Red-light and Green-light Foods for Gallbladder Diets

Gallbladder problems are fairly common in Western countries. Eating a proper diet can help to keep your gallbladder healthy. It usually includes foods that are low in fat and cholesterol, moderate in calories, and high in fiber. The following paragraphs discuss what food is good for your gallbladder and what should be avoided.

Green-light foods

Recommended foods for a healthy gallbladder diet include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy protein foods, low-fat dairy products and coffee. You can also draw inspiration from the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets. A Mediterranean diet pattern is mostly plant-based, with small amounts of lean meat and chicken. A DASH diet pattern includes Mediterranean diet foods, but it also encourages low-fat dairy and a limited intake of red meat and sodium.

• - Fresh fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are good natural sources of Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. These elements can protect your gallbladder. Especially vitamin C, magnesium and folate, in particular, may promote gallbladder health. You can find these substances in oranges, bananas, spinach and black-eyed peas.

• - Whole grains: Wholegrain foods are rich in fiber, which can increase bowel movements and contribute to gallbladder health. They also provide good carbohydrates beneficial to weight management, because foods with high fiber content are digested and absorbed slower and can make you feel full longer.

  

• - Healthy protein: Normal foods with rich protein like red meat are also high in fat, which lays extra burdens on your gallbladder. Therefore, finding healthy sources of protein is essential for a gallbladder diet. White meat, fish, beans and soy products are good choices. You can also achieve this goal by removing the skin from meat and cutting off the white fat.

  

• - Low-fat dairy products: Dairy products contain a large amount of calcium which can meet the daily intake requirement and support gallbladder health. But they also contain a considerable amount of fat. Replace your consumption with low-fat or zero-fat versions.

  

• - Coffee: Related researches indicate that drinking a moderate quantity of coffee may have potential benefits to your gallbladder. The special substances in coffee can stimulate the action of your gallbladder. Remember to drink plain black coffee instead of one with a lot of syrup and cream.

Red-light foods

The gallbladder concentrates and stores bile generated by the liver. When you eat food rich in fat, your gallbladder releases bile into your intestine to help your body break down and absorb it. Bile comprises several substances, some of which like cholesterol can accumulate into gallstones which cause gallbladder attacks and more seriously, cholecystitis. Therefore, you should avoid including the following foods in your gallbladder diet.

• - Highly processed carbohydrates: This category includes foods made from white flour, cookies, cakes, candy and chocolate. When you consume high amounts of added sugar and refined carbohydrates, your insulin production will surge. This can increase cholesterol production in the liver and accelerate the formation of gallstones.

• - Foods with unhealthy fat: This category includes red and fatty meat, fried foods, processed foods and full-fat dairy products. An extra intake of fat, especially unhealthy fats like saturated fat and trans fat, will increase the burden on your gallbladder.

Other tips

• - Stay hydrated: Unlike kidney stones, drinking lots of fluids cannot help your body pass the gallstones. However, staying hydrated does help prevent stone formation. Make sure you drink at least 2 liters of fluids every day. Water is the best beverage.
• - Weight management: Being overweight can increase your risk of developing gallbladder disease so maintaining a healthy weight is recommended. If you need to lose weight, doing this gradually is safer. Do not follow any low-carb diet unless you have consulted your doctor.
• - Cook by yourself: Self-cooked meals can help you follow your diet and avoid unnecessary fat intake, because you can swap inappropriate ingredients for diet versions and use healthier cooking methods. Eat takeaway or in the restaurant as little as possible. They usually contain a lot of fat and sugar.