Diet For Gallstones
How to readjust your diet when you suffer from gallstones?
Do you have gallstones? Therefore, you should know that diet is closely related to disease. To improve the condition, we need to reduce the likelihood of inflammation. In other words, we have to be very vigilant about the consumption of fats.
To learn more about how diet can help relieve gallstone symptoms, we invite you to read this article.
What is the gallbladder?
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac surrounded by a muscular wall. It is located on the right side of the abdomen, in the upper area. It stores and concentrates bile, a liquid produced by the liver and needed to digest fat and absorb some vitamins.
Why do gallstones form?
They form from the crystallization of bile, a fluid produced by the liver and secreted in the intestine through the bile ducts to help digest fat. Some gallstones do not produce detectable symptoms.
It is often believed that stones in the gallbladder can be caused by poor eating habits. Excessive consumption of foods high in fat causes the liver to secrete more bile. Hence the importance of controlling your diet, whether to prevent the appearance of stones or to relieve symptoms.
Stones in the gallbladder are more common in women, especially after age 50 and with a family history of stones. Their incidence also increases during pregnancy and in people who take oral estrogen, in people who fast frequently, in those who do not exercise, and in people with cirrhosis.
Do you have gallstones? Here is the recommended diet
In general, the dietary recommendations to follow in case of gallstones are simple:
- Eat a varied diet low in fat and cholesterol
- Adapt the number of calories to the daily diet
- Try to split meals into 5 portions per day
- Avoid prolonged fasts
- Avoid large meals
Liquids
- Water in large quantities
- Warm infusions of tea and chamomile
- Skim milk in small amounts and gradually increasing
Soups, porridge and mash
- Vegetable broth soup, white rice, pasta
- Well-cooked porridges of oatmeal, lentils, corn, etc.
- Mashed potatoes, boiled or baked potatoes
- Very cooked dry legume purée passed through a sieve
Meats
- Veal, rabbit, mutton, in water, barbecue or pan, tender and cut into small pieces
- Skinless chicken, skinless hen or skinless pigeon, barbecue or pan, tender and cut into small pieces
- Lean ham, not very salty or not very sweet
- Fish: white fish, sole, hake, whiting, etc., cooked in water, seasoned with a drizzle of oil, lemon or on the barbecue
Desserts
- Flan, jam, compote, fruit juice, cooked fruit or cured apples
- Bread and cookies: cookies, white bread in small quantities, dry pasta, puff pastry or cake
Recommended types of cooking
- With little fat
- Without frying
- With unheated fat above 100 ° C.
- Raw, in water, a la plancha, steamed, in foil
Food to avoid
- Extreme temperatures: Very cold and hot foods and drinks are bile stimulants. It is therefore necessary to consume and drink at a good temperature.
- Sugars: Studies show that high concentrations of monosaccharides and disaccharides stimulate bile secretion. Therefore, we must consume in moderation foods that have sugars
- Xanthines: Foods rich in caffeine and theobromine such as coffee, concentrated tea, sodas can be great gallbladder stimulants. We must therefore reduce their consumption as much as possible
- Large volumes: Large amounts of food ingested in one meal can cause severe stimulation and pain. Therefore, it is better to eat several times a day and in small amounts
- Others: it is also advisable to reduce citrus fruits, carbohydrate drinks and alcohol consumption
Finally, people suffering from gallstones should consult a nutritionist to establish an individual nutritional plan according to their needs and a gastroenterologist to indicate the treatment to be followed.
