Your gallbladder plays a crucial role in the digestive process by temporarily housing and moving bile from your liver to your intestines. Gallbladder inflammation, or cholecystitis, can occur when too much cholesterol accumulates in bile and crystallizes into gallstones, or when gallstones block or impair the movement of bile. Other reasons for gallbladder inflammation include tumors, trauma or viruses. Dietary changes may assist with the symptoms of an inflamed gallbladder, but as with any medical condition, check with your doctor first before making any modifications.
Eat the Right Fats
Ingesting high amounts of saturated fats, such as meat, fried foods and whole-milk dairy increase the incidence of gallstones, while eating more unsaturated fats offer significant risk reduction. Flaxseeds, walnuts, soybean oil, avocados and fish all provide high amounts of unsaturated fats. A German study published in 1992, noted by the Harvard School of Public Health, found that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids decreased the amount of cholesterol in bile by 25 percent.
Adopt a Vegetarian Diet
According to Dr. Neal Barnard in an article for the magazine "Vegetarian Times" in 2005, reducing cholesterol may offer relief for those suffering from gallbladder disease. Vegetarian diets both lower cholesterol and speed the removal of cholesterol in bile. Vegetarian diets involve not eating most or all animal fats such as meat, chicken and milk products, while partaking of legumes, vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts and seeds.
Reduce Sugar Consumption
Numerous observational trials throughout the past 20 years have shown a direct correlation between high refined sugar consumption, such as table sugar and fructose, and the formation of gallstones, according to "Alternative Medicine Review." In addition, the "Review" notes another study wherein participants were asked to eat 106 g of sugar a day; these participants suffered from significantly higher percentages of cholesterol in their bile than the participants limited to 6 g of sugar a day.
Increase Fiber
Fiber helps bulk up the stool, speeds up the process of digestion and reduces the amount of cholesterol in bile. By increasing your fiber intake, you'll decrease your risk of gallbladder inflammation. Peas, legumes, oatmeal, psyllium husks, oranges, wheat bran, nuts and carrots all offer high fiber content. If you aren't able to eat the recommended 25 to 38 g of fiber a day, the Mayo Clinic suggests supplementing with fiber supplements, provided your doctor gives you the go-ahead first.
References
- American Heart Association: Vegetarian Diets
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; Nutritional Approaches to Prevention and Treatment of Gallstones; Alan R. Gaby, MD; September 2009
- Mayo Clinic; Cholecystitis; September 2009
- Harvard School of Public Health: Fats and Cholesterol: Out with the Bad, In with the Good
- "Hepatology"; Dietary N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Decrease Biliary Cholesterol Saturation in Gallstone Disease; Frieder Berr et al.; October 1992
- "Vegetarian Times"; Avoiding Gallstones Might Be Easier Than You Think; Neal Barnard, MD; November 2005
