risks for complications or side effects, but overall, research shows gallbladder surgery side effects are rare. Injuring the bile duct can sometimes occur, which causes bile to leak and possibly an infection.
• Other methods, such as ERCP, are also sometimes used by doctors to remove stones in people who cannot undergo surgery. Gallstones can be removed non-surgically with certain medications, but it’s been shown they often don’t work long term without other lifestyle changes, and often gallstones recur within five years after nonsurgical treatment.

If you wish to avoid surgery (and who doesn’t?) in overcoming your gallbladder pain, the thing to do overall is prevent gallbladder trouble in the first place. It’s also very beneficial to follow a gallbladder diet no matter what treatment option you choose, which works best when it’s consumed long-term and helps prevent recurrences.

Precautions with Gallbladder Problems and the Gallbladder Diet

Always get your doctor’s opinion if you suspect you might have gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder. Although it’s rare, complications can include obstruction of the common bile duct, and infection or inflammation that spreads to other organs like the pancreas. These types of serious complications can affect between 10 percent to 15 percent of people with gallstones. (11) Look for signs, such as lots of pain and swelling, tenderness above the gallbladder, and symptoms indicating a high fever.

Final Thoughts 

• Gallbladder problems are most often due to gallstones, hard particles that develop in the gallbladder due to accumulation of bile and too much cholesterol.
• Adults at the highest risk for having gallbladder problems are women over 40, those who are obese or overweight, anyone eating an unhealthy high-fat diet, people taking birth control pills or cholesterol medications, and those with a history of gallbladder issues.
• Gallstones commonly don’t require surgery or even cause any symptoms, but if inflammation of the gallbladder occurs surgery is sometimes needed.
• To help prevent gallstones, “gallbladder attacks” or the need for gallbladder surgery, it’s important to eat an anti-inflammatory gallbladder diet, maintain a healthy weight, exercise and use digestive supplements if necessary.

The information in this article is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.

Four foods to avoid after gallbladder removal

&nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspIndiatimes, Representative Image

New Delhi: Living without a gallbladder can make you prone to certain health problems, especially digestive issues. The truth is that your gallbladder performs several important roles in the body, including fat digestion and assist the removal of toxins that have been broken down by the liver. Most importantly, the gallbladder stores bile produced in the liver until it is needed for digesting fatty foods in the duodenum of the small intestine.

When you have had your gallbladder removed, you may have trouble digesting fat and are likely to experience digestive symptoms, including postcholecystectomy syndrome, following your surgery. Read: Top five cancer-causing foods you might be consuming everyday

And when you no longer have a gallbladder, there is no storage unit for bile, which your liver still produces. Hence, the bile can make its way into your small intestine, which can cause digestive problems, including diarrhoea and abdominal pain. So, you need to be more watchful about your diet, which includes eating foods that are good and easy to digest, including fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lean protein, etc.

You may want to remove these foods from your menu list to avoid discomfort if you are living without a gallbladder:

They may taste delicious but fried foods are hard to your digestive health. Avoid eating foods that have a high-fat content such as French fries and potato chips, fried chicken and chicken cutlet, fried fish, etc. Also Read: Want to lose weight fast? Never eat these 3 fat-storing foods

If you’ve had your gallbladder removed, greasy foods are to be avoided for the same reason that fried stuff is to be restricted. You will want to avoid greasy foods like pizza, hamburgers, bacon, heavy or creamed gravies, which are packed with calories and cannot be digested comfortably by your digestive tract.

Spicy foods are tasty and they definitely give your tongue a little pleasure or a fiery blast when you eat them. But they can irritate an already-inflamed gallbladder or cause problems in people without gallbladders, although not all spices cause acidity or inflammation. So it would be a wise idea to be cautious with spicy foods if you develop a gallbladder problem or have gallbladder surgery. Also Read: Liver flush for weight loss – Eat these 5 foods to burn stomach fat

You’ll want to avoid or limit intake of vegetable oils that are excessively high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can be detrimental to health if consumed in a large quantity. You need an optimal balance of omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid using vegetable oils such as canola oil, corn oil, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, etc, in your cooking.

Vegetable oils can also be found in mayonnaise, store-bought salad dressings, etc.

Instead, opt for extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil which are good sources of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. If you suspect a gallbladder problem, eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and foods high in fibre.

5 Tips For Avoiding Discomfort After Your Gallbladder Removal: David L. Chengelis, MD: Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon

The gallbladder is an oval-shaped, 4-inch-long organ that’s linked to your liver. Its job is to concentrate bile from your liver and release that bile into your small intestine to help break down food.

When you develop painful gallstones or your gallbladder gets infected, it may have to be removed — a procedure called a cholecystectomy.

When you have your gallbladder, bile is able to effortlessly flow into your small intestine and break down whatever you consume. You can certainly live without a gallbladder, but you have to make a few dietary changes in order to avoid discomfort after the procedure.

What to do after gallbladder surgery

So you arrive home after having your gallbladder removed and wonder what’s next. What should you eat and what should you stay well away from? Here are five tips to help you avoid discomfort after your surgery:

Limit your diet right after surgery

Within the first few days after surgery, limit your diet to clear liquids, gelatin, and broth.

Add solid foods gradually

After the initial recovery stage, gradually add solid foods back to your diet, but limit it to small meals of non-spicy, low-fat items. Aim for foods that give you a maximum of 3 grams of fat in a single serving.

Keep a journal of your diet

This can help you identify which foods have an adverse effect on you. Keep snacks and meals plain and simple during the first three to four weeks after surgery so you can figure out which foods cause discomfort.

Fiber is important

After surgery, you can start to re-introduce fibrous foods to your diet, but take things slow. If you attempt to include too much fiber, such as cruciferous vegetables, nuts, cereals, and legumes, you may experience cramps, bloating, and diarrhea.

Avoid high-fat and fried foods

Around 10% of people who have had their gallbladder taken out report ongoing digestive problems. The most common side effect, though, is frequent bowel movements. As you have smaller meals, choose low-fat options, too. Stay away from fried foods, gas-causing foods, and high-fat foods.

Extra tips for extra comfort

Making a few adjustments to your diet after gallbladder removal surgery can go a long way toward a smoother, faster recovery. Here are some extra tips to help you avoid discomfort after gallbladder removal surgery:

• Substitute basic ingredients — for instance, an egg substitute made with water and flax seeds, or applesauce as a butter substitute when baking
• Consider a vegetarian diet because dairy and meat are harder to digest when you don’t have a gallbladder
• Keep fit — exercise keeps you at a healthy weight and aids digestion

It’s going to be OK

Having your gallbladder removed isn’t as daunting as it may sound. But you should aim to make the recommended lifestyle changes if you want to avoid problems with digestion during your recovery.

The good news is that you only need to follow some of the dietary restrictions for a few weeks or months after your surgery. But if you want to improve your overall health and aid digestion in the long-run, consider sticking with your new diet.

The changes we’ve recommended above, like including low-fat variants and adding fiber to your diet will help you immensely and reduce your risk of digestive issues.

What to do if you experience gallbladder problems

As you age, your gallstones, which are hard deposits of digestive fluid in your gallbladder, become more of a problem. Surgeons remove hundreds of thousands of gallbladders every year.

If you are experiencing pain and discomfort associated with gallstones, it’s time to book an appointment with David L. Chengelis, MD, at Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, PC.

Gear up against gallstones with the right foods

Gallstones can be formed due to unhealthy eating habits and obesity.

Written by Kristina Das | Updated : July 20, 2018 8:09 PM IST

Do you often feel mild pain on the upper-right section of your abdomen? If yes, then you must consult a doctor soon as you might be suffering from a gallbladder problem. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped small organ that stores and releases bile (a combination of fluids, cholesterol and fats produced by the liver) to help your body to digest fats. The gallbladder delivers bile into the small intestine, which allows fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients to be absorbed easily into the bloodstream. It is located just below the liver in the upper-right section of your abdomen. It is our body’s silent soldier. There are various problems which can affect this tiny organ but the most common are gallstones. They are hard crystal-like stones that form in the gallbladder. It is believed to be the result of insufficient bile salts, an increase in bile cholesterol levels and concentrated bile.

The common symptoms of gallstones are a pain in the abdomen, nausea, fever, unusual urine or stools, etc. Gallstones can be formed due to unhealthy eating habits and obesity. However, experts have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause.

TYPES OF GALLSTONES

There are two types of gallstones: Cholesterol stones and pigment Stones.

Cholesterol stones: This is the most common type of gallstone. Yellow-green in colour, they are composed of undissolved cholesterol. However, there could be other components as well.

Pigment stones: Usually darker in colour, these stones are made up of bilirubin and calcium found in bile.

BEING FOOD-WISE

To prevent gallstones plan a diet rich in fibre, iron, and healthy fats. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your meals. Other tips: Never skip your meals, do not opt for crash diets, maintain a healthy weight and avoid excess sugar. Here are some foods that will help you in dealing with those stubborn stones.

Turmeric

The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin has numerous health benefits. It prevents the formation of gallstones by boosting bile flow, which improves fat digestion. Turmeric also helps to reduce cholesterol levels and breaks the elements which might cause gallstones. You can have 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of turmeric per day. Mix it with warm water or milk or you can add it to your food while cooking. You could add some black pepper too to increase its absorption. The active ingredient in black pepper, piperine gives pepper its pungency and enhances the absorption of curcumin.

Word of caution: Turmeric has blood-thinning effects. Talk to your before having it if you are on blood-thinning medication, or are suffering from any bleeding disorder.

Fresh Fruits And Vegetables

Eat fruits and vegetables like apples, beets, lemons, tomatoes and celery which reduce inflammation and detoxifies both the liver and gallbladder. Drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juices will also help. The juice of a raw apple is extremely good as it contains a high amount of pectin (a starch), which not only prevents the formation of new stones but also softens existing gallstones.

Healthy Fats

A healthy dose of monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat lowers the risk of gallstones as it reduces the level of cholesterol in your body. For monounsaturated fat, add olive oil to your foods. Also, eat fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines to supply your body with polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Fibre & Iron Rich Foods

Consuming sufficient dietary fibre prevents the accumulation of cholesterol gallstones. Sweet potatoes, turnips, legumes, oatmeal, barley, asparagus, flaxseeds, oranges, apricots, grapefruit, and mangoes are your go-to foods. The risk of gallstones increases if there is a deficiency of iron in your body. So, start eating iron-rich foods such as kale, sea vegetables, whole grains and spinach to prevent gallstone formation.

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What to do about gallstones

Gallstones are one of the most common digestive problems treated in women.

More than 25 million people in the United States have gallstones, and 65% to 75% of them are women. Fortunately, for most people, gallstones are “silent” — they don’t cause major symptoms. When they do act up, there are effective ways to address the problem.

What are gallstones?

Gallstones begin with bile, a substance that helps with the digestion of fats and the absorption of certain vitamins. Bile is made in the liver and carried to the gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ that concentrates and stores it. The fat in food triggers the release of a hormone that causes the gallbladder to contract and release bile into the intestine.

Gallstones are solid lumps that develop when the stored bile crystallizes. Most are less than an inch in diameter, but they can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Most gallstones are composed mainly of cholesterol. The rest — known as pigment stones — are made of calcium salts and bilirubin, a breakdown product of red blood cells.

Cholesterol stones form when liquid bile in the gallbladder contains more cholesterol than the bile salts can dissolve. Cholesterol stones may also develop if the gallbladder doesn’t contract and empty as it should. Pigment stones are associated with certain medical conditions, including liver disease, some types of anemia, and infection of the bile ducts.

Why are women at greater risk?

It’s the effect of female hormones. Estrogen increases cholesterol in the bile, and progesterone slows the emptying of the gallbladder. That may explain why the risk for women, relative to men, decreases with age. Before age 40, women are diagnosed with gallstones almost three times more often than men are (pregnancy, for example, increases the risk), but by age 60, their risk is just slightly greater. Estrogen therapy increases the risk, especially when taken as a pill rather than a patch. Oral contraceptive pills also increase the risk slightly, but only in the first decade of use.

Obesity is another risk factor, because bodies with more fat produce more estrogen. Paradoxically, rapid weight loss also increases the risk, because very low-calorie diets interfere with bile production and therefore cause more crystallization of cholesterol. Gallstones are so common after weight-loss surgery that patients are often advised to have their gallbladders removed at the same time. Gallstones are also more likely to occur in people with diabetes or any condition that decreases gallbladder contractions or intestinal motility, such as a spinal cord injury. Finally, there’s some evidence for genetic vulnerability to gallstone formation.

What are the symptoms?

Most people who have gallstones don’t know it. Their gallstones stay silent and may only be discovered incidentally, through an ultrasound or CT scan performed for other reasons. Symptoms arise mainly when stones pass through a bile duct or obstruct it, causing biliary colic — better known as a gallbladder attack. These attacks occur when the gallbladder contracts (usually in response to a fatty meal) and presses the stones so as to block the gallbladder duct. The main symptom is pain, usually in the right upper or middle abdomen (just below the rib cage), which builds to greatest intensity within an hour and can persist up to several hours. It can be either sharp and knifelike or a deep ache; sometimes it radiates to the back or the right shoulder. There may also be nausea and vomiting. The pain subsides as the gallbladder relaxes.

A stone lodged in a duct can also cause more serious problems, including acute cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), or cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts in the liver). Any of these conditions can cause severe pain and other symptoms, including jaundice, high fever, chills, and vomiting. Treatment usually requires intravenous antibiotics and often surgical removal of the stone.

If you think you’re having a gallbladder attack, your clinician will probably order several blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound (after you fast for at least eight hours). Ultrasound is particularly helpful in diagnosing acute cholecystitis because it also picks up any thickening of the gallbladder wall and indicates the presence of fluid, which may suggest inflammation. Other diagnostic techniques include cholescintigraphy, a radioactive injection used to view a possible blockage of the cystic duct; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the bile ducts; endoscopic ultrasonography, which introduces an ultrasound device through the mouth, esophagus, and stomach to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) to get images of the area; and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, which uses a scope inserted through the mouth to the duodenum to view the biliary ducts.

How are gallstones treated?

Gallstones should be treated only if they cause symptoms. For recurrent gallbladder attacks, the most effective treatment is surgical removal of the gallbladder, or cholecystectomy. In the past, the standard procedure was surgery requiring a five-inch incision and a hospital stay of up to a week. This approach has largely been replaced by laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in which the gallbladder is removed with instruments inserted through small incisions in the skin. This procedure requires only an overnight hospital stay and a week of recovery at home. However, there’s a slight risk of injuring the bile ducts, and in 5% to 10% of cases, the surgeon may have to switch to an open surgery with a larger incision because of complications.

You can easily live without a gallbladder. The liver produces enough bile for normal digestion. When the gallbladder is removed, bile simply flows directly into the small intestine through the common bile duct. When no food is present, loose stools may result, but you can treat that with a bile acid–binding medication, such as cholestyramine (Questran, Locholest).

Medical options

If you can’t or don’t want to undergo surgery and your gallstones are small, one option is to take ursodiol (Actigall, Urso), a naturally occurring bile acid that helps dissolve cholesterol stones when taken by mouth two to four times a day. It’s also used to prevent the formation of gallstones in people who are losing weight quickly. Ursodiol dissolves only those gallstones made of cholesterol, and it may take several months before it has an effect.

Drug therapy is occasionally combined with lithotripsy, in which sound waves from outside the body are used to break gallstones into pieces that dissolve more easily or are small enough to safely pass through the bile duct. Unfortunately, stones are likely to recur after medical treatment.

How can I reduce my risk for gallstones?

There’s no proven way to prevent gallstones, but research suggests some possibilities. Eat three well-balanced meals daily, maintain a normal weight, and get regular exercise (at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week). Several studies have linked moderate alcohol consumption to a lower risk for symptom-causing gallstones. The Nurses’ Health Study also found that women with more fiber in their diets and those who ate several 1-ounce servings of nuts per week were less likely to need gallbladder surgery. Avoiding fatty foods won’t prevent or get rid of gallstones, but it may reduce the frequency of attacks.

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90,000 Gastroenterologist on how not to get to the hospital because of drinking alcohol at the New Year’s table

Doctor of Medical Sciences, gastroenterologist of the Military Medical Academy in St. Petersburg, Professor Evgeny Sas tells Gazeta.Ru how to preserve your liver on New Year’s holidays.

– Obviously, a festive feast, especially if it lasts several days, like on New Year’s holidays, is a burden on the liver. What is more harmful for the liver in this case – excessive alcohol consumption or overeating?
– Both of these factors are equally harmful.However, they are especially dangerous if they occur simultaneously. On such days, the liver is forced to work in an enhanced mode, neutralizing toxins that come from the use of both a large amount of not the most useful food and alcohol. The risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increases dramatically when excess fat accumulates and deposits in its cells, as a result of which they are damaged and destroyed.

Such changes reduce the body’s ability to endure physical and intellectual stress, and also lead to an increase in cancer and cardiovascular diseases and a deterioration in the quality of life in general.

– If we turn to alcohol, then how many and what drinks can you afford at the festive table without harm to health?
– The permissible alcohol intake for men is 40 g of ethanol per day, for women it is less than 20 g.That is, the liver of a healthy person will tolerate a glass of vodka or a glass of dry wine, but exceeding the indicated doses can damage its cells. Moreover, you can take alcohol no more than three times a week. It is worth noting that there are many surrogate drinks in Russia, so it is important to take into account the quality of the drink consumed so as not to cause double damage to the body.

– Is there a rule to “increase the degree” of alcohol during the meal? How harmful is it to mix different alcoholic beverages? How to properly combine alcohol with food?
– Studies from Denmark reliably indicate that consumption of beer or alcohol compared to wine increases the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, and when alcohol is taken outside of meals, the risk increases 2.7 times.

If a person consumes a lot of alcoholic beverages, do not eat fatty foods, as this increases the toxic effect on both the liver and the pancreas.

To help the liver, you should definitely drink mineral water, juices, cranberry juice. For the liver, it is not the consistency of drinking that is important, but compliance with the norm. In no case should you drink alcohol on an empty stomach.

The combination of alcoholic beverages is highly undesirable, especially with the use of carbonated (beer, champagne) or sweet (sweet, semi-sweet wines, liqueurs) drinks.

– Is there any estimate of how many kilocalories a person receives on average during a traditional (for our country) New Year’s meal? How much does this amount exceed the one-time consumption rate? And how hard is this a blow to the liver?
– The total calorie content of food should correspond to energy consumption: 1500-1900 kcal per day for women and 2500-2700 kcal for men.It is natural that during the New Year holidays, no one keeps statistics on the amount of food consumed in the amount of alcohol. But for food lovers, I would like to give an example. In Las Vegas, there is the Infarct Grill restaurant, which prepares the most nutritious hamburgers in the world. John Alleman, a frequent customer of this restaurant, died of myocardial infarction at the bus stop right in front of the restaurant, before he was 32 years old. Liver obesity is an integral indicator that reflects the processes occurring in the vessels, in the heart, in the vessels of the brain.

– What foods should you especially avoid to avoid damaging your liver?
– Foods containing animal and saturated fat are especially harmful to the liver: milk chocolate, fried foods, carbonated drinks, cakes, fast food, pickles and smoked meats, fried and spicy foods, energy drinks, mayonnaise.

The simpler the food, the better for the liver: boiled lean meat, fish, seafood, dairy products, vegetables dressed with olive oil.

– How harmful is overeating for several days – all the “New Year’s holidays”? Should I try to arrange “fasting days” for myself? Exercise?
– Fasting days are good for both the liver and the whole organism.Therefore, if possible, it is worth spending at least one such day during all holidays, if there is no exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, peptic ulcer). Don’t go hungry or stick to a mono diet. You can simply exclude animal fats, easily digestible carbohydrates from the diet, eat fresh and stewed vegetables and fruits throughout the day, and drink green tea.

Sitting at the table for a long time in the liver can be impaired blood circulation. Therefore, from time to time it is worth doing an exercise that stimulates the outflow of bile: draw in the stomach with a deep breath and protrude it with a deep exhalation.Try to take small walks in the fresh air more often. And if you decide to go in for sports, then during the holidays you do not need to exhaust yourself with long trainings, because as a result of such loads, a significant amount of decay products can accumulate in the human body, for the removal of which the liver is also responsible.

– Do you see more visits to doctors with gastroenterological problems after the holidays?
– After each long holidays, the number of hospitalizations with exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis and pancreatitis increases significantly.All this is the result of overeating and the use of substandard drinks and foods. It should be borne in mind that if, after eating, severe paroxysmal pain in the upper abdomen develops, you must definitely call an ambulance, since it may be biliary colic or exacerbation of pancreatitis. If the pain is aching, then you already have a chronic gallbladder disease.

As for the liver, it literally hurts very rarely.

The body begins to feel irreversible consequences already in the late stages of the disease.

– As a result, your recommendations on how to protect the liver on New Year’s holidays?
– First, choose quality products and combine them correctly. Combine meat with vegetables, and dairy products with fruits and herbs.To improve digestion, eat meat with mustard, horseradish, garlic. Choose light salads with vegetables rich in pectin and fiber, such as beets, carrots, and seaweed. For salad dressing, instead of mayonnaise, use unrefined vegetable oil with lemon juice or wine vinegar, unsweetened yoghurts, low-fat sour cream. Desserts are better to choose fruit or yoghurt based. At the same time, try not to overeat or mix many dishes at once.

Mineral water with choleretic effect, freshly squeezed juices, dried fruit compote – all this will also really please your liver.It is ideal to consume up to 2.5 liters of the “right” liquid per day.

During the holidays, try to move more – moderate exercise is very beneficial for the liver, so take walks in the fresh air. In addition, to restore the liver after the holidays, it is good to drink a course of hepatoprotectors with essential phospholipids. You can also arrange several fasting days, during which there are vegetables, herbs, carrots, boiled lean meat.

Try to maintain a reasonable balance between what you want to eat and drink, and the load that the body can handle with the least losses for itself.

90,000 Urolithiasis symptoms and treatment of the disease

Urolithiasis occurs as a result of an imbalance of substances in the body. Disruption of the metabolic process leads to the formation of stones, which are clots of insoluble salts. Stones interfere with the normal functioning of the organs of the urinary system and cause rather unpleasant sensations.

All articles 01/29/2014

Plaksin Oleg Fedorovich

Head of the urology department, urologist

The need for treatment urolithiasis arises as a result of an imbalance of substances in the body.Disruption of the metabolic process leads to the formation of stones, which are clots of insoluble salts.

Stones interfere with the normal functioning of the organs of the urinary system and cause rather unpleasant sensations. This disease is diagnosed in people of different age groups, and even children.

Factors contributing to the development of urolithiasis

As mentioned above, impaired metabolism contributes to the emergence of insoluble salts, from which, in fact, stones are formed.This happens under the influence of the following factors:

• Unfavorable climatic conditions (extreme heat and prolonged sweating can affect the increase in the content of various salts in the body).
• Hypovitaminosis. Inadequate and inappropriate nutrition.
• Insufficient sunlight.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which are of a chronic nature.
• Lack of fluid in the body.Dehydration from poisoning and disease.
• Diseases and pathologies of the kidneys and pelvic organs.
• Diseases of the skeletal system.
• Frequent consumption of hard water, as well as spicy, sour and smoked foods.
• Diseases of the thyroid gland.

Urolithiasis: symptoms

The stones can be located in different parts of the urinary system. The location of the stones affects the sensations that a person experiences.

Location of kidney stones or upper ureters. Discomfort and pain in the lumbar regions, blood in the urine are typical signs of “renal colic”. As a rule, the pain is aching and pressing in nature, it is just as acute.

Usually, discomfort is felt only in one side, but if stones appear in two kidneys at once, then pain is felt on both sides. The appearance of fresh or altered blood in the urine can be detected after prolonged physical exertion, or after a serious painful attack.

When stones get into the lower parts of the ureters , a person feels pain in the lower abdomen, as well as in the groin areas. If the urge to urinate becomes more frequent, this means that the stones have moved to the lower third of the ureter.

The stone can interfere with the natural flow of urine, which will lead to severe pain, which will stop only when analgesics and antispasmodics are used or the stone goes away on its own.

If the stone is in the bladder , then the person experiences severe cramps when urinating, laying a jet. The pain occurs in the lower abdomen and radiates to the groin and genitals. Another sign of bladder stones is frequent urination, which may suddenly stop, although the patient feels that the bladder has not yet been emptied.

Treatment of urolithiasis

Treatment of urolithiasis, depending on the manifestations of the disease, can be carried out in different ways.

• Conservative therapy (non-surgical method) is used for small stone sizes, when the size of the stone makes it possible to hope for its independent discharge. Treatment consists of proper nutrition and taking medications to help clear the stone. The selection of the diet is carried out after the stone has been removed and examined in a special laboratory. The set of diet products depends on the type of stones, which are oxalate, urate, uric acid, phosphate and mixed.Ask your doctor about which type of diet is right for you.
• Contact lithotripsy . This method is used when the stones are large enough to be removed. Contact lithotripsy is a fairly effective method of crushing stones that are destroyed using an ultrasound wave, laser or compressed air. In the center “LOTOS” laser lithotripsy is used, which allows the destruction of stones of various sizes.
• Ureteropyeloscopy. This procedure allows you to conduct not only a high-quality examination of the pyelocaliceal system and ureter, but also to carry out surgical intervention, such as performing lithotripsy and removing a stone. With the help of flexible ureteropyeloscopy, it is possible to obtain a good visualization of stones that are located in the calyx of the kidney and when, due to the anatomical features of the ureter, patency for a rigid ureteroscope is impossible.
• Percutaneous nephroscopy, (nephrolithotripsy, lithoextraction) .A difficult and at the same time very convenient method of removing stones from the renal calyx-pelvis system. When the size of the stone is large enough to cover the entire kidney, then they are called “coral”. The method allows you to extract the whole stone or destroy it to fragments that allow you to extract them through the tube of the nephroscope.

You can resolve the issue of the method and method of removing a kidney stone or ureter directly at LLC MC “LOTOS” by contacting a urologist for a consultative appointment.

Prevention

Proper nutrition is essential for the prevention of stone formation. Limit the consumption of fried, fatty, spicy and smoked foods. You should drink plenty of fluids (from 2.0 liters per day), mostly pure non-carbonated water. During the cold season, your lower back should always be warm.

At the manifestation of the first symptoms of urolithiasis, consult a doctor immediately. With early treatment, serious health problems can be avoided.

Do not think that the disease will go away by itself. If the stones are left without the attention of the doctor, the consequences can be very sad: for example, you may develop acute pyelonephritis. Also, a consequence of inattention to one’s health can be the appearance of purulent inflammation in the kidney (up to the removal of the kidney).

In the medical center “LOTOS” you will receive a detailed consultation of a urologist, you will be able to diagnose and treat diseases of the urinary system.

90,000 Choleretic food for stagnation of bile: list

It is necessary to correctly select products in order not only to preserve the motor-evacuation ability, but also to ensure reliable protection of the gallbladder wall from any damage.

The use of certain types of food can break the fine line between overstimulation and suppression of bile secretion, which entails a large complex of disorders.

First, dyskinesia develops in a hyper- or hypotonic type, cholelithiasis.Then the processes of digestion and assimilation of nutrients in the intestine are disrupted.

Final stage – long-term drug therapy or removal of the gallbladder.

Therefore, the diet should be balanced, contain a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables, as well as vitamins and minerals (C, B, magnesium, etc.). Anecdotal evidence suggests it is beneficial to add more plant-based proteins (tofu, legumes, nuts, lentils) to the diet. They are a complete alternative to red meats.

Below is a list of the most beneficial foods for the gallbladder, with detailed characteristics and links to scientific research.

1. Turmeric

The effect of curcumin on the smooth muscle of the gallbladder has been studied in detail in a large number of studies.

For example, scientists from Indonesia came to the conclusion that only 20 mg of curcumin reduces the volume of the gallbladder by 3 times, and the effect lasts for 2 or more hours.Activation of organ peristalsis favorably affects the evacuation of bile, which is very useful for patients with chronic cholecystitis or biliary dyskinesia of the hypomotor type.

In addition, the use of turmeric helps prevent the formation of cholesterol stones.

Turmeric can be added to any dishes, it improves not only taste, but aesthetic qualities, imparting a bright honey color. An alternative option is to consume plant-based teas.

2. Nuts

• Nuts have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, which is realized at the level of the whole human body.
• Nuts also protect the mucous membranes of the digestive tract from mechanical damaging factors, bacterial flora and other pathogens (it is microorganisms that cause inflammation of the gallbladder).
• Certain scientific works note a slowdown in apoptosis (a programmed process of cell death) and a decrease in the risk of the formation of malignant tumors in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract against the background of regular addition of nuts to the diet.

Spanish scientists have noted a decrease in the concentration of C-reactive protein and inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6) by 35% and 90%, respectively. This circumstance is important for persons suffering from autoimmune pathologies of the gallbladder or having chronic cholecystitis with frequent episodes of exacerbations.

Nuts can be used as breakfast, snacks or as a food additive. The most useful are:

• almonds;
• Brazil nut;
• hazelnuts;
• cashews;
• walnut;
• pine nut;
• pistachios.

This group should also include peanuts. Although it belongs to the legume family, it has physical and organoleptic characteristics similar to nuts.

Recall that in the last article we looked at 13 foods that improve digestion.

3. Cabbage

White cabbage is able to bind toxic metabolites in the lumen of the gallbladder (including excess cholesterol) and remove them into the lumen of the digestive tube along with bile.In this case, no reverse absorption is observed.

Seaweed contains large amounts of organic iodine, which is essential for adequate contractile activity. As a result of its use, there are no periods of increased or decreased motility, and the work of the gallbladder acquires a well-coordinated character.

Spinach, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, broccoli , according to scientists, also contain substances that are sequestrants of bile acids that prevent cholesterol reuptake.

It is recommended to eat cabbage for persons with hypotonic disorders of the biliary tract. It is best to use the vegetable boiled or steamed.

4. Lemon

It has been proven that lemon increases the effect of local factors of immunity, as well as the resistance of the mucous membrane of the gallbladder to increased pressure inside the lumen of the organ.

Additional feature – citrus helps to normalize microflora and improve the functioning of the stomach and intestines.All this prevents the vertical migration of pathogenic flora.

In addition, lemon is widely used in folk medicine as a means to “cleanse” the gallbladder. But such “methods” do not have scientific substantiation.

5. Olive oil

Olive oil contains a large amount of antioxidants that slow down the destruction of cells in the body, reduce the risk of developing tumors and improve digestion.

Olive oil helps to reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals, which is very often observed in cases of stagnation of bile in the biliary tract.

A Spanish study showed that olive oil reduces the risk of mixed gallstones, one of which is cholesterol. The effect is due to an increase in lipid secretion and activation of smooth muscle motility.

6. Milk thistle

1. Milk thistle can also be used for the treatment of any pathologies from the biliary tract, flowing in a hypotonic type.
2. The plant helps to delineate the foci of inflammation in the gallbladder, improves the biochemical properties of bile, and normalizes the daily rhythm of secretion.
3. A decrease in the severity of pain syndrome in the right hypochondrium (biliary colic) was also noted when the plant was added to food on a regular basis. Milk thistle is recommended for kinking of the gallbladder

7. Artichoke

However, it has been established that the artichoke increases the rate of excretion of bile into the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. There was a positive trend in relation to hypotonic cholecystitis. A few hours after using the product, pain decreases and the volume of the organ decreases.

The artichoke is recommended to be steamed, grilled or marinated. When used in the form of a dietary supplement to food, you should consult a specialist.

Other products

• sweet pepper;
• citrus fruits;
• whole milk and lactic acid products;
• tomatoes;
• fish and shellfish;
• beans;
• lentils.

What the gallbladder does not like from food

It is necessary to exclude substances that accelerate motility and excretion of bile in excessive volumes, limit foods rich in animal fats, and also avoid a number of toxic components.

The intake of such harmful products should be limited:

1. Alcoholic beverages. Alcohol causes spasm of the bile ducts and destruction of the epithelial cells of the inner lining of the gallbladder.
2. Fried, fatty and spicy substances (lard, pork, spices). All this increases the activity of the gallbladder, causes its excessive contractions, while the liver does not always have time to release a sufficient amount of digestive juice to compensate for motor activity.
3. Medicines. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics of the penicillin series, which have a toxic effect, are especially dangerous. Therefore, self-medication is not worth it.
4. Refined products (sugar, white bread). Have a direct cytotoxic effect, disrupt the coordinated work of various parts of the gallbladder.

General dietary rules (Table)

For the prevention of disorders in the work of the gallbladder, it is recommended to observe the following diet principles:

1. It is necessary to eat food fractionally (5-6 times a day) in small portions, maintaining the qualitative composition of each meal.
2. The recommended content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates per day should be 80-100 g, up to 90 g and about 350 g, respectively.
3. Daily volume of liquid – at least 2 liters, and the amount of salt – up to 10 g.
4. Preference should be given to thermally processed and soft food, try to exclude spicy, fried, salty foods, spices with a strong odor.

Below is a table of the main substances that are allowed and prohibited to use for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the biliary tract.

Additionally, it is recommended to add to the diet vitamin complexes containing vitamins of groups A, B, E, C, folic acid.

Conclusion

Thus, it is possible to ensure reliable prevention of various disorders of the gallbladder without the use of medications. It is enough just to correct the diet, and healthy food will do all the most difficult work on its own.

What products have a choleretic effect

Different foods have different effects on gallbladder motility. Some stimulate its activity, the use of others can cause cholestasis and lead to stagnation of bile.As a result, the work of the entire digestive system is disrupted. This can provoke the development of such dangerous diseases as vitamin deficiency, osteoporosis, cholecystitis, liver failure, etc.

Choleretic food products have a productive effect on the processes of production and excretion of bile, therefore, their mandatory presence in the daily diet is necessary.

Role of bile in digestion

Bile is a digestive juice that is continuously produced during choleresis by liver cells, hepatocytes.Through the tubular system, it collects in the gallbladder, accumulates, concentrates, changing its composition, and is stored there between meals.

During the active digestive phase, cholekinesis occurs – the release of mature gallbladder bile from the bladder into the duodenum (Duodenum). Part of the young hepatic bile enters the digestive tract directly from the liver.

When partially processed food from the stomach enters the duodenum, bile and pancreatic juice also enter here. Bile inactivates pepsin, the main enzyme in gastric juice, which breaks down proteins to simple peptides and free amino acids.

Pepsin is dangerous for pancreatic enzymes. Therefore, its neutralization promotes the change of gastric digestion to intestinal. Bile acids emulsify fats, increasing their contact area with digestive enzymes. Further, pancreatic lipase begins to actively break down fats.

In addition to the digestive function, bile plays the role of an absorbent, forming water-soluble complexes of vitamins A, D, E, K and minerals (iron and calcium). The third important function of bile is excretory.

Bile promotes the elimination of lecithin, bilirubin, cholesterol, bacterial toxins, drugs, heavy metals and bile salts formed during digestion. Bile also plays the role of a digestive regulator: it stimulates the formation and secretion of new portions of bile, enhances the motor and secretory activity of the small intestine.

Mechanism of action of choleretic products

The most common cause of bile stagnation is malnutrition.

Therefore, for the prevention and treatment of this disease, it is recommended to follow a special diet, which includes choleretic products.

The mechanism of their action is based on the stimulation of contraction of the gallbladder. Strengthening his motility improves the process of outflow of bile and normalizes the process of its excretion into the duodenum, and then into the intestines.

In the morning, after sleep, the gallbladder is most relaxed, the outflow of secretion from it is slowed down and there is a strong stagnation of bile. Correct choleretic breakfast helps to make it contract more actively in order to improve outflow.

Medicines for liver and pancreas: names

Choleretic products

Knowing which foods affect the work of the biliary system, you can follow a diet and prevent bile stagnation without the use of medications. Products that stimulate the outflow of bile are conventionally divided into several groups.

Vegetable oils

Fats of vegetable origin (sunflower seed oil, flax seed oil, olive oil, corn oil, etc.) should be present in the daily diet of a person.They have a beneficial effect on the work of the entire digestive tract and stimulate the outflow of bile into the duodenum.

The most useful are vegetable oils obtained by the direct extraction method, which have not undergone heat treatment. Therefore, they are recommended to be used in food as part of sauces, as a dressing for salads. Taking a few tablespoons of vegetable oil in the morning 30 minutes before meals stimulates the active release of bile.

Fresh vegetables and fruits

Fruits and vegetables are the main components of the daily diet.They are valuable sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals. The list of vegetables that trigger the bile formation process includes:

• tomatoes;
• all types of cabbage;

90,087 carrots and beets;

90,087 asparagus and artichokes;

• parsley, cilantro, dill;
• rhubarb and spinach;
• olives and olives.

Fruits that have a positive effect on bile excretion include:

• dried apricots;
• figs;
• plum;
• apple;
• strawberries;

90,087 bananas;

• citrus fruits.

Of the berries, the most useful are mountain ash and lingonberry, both raw and in the composition of fruit drink, jelly, compote. It is desirable that the bulk of fruits, berries and vegetables enter the body fresh. A breakfast of freshly squeezed juice and fruit helps the liver to function efficiently throughout the day.

Spices and condiments

Spices have a positive effect on the production and outflow of bile. Therefore, they are used not only to enhance the taste of dishes and give them a special aroma, but also to normalize digestion processes.

Cinnamon, chicory, turmeric, ginger have a pronounced choleretic effect. This group of choleretic products should be used with caution. They can harm those who suffer from liver and gallbladder diseases.

Choleretic drinks

For the normal functioning of all organs and systems, it is necessary to maintain a water balance and drink enough liquid. Lack of it causes concentration and stagnation of bile. The liquid can enter the body in the form of plain or mineral water, tea, decoctions, compotes, etc.d.

A pronounced choleretic effect is possessed by:

• hibiscus drink,
• water with the addition of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar;
• vegetable juices;
• fruit juices, compotes, jelly;
• vegetable broth from cabbage, carrots, beets;
• water with honey;
• decoctions of calendula flowers, rose hips, ginseng root, barberry berries, corn stigmas, immortelle flowers, dandelion leaves, wormwood, St. John’s wort.

Diet for liver problems: what to eat if the liver hurts

Before the regular use of herbal decoctions, it is important to be examined for the presence of gallstones.The presence of calculi can provoke hepatic colic.

Other useful products

Whole grain cereals, bran, boiled meat, hard-boiled eggs, dried wheat bread (not freshly baked), dairy products have the property to stimulate the outflow of bile. The best breakfast for the outflow of bile is buckwheat, oatmeal or rice porridge made from unpolished grains.

Butter has a choleretic effect, but it should be consumed in moderation.Useful cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, yogurt, sour cream, casseroles.

Boiled lean meat and fish have a beneficial effect on the liver and gallbladder. But the choleretic diet must be balanced. You can not uncontrollably include in food products that stimulate bile secretion. It is better to draw up an individual diet with a nutritionist or use a ready-made menu, taking into account your needs.

Nutrition rules and recommendations

The formation and secretion of bile can be regulated by following the simple principles of a healthy diet:

• to eat regularly in moderation;
• to reduce the amount of sugar and salt in the diet;
• to enrich the menu with choleretic products, it is especially important for people prone to congestion, so that breakfast is choleretic;
• do not overeat;

90,087 reduce the amount of fat consumed;

90,087 drink enough fluids;

• Eliminate hot and cold foods from the diet.

It is also important to lead an active lifestyle, give up alcohol and smoking, do not abuse black coffee.

Choleretic products for obesity

Obese people often experience bile stasis. Firstly, they have disrupted processes of production and outflow of bile. Secondly, their gallbladder is usually constricted, which greatly complicates his motor skills. Therefore, a diet for obesity must necessarily include choleretic products.

Products preventing the outflow of bile

The following products can reduce the formation and outflow of bile:

• animal fats in large quantities;
• freshly baked bread and pastries, flour products;
• concentrated fish broth;

90,087 mushrooms;

90,087 fried foods;

• smoked, salty, spicy dishes;
• coffee;

90,087 carbonated drinks;

• onions and garlic;
• legumes.

But do not exclude them from the diet. Each product, like a small brick, participates in the construction of our body. With the right food balance, it will be strong and healthy. Not all foods that reduce the production and secretion of bile are harmful. Many of them are essential for the body in small amounts. The main thing is that the diet is properly balanced.

Choleretic food products. List of products for stagnant bile

Bile is designed to remove excess cholesterol from the body.It also prevents the development of putrefactive processes, prevents fermentation. With a prolonged shortage of bile, a deficiency of fat-soluble acids begins in the body.

This problem provokes others, namely, problems associated with fragility of bones, prolonged bleeding can disturb, and even due to a lack of vitamin A night blindness can begin.

In addition to medication, bile stagnation can be eliminated by following a diet.

Role of bile in digestion

Bile is directly involved in the process of food digestion.Produced on an ongoing basis by the liver. Then it enters the gallbladder, where it accumulates and is stored until the moment of eating.

As soon as the digestive process begins, the release of bile into the duodenum immediately begins. Bile helps to neutralize hydrochloric acid residues.

It also breaks down fats and helps the absorption of fat-soluble substances.

When to take action

Bile stasis can be chronic or acute.They also distinguish icteric and anicteric, that is, depending on the place of localization of stagnation.

You can suspect that there is stagnation of bile by the following signs:

• frequent belching;
• constant fatigue;
• an enlarged liver;
• pain in the right hypochondrium;
• an unpleasant sensation of bitterness in the mouth;
• itching and rashes on the skin;
• constipation, or vice versa, diarrhea;
• drowsiness or insomnia;

90,087 weight loss;

• incomprehensible plaque on the tongue;
• bad breath.

• As a rule, after eating fatty foods, the condition worsens, a strong feeling of nausea disturbs.
• The icteric form is characterized by discoloration of the skin, darkening of the color of urine, enlightenment of feces and urticaria.
• Most people attribute absolutely all symptoms to poor quality food, dental problems, vitamin deficiency, or associate with other chronic diseases.

The problem with stagnation of bile can result in even more dangerous pathologies.Its lack makes it impossible for the body to break down fat. In addition, some digestive enzymes cease to be produced, as a result, fat enters the bloodstream in its pure form. As a result, cholesterol accumulates in the body, gradually accumulates on the walls of blood vessels, pressure rises steadily, blood vessels become clogged.

The risk of developing diabetes mellitus increases, since glucose does not go into the state of glycogen. Lack of bile can trigger osteoporosis by reducing the amount of calcium in the body.Well, the most common scenario is the appearance of gallbladder calculi.

What helps with bile stasis

In fact, stagnation is not such a terrible and difficult state, especially if the problem has appeared recently. Everything can be corrected with the help of nutritional correction.

First of all, you need to eat food regularly, but only in small portions, in no case overeat. It is recommended to reduce the amount of salt and sugar in the diet as much as possible.You will have to cut back on your fat intake and drink enough free fluids. Food can only be eaten warm, not hot. You will have to give up ice cream without fail.

It is imperative that foods are introduced into the diet that contribute to the dilution of bile. Reduced, ideally, generally excluded from the diet of coffee, alcohol and smoking are completely excluded. Do not forget that you need to lead an active lifestyle, move more and play sports.

Choleretic products

Some foodstuffs stimulate the process of bladder contraction and, accordingly, thin the bile. A properly selected menu allows you to normalize its outflow and stabilize the process of its entry into the duodenum.

One of the basic rules – breakfast must necessarily consist of choleretic products, since it is in the morning that the bladder and stomach are relaxed, all processes are slowed down.

Vegetable oils

It is fats of vegetable origin that have a beneficial effect on the digestion process and on the body in general.Naturally, we are talking about natural oils and in small quantities.

Cold pressed oils are suitable, that is, any that have not been heat treated. It is best to consume a couple of tablespoons of oil daily, 30 minutes before breakfast, on an empty stomach. It can be corn oil, olive oil and of course sunflower oil or flax seed oil.

Fresh fruits and vegetables

In the presence of stagnation, fruits and vegetables must be present in the patient’s diet. It is best that they enter the body fresh.The most useful are:

• beets;
• strawberries;
• tomatoes;

90,087 bananas;

90,087 spinach;

• carrots;
• figs;
• cabbage, any varieties;
• asparagus;
• rhubarb;

90,087 apples;

90,087 olives;

• all types of greens, especially dill, cilantro;

90,087 artichoke;

• citrus fruits.

Lingonberries and mountain ash can be distinguished from the berries. It is recommended to make all kinds of drinks and juices from them, which are best consumed in the morning.

Spices and condiments

We are accustomed to the fact that spices are used to give certain flavors to food. In fact, some help the stomach and liver function. Recommended seasonings for this type of problem include: ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and chicory. They will definitely not worsen the condition and will not harm the stomach.

Other products

In addition to the food products described above, there is a whole list that will help get rid of bile stagnation:

• fermented milk products, in particular sour cream, cottage cheese and yogurt;
• butter, but in limited quantities;

90,087 hard boiled eggs;

• whole grain cereals;
• boiled meat and fish;
• cheese;
• buckwheat, rice porridge;
• oatmeal;
• dried wheat bread.

It turns out that to normalize the digestive tract, you can eat almost all food and build a balanced diet.

Choleretic drinks

In addition to food, you can stimulate the excretion of bile with the help of drinks. At the same time, one should never forget that free liquid should regularly enter the body, that is, not drinks, but pure, gas-free water. Lack of fluid in the body leads not only to dehydration, but also to stagnation of bile.

Useful drinks for bile stagnation include:

• vegetable and fruit juices, especially apple and lemon juices, necessarily diluted with water;
• hibiscus;
• ordinary water with the addition of a small amount of honey;
• decoction of vegetables: beets, carrots and cabbage.

It is also recommended to drink decoctions of medicinal herbs, but it is still better to consult a doctor first, as herbs can provoke the movement of calculi if they are already in the bile.Flowers of immortelle, St. John’s wort, rose hips, barberry berries, wormwood are suitable.

A decoction of St. John’s wort should be drunk in half a glass about 20 minutes before meals. However, this herb can cause constipation, so if there is a tendency to this problem, then it is better to refuse drinks from St. John’s wort.

Drinks with corn silk are consumed in a tablespoon before meals, in 15 minutes. Drink 3 times throughout the day.

The doctor may recommend certain mineral water.In the future, it is necessary to drink herbal tinctures and mineral water as a preventive measure 2-3 times a year. The full course of treatment with water and tinctures should be at least 1 month.

Diet for stagnation of bile in the gallbladder

Diet table No. 5 according to Pevzner, is a diet based on lipotropic fatty principle and allows you to increase the outflow of bile. Simply put, the diet minimizes simple carbohydrates and increases fat. For the rest, you should adhere to the nutritional principles that are provided for the diet with cholecystitis.That is, products that enhance the activity of the gastrointestinal tract are reduced.

First of all, so that bile does not take on a thick consistency, you should drink enough water. Milk thistle supplements are recommended. The menu is designed in such a way that the dishes do not burden the stomach.

In a small amount, you can enter easily digestible fats: coconut, olive or flaxseed oil. The introduction of bovine bile as an additive is allowed. Sugary foods are limited.

No fast food, hot spices and alcoholic beverages.

Daily caloric intake should not exceed 2500 units. Salt is limited to 10 g per day and sugar to 50 g.

An example menu can be composed as follows:

With a strong feeling of hunger, before going to bed, you can drink kefir or jelly, preferably from bran.Throughout the day, you can eat dried bread, drinks with medicinal herbs. Give preference to natural products, completely give up sausages. The duration of the diet should be at least 6 months. After that, you should undergo an examination, and the doctor will tell you how to proceed.

A balanced diet will allow not only to eliminate stagnation of bile, but also to correct the overall state of health, to get rid of extra pounds.

The strongest choleretic food for the daily menu

Bile has a number of useful functions in the body.It promotes the digestion of food in the intestines, helps it to be digested normally along with nutrients and fats, and also prevents the growth of bacteria.

Disorders of the bile outflow and gallbladder functions lead to digestive problems. Such pathologies require treatment and adherence to a diet that includes choleretic foods.

Their regular use serves as an excellent prevention for biliary dysfunctions and is part of their treatment.

List of choleretic products

Choleretic foods make up a long list.More than half of the components of the usual daily menu exhibit this effect. To get the most out of these foods, you need to consume them properly and in sufficient quantities without overeating.

Fruit

The main products with a choleretic effect are fruits and vegetables. In addition to this function, they support the body with vitamins, stimulate the immune system, help cleanse the intestines and improve digestion due to the large amount of fiber.

Among fruits, avocado occupies a special place. It contains a large amount of monounsaturated fats that break down excess cholesterol in the blood.

Citrus fruits and fruits containing a lot of vitamin C have a powerful choleretic effect. Among them are lemons, grapefruits, oranges, dried apricots, prunes, and figs. This includes sour berries: currants, raspberries. They also improve bowel motility. To achieve the effect of liquefying the thickened bile, they should be eaten 5-7 servings per day, alternating.Many fruits can be drunk as juices.

Greens and vegetables

Many vegetables are famous for their choleretic effect. Most of them grow in our beds and are present in the diet every day, but in an amount insufficient for the choleretic effect:

• carrots;

90,087 beets;

• cabbage;
• tomatoes.

For problems with the gallbladder, cruciferous vegetables should be consumed: cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Peking cabbage, radishes, turnips, kohlrabi.In large quantities, greens should be added to food – spinach, celery, dill.

The dietary ration of a patient with gallbladder pathologies should consist of 50% vegetables.

Juices can be made from many vegetables. For example, beet juice is one of the most powerful choleretic products. Vegetables with herbs can be chopped in a blender and drunk as a smoothie, combined with fruits.

Vegetable oils

Nutrition for cholestasis and other bladder problems involves the regular addition of vegetable oils to food.They also contain various nutrients, compensate for the deficiency of vitamins D, E, A, C. Oils saturate the body with omega acids, antioxidants, and essential trace elements.

For a normal outflow of bile, olive, linseed, corn, peanut, sunflower oil should be added to food. Considering the benefits of avocados for preventing biliary stasis, the oil of this fruit also helps to avoid these problems.

The daily amount of vegetable oils in the diet should not be less than 90 g.They must be added to salads, ready-made meals, and homemade sauces. In consultation with your doctor, you can drink a small amount of oil on an empty stomach.

First pressing oils should be preferred.

Drinks – juices, decoctions, infusions

In case of problems with the gallbladder, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids. A healthy alternative to plain water will be a variety of natural drinks that improve bile flow.

Beet, grape, cabbage juices, as well as juice from radish, Jerusalem artichoke, horseradish are famous for their choleretic effect.

Decoctions and infusions on a natural basis have an effective complex effect. Decoctions of wild rose, corn stigmas, infusions of immortelle, barberry rhizome, lemon balm and others disperse bile especially well. They drink them before meals for 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a day for two weeks.

To stimulate the production and outflow of bile, you can drink water with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar before meals.

However, with such drinks, including choleretic herbal decoctions, you need to be careful: in the presence of calculi (stones) in the bile, they can provoke an attack.

Also, those who are diagnosed with gastritis, ulcers and other problems of the digestive system should be treated with caution in such drinks.

Bran

The most effective bile thinning products are bran. They contain a lot of dietary fiber, as they include unsorted flour and grain casings.

Bran stimulates the work of the gastrointestinal system, removes toxins from the intestines, contains vitamins and microelements necessary for the body.They are taken as a food supplement along with first courses, fermented milk and milk drinks, salads.

The daily norm of bran does not exceed 50 g. It is recommended to start their use with 1 tsp. in a day.

Honey

Products that stimulate the production of bile have many other beneficial effects on the body. Honey is no exception.

It exhibits choleretic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, tonic, antioxidant, antibacterial action.It contains many nutrients that enhance intestinal motility.

Honey can be added to warm drinks, dishes, used instead of sugar. This product is beneficial when heated to no more than 40 degrees.

It is strictly forbidden to use honey if there are stones in the gall.

Spices and spices

It is a misconception that with stagnation of bile and other problems with the bladder, spices and spices are completely prohibited.

Some of these foods even help with liver problems.

• Promotes the production of bile, its outflow, improves the digestion of dry dill. Its seeds are especially useful, with which they not only season dishes, but also make decoctions and infusions on their basis.
• Ginger has a powerful choleretic effect. In raw and dry form, this spice not only enhances the taste of the dish, but also enriches the body with vitamins, microelements, has an antioxidant and immunostimulating effect.
• Turmeric, rhubarb, fennel, cilantro, parsley also stimulate bile outflow.
• Chicory is not only an excellent seasoning, but also an alternative to coffee, which is often forbidden to sick people.

Small amounts of choleretic spices can be used to prepare sauces, dishes and salads.

How to make a menu for bile stagnation

Diet with stagnation of bile in the gallbladder implies meals every 3-4 hours in small quantities. Fatty, spicy, fried foods, alcohol are excluded from the diet. Choleretic breakfast should include cereals with the addition of vegetable oil, eggs.

Lunch should include lean meats, two or three times a week – beef. For dinner, you need to enter fermented milk products, salads. Between meals, you can have snacks with fruits, dried apricots, berries. Every 2-3 hours you should drink tea with lemon, rose hips, fruit and vegetable juices.

A child’s diet must include daily cottage cheese, fruits, cereals, berries, compotes from drying.

Important Warnings

Some precautions should be taken when consuming products to thin bile.In the presence of stones in the bladder, choleretic products should be consumed only with the permission of a doctor. After removal of the gallbladder, adherence to a diet is a prerequisite for the normal outflow of bile and digestion.

Including such foods in the diet, you should discuss the diet with your doctor, excluding possible contraindications for them in the form of food allergies, diseases of the liver, stomach, pancreas.

Adhering to a choleretic diet, you need to give up fatty, fried, alcohol, carbonated drinks in favor of baked, boiled, steamed food for maximum effect.