If you've had a gallbladder attack or gallstones, you certainly want to prevent a repeat performance. Your doctor likely recommended a bland diet that's low in fat to help prevent gallbladder sludge and stones from building up. While following such a diet, steer clear of high-fat items and try to load up on fresh produce.
Basics
Your gallbladder stores bile that your system uses to help digest food, principally fats. When you eat a less-than-optimal diet containing lots of saturated fat and refined flour and sugar, you risk cholesterol-based sludge building up in your gallbladder. This sludge might form into stones, which then cause inflammation and pain. The ensuing gallbladder attack leads to nausea, vomiting and extreme digestive discomfort.
Diet Beginnings
Although the only cure for gallbladder disease is surgery to remove your gallbladder, your physician likely wants to see if you can prevent a gallbladder attack through diet changes before referring you for a surgical procedure. To follow the recommended diet, first drop all high-fat items -- fried foods, full-fat dairy products such as milk and cheeses, fatty meats and rich cakes and cookies.
Replace high levels of saturated fat in your diet with lower levels of healthy fats, such as olive and canola oils. Replace the hamburger with a broiled fish fillet, since fish contains lots of so-called "good" fats. Skip the fatty ice cream and the rich pastries, and instead have a bowl of fruit for dessert. Also, avoid as much refined sugar as possible, since it increases your risk of gallstones.
More Diet Ideas
You might blame spicy foods for gallbladder attacks, so dial back on the spice along with the fat. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables might help you to avoid gallbladder problems, so fill your plate with bland vegetables such as broccoli, green beans and carrots. Keep the fat content low by steaming vegetables instead of frying or sauteing them, and don't add salt, pepper or sauces. In addition, keep nuts around to snack on instead of high-fat, deep-fried chips, since the healthy fats in nuts might guard against gallbladder problems.
A high fiber intake has been linked with improvements in gallbladder health, but you might find that you have difficulty digesting foods with high fiber levels, including whole grains and beans. If that's the case, add them to your diet slowly to give your digestive system a chance to get accustomed to them.
Considerations
It might be tough to resolve your gallbladder disease through diet alone; according to MayoClinic.com, research hasn't proven that alternative therapies -- including diet -- can effectively dissolve gallstones. Stay in close touch with your doctor as you follow your bland, low-fat diet, and if you experience renewed gallbladder pain, schedule a checkup immediately. A severely inflamed gallbladder can be dangerous and even life-threatening in some circumstances. If your condition suddenly worsens, your physician might want you to have immediate surgery to remove your gallbladder.
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