The gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ attached to the liver, stores and releases bile formed in the liver. Bile helps break down fat. Gallbladder removal is the most commonly done surgery in the United States. If you have gallbladder disease, dietary changes may ease the pain and prevent the need for surgery.
Causes of Gallstones: Being Overweight and Gallbladder Disease
Stones in the gallbladder can block bile flow, causing pain, a condition known as cholelithiasis. The gallbladder can also become inflamed when stones get stuck in the bile duct, a condition known as cholecystitis. Being overweight is a risk factor for developing gallstones, because bile in overweight people contains more cholesterol than bile in normal-weight people.
Types of Foods that Increase the Risk of Gallbladder Disease
Although fatty foods often are blamed for causing gallbladder attacks, fatty food is not a specific precipitating cause of gallbladder attacks, theMerck Manuals report. Large meals may precipitate gallbladder attacks. High sugar intake as well as high fat intake can increase the risk of gallbladder attack. Foods most commonly associated with gallbladder attacks in people with gallstones include eggs, pork, onions, poultry, oranges, corn, beans, and nuts. Coffee and milk also often trigger gallbladder attacks.
Food Allergies that Can Trigger Gallbladder Disease Symptoms
Food allergies may also precipitate gallbladder attacks. Common allergens that can aggravate the gallbladder include eggs, dairy products such as milk, cheese and ice cream and foods containing gluten, such as wheat. Corn, soy products, food preservatives and chemical food additives can also irritate the gallbladder in some cases.
Using Diet Control to Reduce Symptoms When You Have Gallbladder Disease
While 10 to 20 percent of the population over age forty has gallstones, according to Penn Medicine, only 20 percent of people experience symptoms with them. Because certain foods may trigger attacks, keeping a food diary and avoiding troublesome foods may be enough to avoid surgery. People who have slow intestinal transit time--it takes longer for food to get through the intestine--also have a higher rate of gallbladder disease; increasing dietary fiber can increase transit time. Vegetarians also have a lower rate of gallbladder disease.
Treating an Acute Gallbladder Attack
During an acute gallbladder attack, most people require hospitalization and intravenous fluids. Nausea and vomiting often develop, making eating impossible. Call your medical practitioner immediately if you’re having an acute gallbladder attack. In 50 percent of cases, a bacterial infection also develops in the gallbladder, according to the Penn Medicine website.
Living With Gallbladder Disease and Staying Out of the Operating Room
Not everyone with gallstones needs to have them removed. Making dietary changes that decrease the risk of gallbladder attacks can keep you pain-free and out of the operating room.
Sources:
The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Gallbladder Disease; Accessed January 7, 2011
University of Maryland Medical Center: Gallbladder Disease; Accessed January 7, 2011
Dr. Ronald Hoffman: Gallbladder Disease; Accessed January 7, 2011
Penn Medicine: Gall Bladder Disease; Accessed January 7, 2011
Sharon Perkins - Sharon is an RN with over 20 years experience in maternal child health, oncology, and ophthalmology. She was the RN coordinator for an ...
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