Have you had your gallbladder removed and still suffer from symptoms like loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, constipation or weight gain? The gallbladder works in tandem with the liver, storing bile (essential for dietary fat digestion). Healthy bile flow is key to protecting gut integrity, promoting detoxification, and ensuring the digestion of dietary fat and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K.
It’s essential to eat a nutrient-dense diet to keep your liver strong and healthy after gallbladder removal. If you experience indigestion, this is your liver signaling that it needs support. Since gallbladder removal places extra strain on the liver, it’s important to prioritize foods that support liver health and bile flow.
Consume fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, such as cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts), bell peppers, beets, beet greens, citrus fruits and berries. Always aim to eat more vegetables than fruit to maintain liver health.
If your gallbladder has been removed, reducing dietary fat intake can help improve digestive symptoms. Lowering fat consumption eases digestion by reducing the burden on your liver. Even healthy fatty fish, such as salmon, may not be ideal if you’re experiencing symptoms, as it can overwhelm sluggish bile flow. Other problematic foods include greasy, fried, or processed foods, canola oil, soybean oil, cream sauces, gravies, red meat, pork and full-fat dairy – all of which can exacerbate symptoms.
Consider discussing supplement options (such as ox bile) with your medical practitioner to support fat digestion, especially if consuming higher-fat meals.
To improve digestion, eat smaller, frequent meals to prevent overburdening the liver and ensure adequate stomach acid for fat digestion. Drinking apple cider vinegar before meals can stimulate pancreatic enzymes, aiding digestion. Also, incorporating digestive bitters like dandelion and artichoke can help stimulate bile flow. These are available in teas or tinctures at health food stores.
Other beneficial strategies include:
- Starting your day with warm lemon water to support bile thinning and detoxification.
- Incorporating turmeric in meals or taking curcumin supplements, which provide a bioavailable form of turmeric.
- Drinking apple cider vinegar-based beverages, such as Bragg’s, to enhance digestion and reduce indigestion symptoms.
Focusing on nutrition to support liver health post-gallbladder removal is crucial for improving digestion and overall well-being. The gallbladder plays a vital role in fat digestion, impacting brain health, metabolism and weight. The gallbladder may not receive much recognition, but its role in digestion is invaluable supporting your liver through diet can help restore balance and improve long-term health outcomes.
Fran Sutherlin, RD, MS is a local registered dietitian, specializing in using digestive wellness to prevent or manage chronic disease. She has a master’s degree in nutrition, is a personal health coach, speaker, and owner of Sustainable Nutrition. She can be reached at 970-444-2122 or fran@fransutherlin.com.
