Coleslaw is a popular side dish or topping at picnics or casual meals. Whether you make it yourself or buy it from a deli or grocery store, common ingredients may be cabbage and mayonnaise or a mayonnaise-based dressing. Despite its appealing taste, traditional coleslaw may not be a healthy addition to your diet if you suffer from gallstones.
Gallstones are hard deposits that can form in your gallbladder, which is located near your liver. While some cases may be painless, other cases may generate such pain in the abdomen or shoulder area that the gallbladder may need to be removed, according to the Mayo Clinic. You are at higher risk for developing gallstones if you are female, you have a personal or family history of gallstones, or if you are American-Indian or Mexican-American. A healthy diet may reduce your risk of gallstones; the safest approach regarding coleslaw is to eat it only in moderation or make healthy changes to your coleslaw recipe.
Weight and Gallstones
Obesity increases your risk for gallstones, according to the Mayo Clinic. Coleslaw can contribute to unwanted weight gain because of its high calorie content, with nearly 300 calories in a single cup of coleslaw from a fast food restaurant. High-calorie foods, such as coleslaw, make it easy for you to eat more calories than you expend. A lower-calorie alternative to regular coleslaw is 1 cup of raw cabbage, which provides 22 calories, with 1 tbsp. of low-fat coleslaw dressing, which has less than 100 calories.
High-Fat Diet
A high-fat diet contributes to gallstone formation, according to the Mayo Clinic. Each cup of coleslaw has nearly 19 g of fat, or nearly 30 percent of the daily value of fat for someone on a 2,000-calorie diet. Cabbage itself is nearly fat-free, and you can lower the fat content in your coleslaw by using more cabbage and less dressing. You can also take smaller portions, and eat it with low-fat foods.
Other Considerations
A benefit of coleslaw is that it provides 3.6 g of dietary fiber, or 14 percent of the daily value. A high-fiber diet may lower your risk for developing gallstones, according to the University of Maryland. Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, may be beneficial for individuals who suffer from gallstones. Each cup of cabbage provides 28 mg of vitamin C, or 47 percent of the daily value. Coleslaw may be high in added sugars, which can increase your risk for diabetes and gallstones.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Gallstones; July 2009
- Mayo Clinic; What's Okay to Eat After Gallbladder Removal?; Jennifer Nelson and Katherine Zeratsky; July 2011
- University of Maryland; Gallbladder Disease; Steven Ehrlich; February 2010
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Fast Foods
- Langone Medical Center; Gallstones; Diane Savitsky; September 2010
