Gallbladder Diet – Digest the Facts

The function of the gallbladder is to store bile produced by the liver, which is important in the digestion and absorption of fats. Gallbladder disease affects the proper digestion of food, so people suffering from it are advised to eat well and maintain the proper diet for their condition. However, “eating right” is no longer as simple as eating vegetables and avoiding junk food. Depending on your health status, sometimes foods that are normally considered healthy can be bad for you.

The most obvious ones to avoid are, of course, fried foods, margarine, eggs, pork, poultry, red meat, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, coffee, and foods with saturated fats, sugar, preservatives and artificial sweeteners. But sure, this list of restricted foods also includes vegetables like beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, processed onions, radishes, turnips, and even nuts, as well as fruits like oranges and grapefruit (even fruit juices). You should also avoid oatmeal, wheat, white flour, and dairy products. And of course, you will also have to give up pleasures such as chocolates and ice cream.

With a long list of prohibited foods that seems to include every known food group, people suffering from gallbladder disease must feel doomed to starve. Fortunately, the list of foods they can eat is just as long and even includes some unlikely items.

For example, while saturated and hydrogenated fats should be avoided, not all fats are bad for you (that is, as long as you’re not dangerously prone to a gallbladder attack). In fact, fat-free and low-fat diets are just as responsible for gallbladder problems as eating too much fat. The “good” kind of fat can be found in Omega 3 oils like flax and hemp, which prevent the buildup of cholesterol in the bile. These, like olive oils, make good salad dressings when used with vinegar and fresh lemon juice.

Speaking of salads, vegetables that people with gallbladder problems can eat include beets, carrots, celery, cucumber, green beans, okra, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes. Garlic and onion, useful for cleansing the liver, should not be processed (powdered, for example), as some gallbladder patients may have trouble digesting them. Cooking food with spices, ginger and turmeric is good for digestion.

As for fruit, it remains true that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. This also applies to apricots, artichokes, avocados, berries, coconuts, figs, grapes, guavas, lemons, melons, papayas, pears, and prunes. All other fruit juices except apple, grape and lemon should be avoided, preferably their own juices. Lemon juice in particular cleanses the liver when taken in the morning with hot water. And of course, both for fruits and vegetables, it is important that they are fresh.

Since gallbladder disease prevents the normal digestion of fats, getting plenty of fiber in your diet is essential. This includes starchy foods like rice, cereal, and whole-grain bread.

Just as important as the type of food you eat is how much you eat. Avoid overeating; eat smaller meals during the day, avoid large meals at night. The last meal of the day should be eaten several hours before bedtime.

We all need to watch what we eat, but people with gallbladder disease need to do so more than the average person. It is important to keep in mind the right type of food, as well as the right amount and the right time to eat in order to continue living comfortably through your condition.