Post-Surgical Repercussions
Your liver secretes bile, a
digestive fluid that helps break down ingested fats. The gallbladder normally
stores and releases bile when necessary to assist fat digestion. After
gallbladder removal surgery, the liver continues to secrete bile and release it
into the small intestine. The absence of the gallbladder can cause bile release
to become erratic, which in turn can provoke pain, discomfort and diarrhea
after meals, especially high-fat meals.
Recommended Dietary
Strategy
Patients post-surgery are
advised to consume small meals throughout the day to help the body through the
transition from relying on the gallbladder to assist digestion. Consuming small
meals throughout the day encourages the body to create smaller amounts of bile
at one time. Compose meals of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and small amount
of lean proteins such as nonfat dairy, chicken, turkey or fish. Avoid caffeinated
beverages such as soda, greasy foods and very sweet foods, which can lead to
diarrhea after gallbladder surgery.
Recommended Fat Intake
Patients are advised to
avoid high-fat foods such as fast food, fat-laden gravies and sauces and fried
foods. These foods can overtax bile production. Minimize bile production by
eating foods with 3 grams fat or less per serving. Although you need to read
nutrition labels to be certain of a food's fat content, well-known low-fat
foods include fat-free ice cream, plain low-fat yogurt, extra-lean ground beef,
egg whites and trimmed pork loin.
It is wise to take a
probiotic supplement every day to better manage discomfort and pain associated
with gallbladder removal surgery, the beneficial bacteria in probiotic
supplements can help the body better digest food. When you schedule a
consultation to discuss your condition, we will be glad to recommend probiotics
that we have found to be the most effective.
Do not use a
post-gallbladder removal surgery diet on your own. Speak to your doctor about
incorporating this diet into your recovery regimen before adopting it to
prevent food-related complications resulting from your surgery.
There isn't a set diet people
should follow after gallbladder removal because the guidelines depend on the
individual.
When the gallbladder is removed, bile is less concentrated
and it drains continuously into the intestine. This affects digestion of fat and
fat-soluble vitamins. How much of a problem it is varies from person to person.
With time, the body often adjusts and becomes better at digesting fatty foods.
The amount of fat eaten at one time also factors into the
equation. Smaller amounts of fat are easier to digest. On the other hand, large
amounts can remain undigested and cause gas, bloating and diarrhea.
General advice for avoiding problems after you've had your
gallbladder removed include:
·
Eat smaller, more frequent meals. This may ensure a better mix with
available bile. Include small amounts of lean protein, such as poultry, fish
and nonfat dairy, at every meal, along with vegetables, fruit and whole grains.
·
Go easy on fat. Avoid high-fat foods, fried and greasy foods, and fatty
sauces and gravies. Instead, choose nonfat or low-fat foods. Read labels and
look for foods with 3 grams of fat or less a serving.
·
Gradually increase the fiber in your diet. This can help normalize bowel
movements by reducing incidents of diarrhea or constipation. However, it can
also make gas and cramping worse. The best approach is to slowly increase the
amount of fiber in your diet over a period of weeks.
·
Be aware that after gallbladder surgery some people find that the
following are difficult to digest: caffeinated beverages and dairy products.
Talk with your doctor if
your symptoms are severe and don't diminish or if you lose weight and become
weak.
Cholesterol is
Still Needed for Bile After Gallbladder Surgery
It is very important thing
to realize after gallbladder surgery that you still need cholesterol to produce bile which
assists with the digestion of regular long chain fats and oils. Note that
short or medium chain triglycerides like coconut or palm oil do not
require bile for digestion. Cholesterol is required for the production of bile and
the very foods that have sufficient and healthy quantities of cholesterol are
those that are, you guessed it, quite fatty, like liver, egg yolks, cream, and
butter. Avoiding fat altogether after gallbladder surgery is potentially
going to compound problems with digesting fat in the long run as you won’t be
getting the healthy, unprocessed cholesterol you need to produce bile!
Bitters Stimulate Bile Production After Gallbladder Surgery
Once you are comfortable
with the fact that you can and should eat fat after gallbladder surgery and
that it is wise to do so in order to provide your liver with the raw materials
necessary for bile production, the next step is to “train” your liver to produce
the bile you need at the proper times to digest the fats you eat with your
meals. Eating at regular intervals that
your body can adjust to can go a long way toward this goal.
If a regular routine for
consuming your fats does not prove helpful after a period of time or you are
temporarily off schedule for whatever reason, use of herbal bitters can be used
in conjunction.
Bitters are
herbal extracts that are rich in minerals. They are an ancient
tonic for stimulating the liver to produce bile. Traditional Asian cultures have long valued bitters not only for
their digestive benefit but also for their cleansing properties which promote
increased strength and healing. A
single teaspoon of bitters in a small amount of water in the morning and in the
evening should be sufficient to stimulate your liver to produce adequate
amounts of bile.
If you still have digestive issues with fats after gallbladder surgery, you can
use a bile salts supplement to assist you. It is always best to encourage the
body to do its job unassisted if at all possible.
The important thing to keep
in mind is that your need for healthy, unprocessed fats does not change after
gallbladder surgery. You still need these fats for
optimal health and so finding a way to consume them comfortably is of paramount
importance. The fat soluble activators
A, D, and K2 supercharge mineral absorption into the tissues as well so
avoiding fat is the wrong approach. It will likely contribute to a
mineral starved state and other deficiencies and health challenges over time.
Fat is a critical nutrient
that you cannot do without and still enjoy vibrant health. Finding a successful strategy for consuming
foods with the fats you need is the best approach after gallbladder surgery –
not avoiding them as recommended by conventional medicine.
At Living Proof
Institute we have many recommendations that you will find
beneficial to help restore your body to optimal vigor and balance, please
contact us for a consultation to learn more.
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