Fatty, sugary, processed foods are the worst foods to eat when your gall bladder is acting up. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and legumes will help reduce the frequency and severity of your gallbladder attacks.
Diets high in fat and cholesterol may contribute to the development of gallstones.
The best foods to eat that may help minimize gallbladder pain include:
- Low fat foods
- Minimally processed foods
- Plant-based proteins (beans, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa)
- Vegetables and fruits
- Sprouted nuts and seeds
- Whole grains
- Legumes
- Lean meats and fish
Foods that may trigger gallbladder attacks include:
- Fatty foods
- Fried foods
- Dairy products
- Sugary foods
- Eggs
- Acidic foods
- Carbonated soft drinks
What Are Gallstones?
Gallstones (cholelithiasis) are small stones that form inside the gallbladder. They can range in size from tiny specks to as large as the entire gallbladder, up to 6 inches long. Most are smaller than 1-inch.
There are two types of gallstones:
- Cholesterol gallstones
- Made of cholesterol
- Usually yellow-green in color
- 80% of gallstones are this type
- These are more likely to respond to non-surgical treatment
- Pigment gallstones
- Made of bilirubin
- Smaller and darker than cholesterol stones
- 20% of gallstones are this type
What Is the Function of the Gallbladder?
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ located under the liver that stores bile, a fluid that helps the body break down fat in food.
QUESTION
Caffeine is addictive. See AnswerWhat Is a Gallbladder Attack?
A gallbladder attack occurs when a gallstone blocks a bile duct, resulting in severe, stabbing pain in the belly that can last several hours. Medications may be tried first, but they can take months to years to dissolve the stones, and gallstones often return.
Symptoms of a gallbladder attack include:
- Severe, stabbing belly pain
- Abdominal tenderness
- Back or shoulder pain
- Chest pain
- Fever or chills
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain after eating
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Tea-colored urine and light-colored stools
From
Reviewed on 7/29/2022
References
REFERENCES:
Medscape Medical Reference
Copied! Gallstones are a common gallbladder problem that affect up to 15% of the U.S. population. Eating the right foods can go a long way toward keeping your gallbladder healthy and preventing
gallstones. Your
gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that sits under your liver and is part of your digestive system. The gallbladder’s job is to store and dispense bile, a liquid made in your liver. Bile helps to break down fat during digestion. When you eat, your gallbladder releases bile into your small intestine, where it mixes with food. Sometimes tiny, stone-like objects form in your gallbladder. Commonly called gallstones, these can be made of tiny bits of cholesterol or
fragments of blood pigment. Sometimes certain medical conditions of the bloodstream or cholesterol management will make it more likely for people to form gallstones. These stones often stay put in your gallbladder and don’t cause problems. But occasionally, gallstones travel and get stuck in the tiny tube-like ducts that connect your gallbladder, liver, and small intestine. “Diagnosing gallbladder disease or the presence of symptomatic gallstones can be tricky and require several tests to
exclude other conditions,” says Dr. Jennifer Chennat, UPMC gastroenterologist. “If you are experiencing pain in the upper abdomen or nausea/vomiting after eating, please consult with your health care provider promptly, and consider a referral to a gastroenterologist for a specialized evaluation of these symptoms. It is
best not to ignore these symptoms, so you can avoid more serious complications.” When gallstones get stuck, they can cause a gallbladder attack and/or pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas (an organ which aids in digestion and blood sugar control). Sometimes these gallstones get stuck in the biliary tree and cause infection to brew in the bile ducts, leading to bacterial sepsis (widespread infection throughout the body’s circulation bloodstream). Symptoms of a gallbladder
attack, infection of the biliary tree, and/or pancreatitis may include: If you have gallstones, you might have more pain after eating high-fat foods. That’s because fatty foods stimulate your gallbladder to release bile, which aggravates the gallstones. Gallbladder issues, and especially gallstones, are more likely to happen to: Your diet can’t cure gallbladder issues or get rid of the gallstones already there. But eating a healthy diet is one of the best ways to keep your gallbladder healthy and to prevent gallstones from forming. If you’re at risk for developing gallstones, try to avoid or limit these foods: Eating
a healthier diet can help to ease your symptoms. It also makes it easier to
maintain a healthy weight, reducing your risk of developing gallstones.What Does Your Gallbladder Do?
Who Is Most At-Risk for Gallbladder Problems?
Foods to Avoid with Gallbladder Issues
Avoiding quick weight loss also helps prevent gallstones. When you eat very little, your liver releases more cholesterol into your bile. This means stones form more easily.
Also, with rapid weight loss, your gallbladder may not empty properly.
If You Don’t Have a Gallbladder
If you have severe or frequent gallbladder attacks, you may need surgery to remove your gallbladder. Even though your gallbladder is one of your digestive organs, you can live safely without it. Your liver can still make and release bile to help you to digest fats.
After gallbladder surgery, you’ll gradually increase your diet from liquids to foods that are low in fat and cholesterol. For the first few weeks after surgery, it’s also best to avoid:
- Alcohol.
- Caffeine.
- Very spicy foods.
- Gas-producing foods like beans or broccoli or carbonated beverages.
- Sugary foods like pie, cake, or other desserts.
You can resume your regular diet (but with less fat and cholesterol) within about four weeks after surgery. You might experience some changes in your digestion without a gallbladder.
If your gallbladder has been surgically removed, it is not uncommon to have digestive problems like diarrhea after eating a fatty meal like pizza, hamburgers, and fries. Sticking to lower fat foods and eating more high-fiber fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help you feel better. Eating smaller meals with snacks between meals can also improve digestion.
After a gallbladder removal, your health care provider might recommend digestive enzymes to help you break down fatty foods. It’s also helpful to work with a registered dietitian. They can help you to plan balanced, low-fat meals that support healthy digestion.
Sources
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Gallstones.LINK
Current Medicinal Chemistry. Diet After Cholecystectomy. LINK