What foods irritate the gallbladder

By Janet Renee Updated November 28, 2018

Under normal circumstances, food doesn't aggravate your gallbladder. But when your gallbladder becomes inflamed, gallstones develop or it stops functioning properly high-fat foods can trigger pain. Limiting your intake of foods high in fat may prevent this aggravation and the pain associated with it.

Limit your intake to 40 to 50 grams of fat per day and assess your tolerance. Pay special attention to the amount of fat per serving at each meal. Limit fats to three servings daily. The recommended serving of vegetable oil, butter, and mayonnaise is 1 teaspoon. Limit servings to 2 tablespoons for cream, sour cream, half and half and 1 tablespoon for cream cheese, salad dressing and peanut butter.

Limit your intake of meal and fish to 6 ounces per day. Choose cooking methods that do not require oil, such as baking, grilling or broiling. Trim extra fat away from the meat before cooking. Avoid high fat meats such as bacon, salt pork, beef short ribs, luncheon meat, sausages and chicken liver. Choose fresh fish or fish canned in water. Fish canned in oil can aggravate your symptoms.

Avocado is the only fruit you need to limit because it is high in fat. Stick to a serving of one-eighth of a regular-sized avocado and count it as part of your three servings of fat daily. Avoid milk products made with whole milk. Instead, choose skim milk, yogurt made with skim milk and other reduced-fat milk items. Avoid fried or creamed vegetables and any vegetable dish made with whole milk.

Avoid baked goods that contain whole milk, egg yolks, or more than 2 grams of fat per servings. Examples include pancakes, muffins, doughnuts, sweet rolls, waffles and fried bread. Stick to whole-grain bread. Avoid soups made with whole milk, or added fat also. In terms of beverages, stick to tea, regular coffee and fruit-based drinks. When choosing fruit-based drinks, look for low-calorie, low-sugar varieties. You still want to keep general nutrition in mind.

When you have a problem with your gallbladder, such as gallbladder stones, the doctor might recommend you to have surgery to remove your gallbladder.

You may be at higher risk of gallbladder stones depending on your age, gender, and other factors. Let us read more about gallbladder stones, what to eat and what food to avoid when you have this condition. 

A 33-year-old engineer had no symptoms of gallstones. With long working hours and a sedentary lifestyle, he had developed unhealthy food habits. He skipped meals and consumed a lot of junk. (Also Read: 5 Signs That a Woman has Gallstones )

A constant unhealthy diet possibly resulted in the agony of him having gallstones in his early thirties. He ignored those gallbladder attacks and all this did not wean him off eating junk. He was completely unaware of what he was doing to himself. 

One day the abdominal pain did not stop and he had to rush to a doctor. He was diagnosed with gallbladder stones after looking at the ultrasound reports. He tried Ayurveda treatment for gallbladder stones removal and a lot of home remedies. But alas! Nothing worked. 

The doctor suggested laparoscopic surgery (cholecystectomy) to remove the gallbladder stones. For a healthy and better life, he thought of it as the right option. Therefore, it is clear that food habits and diet play an important role when you have gallstones. Consult a doctor, especially if you know you are not leading a healthy lifestyle and you notice such abdominal pain. 

Now what is a gallbladder and what are gallbladder stones?

The gallbladder is the organ that contains bile. Bile, which is composed of water, cholesterol, fat protein, and fat salts, helps you digest fat. Gallbladder stones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that form in your gallbladder.

Gallstone sizes vary with some as the size of sand and others as large as a golf ball. A diet with a lot of fats can lead to gallbladder stones made of cholesterol and bile salts. They may get bigger with time. 

You are more likely to get gallbladder stones if you are obese, trying to lose weight fast, or have been on a high-fat diet and low in fiber. Complications of gallbladder stones include:

• inflammation of the gallbladder
• infection in the gallbladder, bile duct, or liver
• inflammation of the pancreas due to gallbladder stones blockage

5 Types of Food that can aggravate your gallbladder stones

Doctors and experts advise a change in the diet to prevent the pain associated with gallbladder stones. It is important to know the kind of food to avoid to minimize the discomfort and could prevent new gallbladder stones from forming. Consider eliminating high-risk food that might aggravate your gallstone condition.

Eliminate deep-fried food completely. Frying food with saturated fats or hydrogenated fats will aggravate gallstone pain and discomfort. Use olive or canola oil.

It is advised to substitute fatty meats with lean meat protein such as chicken and turkey, cold-water fish. Always remove the skin and fat to avoid gallstone irritation when preparing for poultry.

Eggs are high allergen food and high in cholesterol.  Milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and heavy cream all contain high levels of animal fat. This increases the complications in the gallbladder.

Try to reduce the amount of dairy content or you may purchase low-fat and skim substitutes that provide the necessary calcium required by the body.

Trans fatty acids typically present in packaged food, tend to induce gallstone symptoms. Many manufacturers have reduced or eliminated trans-fat from their products but still check nutritional labels to make sure. If in doubt, avoid them.

Patients with gallbladder stones must refrain from eating food containing refined ingredients. It increases the cholesterol level in the bile. Refined food is low in fiber which is the primary cause of gallbladder stones.

Stick to brown rice, whole wheat bread, and whole-wheat pasta. Dietary changes might prevent you from the need for surgery.

Food To Eat When Suffering From Gallbladder stones

Some foods tend to prevent gallbladder problems or reduce symptoms. Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet is the best way to improve digestion and prevent gallbladder stones. The diet must include:

Healthy Fats

Foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids- avocados, canola, flaxseed, fish- can decrease the chances of gallbladder stones developing. Moreover, try to eat low-fat meats.

Fiber-rich foods

Fiber has several health benefits. Some of these include- losing weight and keeping the digestive health up and about. Hence, it is beneficial to eat fiber-rich foods such as whole-grain bread, cereals, fruits, and vegetables.

Some foods that are rich in fiber are-

Minerals

Minerals such as Vitamin C, Magnesium, and Folate are important to prevent stones from developing in the gallbladder. 

Conclusion

Gallbladder problems can be painful and in some cases, dangerous. Therefore, consuming the right food and avoiding fat-rich food can help improve the health of your gallbladder.

Although it is common to have food-related issues after gallstone surgery, it is important to contact your surgeon if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain, especially if it worsens
• Severe nausea or vomiting
• Jaundice
• Lack of bowel movements for more than 3 days
• Frequent diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days

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