Gallstones are small hard substances that sometimes develop in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small sac underneath the liver that is used to store bile produced by the liver. If for any reason bile stored in the gallbladder becomes too concentrated, gallstones can appear. There are two ways to treat gallstones: non-surgical and surgical. Non-surgical methods include stone-dissolving medications. Patients who opt for this more conservative approach usually see their stones recur within five years of treatment, so surgery is often a preferred treatment. Following an appropriate diet is important both before and after surgery to reduce pain, discomfort and diarrhea.
Risk Factors
Although the exact causes of gallstones are not clear, there are certain factors that may increase your risk for developing gallstones. A diet high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber can increase the risk for gallstones. Very rapid weight loss is also a risk factor. Other risk factors that can contribute to gallstone development are gender, weight, age, ethnicity, cholesterol-lowering medications and diabetes. Women are almost twice as likely to develop gallstones as men are, and being overweight can elevate the risk even further. If you are older than 60 or are Native American, your chances for gallstones will rise.
Surgery
As long as gallstones do not bother you, there is really nothing you need to do about them. Once they become symptomatic, meaning that you are getting gallbladder attacks, your doctor will likely recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder. Surgical gallbladder removal is called cholecystectomy and can be performed either laparoscopically or in an open procedure. Although laparoscopic technique is less invasive than open and requires very little recovery time, it is wise to alter your diet for a while, regardless of what type of procedure you have had.
Need for Dietary Changes
Because you need your gallbladder to store bile, after gallbladder removal, instead of being stored until it is needed, bile will constantly flow straight from the liver into the intestine and may cause diarrhea. Some changes in the diet may help you to decrease discomfort after surgery, while your body learns to function without the gallbladder.
Foods to Avoid
Diet changes should be aimed at reducing bile production that will help control diarrhea. Foods not recommended after gallbladder surgery are as follows: high-fat foods, fried spicy foods, foods with strong odors and foods that can cause gas. Avoid fast foods, whole milk and cheese, high-fat and processed meats.
Foods to Choose
Make sure to choose low-fat or nonfat versions of foods such as skim or 1% milk instead of whole. Prepare your food with a small amount of fat, use cooking techniques requiring little or no fat, such as baking, broiling, boiling and steaming instead of frying or deep-frying. Slowly increase high-fiber foods in your diet and eat small frequent meals instead of three large ones.
