Most people don't worry about their gallbladder unless they start to experience pain or discomfort in some way which might need gallbladder treatment. Your diet will play a big role in how your digestive system works. Eating the right foods is essential if you want your digestive tract to function effectively.
To prevent gallbladder issues, the following diet tips will help:
1. Don't Crash Diet to Reduce Gallbladder Risk
Don't crash diet. If you want to lose weight, use a solid diet plan with fewer calories and increase your level of activity. Crash diets may help you lose a few pounds fast, but they can disrupt the sensitive balance in your digestive tract causing your liver to release excessive amounts of cholesterol. This means your gallbladder has to work overtime.
2. Include Healthy Foods in Your Gallbladder Diet
Eat healthy foods. Avoid processed foods that come out of a box. They are made with an abundance of additives and preservatives that stress the digestive system. Eat fresh, whole foods as much as possible. It's important to include:
- Low-fat dairy foods
- Whole grains, such as brown rice, bran cereal, oats, whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta
- Lean meats and poultry
- Fish
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients and fiber and will keep your digestive tract running smoothly. These foods are also easier for your body to break down more efficiently, which means more nutrients and an abundance of usable energy. If you want to create a gallbladder-friendly diet, try eating smaller meals more often. This puts less stress on the stomach and gallbladder, so they don't have to digest large amounts of food at one time.
Avoid Sugary Foods in Your Gallbladder Diet
Avoid sugary foods that can cause inflammation in the gut. Once inflammation has become a problem, it can make every part of your digestive tract work harder, including your gallbladder and pancreas. Replace sugary foods with healthy snacks like crackers and cheese or fresh fruits and vegetables. If you want to prevent gallbladder issues, take the time to re-evaluate your diet and include foods that will put less stress on your gallbladder and the rest of your digestive system. You will start to feel better, and the weight you want to lose will start to drop gradually. If you continue to experience gallbladder problems, visit your nearest general surgeon in Anchorage for the best treatment.
Also Read: Major Surgery and Minor Surgery: What Are the Differences
Can what I eat help prevent gallstones?
You can lower your risk of gallstones by following a healthy eating plan and getting regular physical activity to help you reach and maintain a healthy weight.
Experts recommend the following to help prevent gallstones:
- Eat more foods that are high in fiber, such as
- fruits, vegetables, beans, and peas.
- whole grains, including brown rice, oats, and whole wheat bread.
- Eat fewer refined carbohydrates and less sugar.
- Eat healthy fats, like fish oil and olive oil, to help your gallbladder contract and empty on a regular basis.
- Avoid unhealthy fats, like those often found in desserts and fried foods.
Talk with your health care professional before you make any changes to your eating plan. Losing weight too quickly may cause health problems. Very low-calorie diets and weight-loss surgery can lead to rapid weight loss and raise your risk of gallstones. Learn more about weight-loss, dieting, and gallstones.
This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase
knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.
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Overview
When you eat, the gallbladder releases bile, which helps you digest the fat in food. If you have an inflamed gallbladder, this may cause pain. A low-fat diet may give your gallbladder a rest so you can start to heal. Your doctor and dietitian can help you make an eating plan that does not irritate your digestive system. Always talk with your doctor or dietitian before you make changes in your diet.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
How can you care for yourself at home?
- Eat many small meals and snacks each day instead of three large meals.
- Choose lean meats.
- Eat no more than 5 to 6½ ounces of meat a day.
- Cut off all fat you can see.
- Eat chicken and turkey without the skin.
- Many types of fish, such as salmon, lake trout, tuna, and herring, provide healthy omega-3 fat. But, avoid fish canned in oil, such as sardines in olive oil.
- Bake, broil, or grill meats, poultry, or fish instead of frying them in butter or fat.
- Drink or eat nonfat or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, or other milk products each day.
- Read the labels on cheeses, and choose those with less than 5 grams of fat an ounce.
- Try fat-free sour cream, cream cheese, or yogurt.
- Avoid cream soups and cream sauces on pasta.
- Eat low-fat ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sorbet. Avoid regular ice cream.
- Eat whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta. Avoid high-fat foods such as croissants, scones, biscuits, waffles, doughnuts, muffins, granola, and high-fat breads.
- Flavor your foods with herbs and spices (such as basil, tarragon, or mint), fat-free sauces, or lemon juice instead of butter. You can also use butter substitutes, fat-free mayonnaise, or fat-free dressing.
- Try applesauce, prune puree, or mashed bananas to replace some or all of the fat when you bake.
- Limit fats and oils, such as butter, margarine, mayonnaise, and salad dressing, to no more than 1 tablespoon a meal.
- Avoid high-fat foods, such as:
- Chocolate, whole milk, ice cream, and processed cheese.
- Fried or buttered foods.
- Sausage, salami, and bacon.
- Cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, cookies, and other pastries.
- Prepared snack foods, such as potato chips, nut and granola bars, and mixed nuts.
- Coconut and avocado.
- Learn how to read food labels for serving sizes and ingredients. Fast-food and convenience-food meals often have lots of fat.