Your gallbladder is a small organ located just under your liver in your right abdominal area that helps you digest your food by producing bile. When you have gallbladder disease, it usually means you have gallstones -- tiny crystals in your bile -- or that your gallbladder has become inflamed, which usually occurs as a result of gallstones. Once your physician diagnoses you with either gallbladder inflammation or gallstones, she may recommend certain diet therapies as part of your treatment.
Gallbladder Symptoms
Although it's possible to have gallstones and gallbladder inflammation without any real symptoms, especially if you've just developed the condition, you'll likely feel symptoms eventually, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These symptoms often include pain in the general area of your gallbladder -- the upper right side of your stomach area -- plus nausea and possibly vomiting. You may find you get more symptoms following fatty meals. Since certain aspects of your diet can bring on a gallbladder attack, diet therapy can help you manage your condition.
Fat and Sugar
In order to reduce your gallbladder disease symptoms, your physician may advise you to decrease the amount of fat in your diet. Saturated fats -- found in animal products such as meats and dairy products -- seem to bring on gallbladder attacks, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. However, plant-origin fats such as olive oil and canola oil may lead to a lower risk of gallstones. In addition, a diet high in sugar can lead to more gallstones, so you may need to cut back on sweets.
Foods to Choose
People who choose foods with higher fiber levels may have a lower risk of developing gallstones, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. To get more fiber in your diet, switch to whole grain cereals and breads, and try to eat more beans. In addition, eating fruits and vegetables may reduce your chances of developing gallbladder inflammation severe enough to require your gallbladder to be removed. You may also be able to cut your risk of gallstones by eating more tree nuts, such as walnuts, almonds and pecans, along with more peanuts. If you have a coffee habit, that also can benefit your gallbladder, since the caffeine in your coffee may help your gallbladder to expel bile.
Gallbladder Removal Diet
If you need to have your gallbladder removed due to bad inflammation and gallstones, your physician will tell you to eat a low-fat diet for at least several months afterward, according to the University of Cincinnati's NetWellness website. Since your gallbladder helps your body digest the fat you consume, you'll need to cut back on fat to give the rest of your digestive system a chance to adjust. If you eat too much fat, you can experience diarrhea and bloating. Avoid marbled cuts of red meat and fried foods, and watch out for full-fat dairy products and restaurant meals.
In addition, some high-fiber foods, such as beans or cabbage, also may cause symptoms right after your gallbladder removal. If you find you can't tolerate them, cut back or remove them from your diet for at least the first couple of months following your surgery.
References
- National Library of Medicine: Gallbladder Diseases
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gallbladder Disease; Feb. 4, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: How Can Gallstones and Gallbladder Disease Be Prevented; June 26, 2009
- NetWellness.com: What Type of Diet Should I Be On If I Have Gallbladder Problems?; University of Cincinnati Lisa Cicciarello Andrews, MEd, RD, LD; July 14, 2010
