Important Note Regarding Appointment Availability - Click Here
The gallbladder is a small pouch-like organ located below the liver, which helps the body deal with fat. Though it is a small organ, it stores the bile liquid produced by the liver and releases it into the small intestine, thus helping digestion.
When you have gallbladder-related issues, the bile liquid inside the gallbladder hardens and forms small deposits (gallstones) that can often be extremely painful and cause severe cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Since the gallbladder is a sensitive organ, it must be removed surgically if you have gallstones.
You must avoid certain food to ease the pain if you suffer from gallbladder problems. These include:
Eating fatty food can increase your chances of gallstones. So choose to consume lean fat like fresh fish over canned ones. Fried meat is also not a good choice for your gallbladder.
Any processed food can cause inflammation within your gallbladder as they contain a lot of high fat and preservatives. Avoid processed food like cold cuts, sausages, hot dogs, and canned meats and fish.
Any high-fat-containing dairy foods like ice cream, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, or excessive sweet intake can aggravate the gallbladder problem.
Any food made with white flour like pasta and white bread usually lacks fiber. Therefore, it is important to avoid them to keep your gallbladder healthy. Instead, you can have whole grain pasta and bread along with oats, rice, and other cereals to help the gallbladder properly function.
See Also: Acalculous Gallbladder Disease: What You Need to Know
If you are suffering from gallstones, your gallbladder is trying to secrete the bile into the digestive system, yet the gallstones are blocking the way out. This causes spasms in the gallbladder, which again causes severe body pain and cramp. If you eat food that is hard to digest, the spasm increases and causes you more hurt. This is why it is important to stay away from high-fat foods and stick to healthy, nutritious food that is easy to digest.
Although it is not very clear what causes gallstone formation in the body, experts think there are certain reasons like:
The bile liquid your liver releases in the body contains too much bilirubin and cholesterol. If your liver releases more cholesterol than your bile can dissolve, it can form into crystals and stones within the gallbladder. Similarly, if your liver is producing more bilirubin than what can be dissolved by the body, they can form gallstones.
After the gallbladder removal, you might suffer from initial side effects like bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. It is important to have several small meals throughout the day to help digestion.
A low-fat diet for gallbladder disease with high fiber doses and moderate calories can be ideal for patients with gallbladder surgery. Eat fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grain foods like brown rice and bran cereal, oats, whole wheat bread, etc. Consume lean meat and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Avoid drinking too much coffee and tea. Avoid spicy or fatty food, and stay away from processed food. Increase fiber intake to keep you full and your body healthy.
See Also: Gallbladder Surgery: What You Should Know
Only a few people see symptoms surfacing in gallstone problems. However, if you are one of them, here are some of the symptoms that can bother you:
You must visit the doctor immediately if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above.
At Far North Surgery in Anchorage, AK, we have highly competent, board-certified general surgeons specializing in gallbladder surgery. We have the necessary expertise in handling any critical gallbladder problems. We are open to collaborating with other specialist surgeons and physicians so that you get top-grade medical care from all our professionals. Dr. Madhu Prasad, a famous gastro-expert, has been chosen as the best of Anchorage Awards for Cancer treatment.
If you want the best in gallbladder care, look no further. Contact us and fix up a consultation with one of our gastro-experts. We will take it up from there and make sure you return to a healthier life sooner.
