Your gallbladder is an organ that aids in digestion. Located beneath your liver, it's a small sac that holds bile, bilirubin, bile salts, fats, proteins and cholesterol. After your liver has filtered out any toxins that you may have ingested, the contents are then transported and stored in your gallbladder. Eating certain foods can disrupt the way your gallbladder functions, even if you're healthy and have never experienced any gallbladder issues.
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Egg Yolks
Egg yolks are particularly high in cholesterol. A single large egg yolk contains 213 mg, enough cholesterol that you should limit your cholesterol intake for the rest of the day. If you're a healthy adult with no cholesterol issues, you can safely consume about 300 mg of cholesterol. Most individuals who have high cholesterol are usually limited to around 200 mg of cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic. Cholesterol can severely affect your gallbladder if you consume too much. Since your gallbladder stores cholesterol, it may not be able to break down an excessive amount. The excess cholesterol that doesn't get broken down will begin to harden; this is what forms gallstones.
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Cookies, Brownies and Other Sweets
Sweets and desserts contain a great amount of sugar and refined flour, which can be hard for your gallbladder to digest. Numerous desserts are made with refined flour and egg, both of which should be avoided, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. When foods are difficult for your gallbladder to process, it may cause your gallbladder to contract more than usual, which can result in abdominal pain.
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Spicy and Fried Foods
If you already have gallstone symptoms or have gallbladder disease, spicy and fried foods aren't your friends. They can increase the amount of bile concentration within your gallbladder, forcing it to work harder than it already does. Fat from fried foods can clog your gallbladder and make it harder for your gallbladder to breakdown, resulting in gallstones. Spicy foods can increase acid production, which can aggravate symptoms of gallstones and gallbladder disease.
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Full-Fat Dairy Products
Full-fat dairy products such as whole-fat milk, margarine, butter and heavy cream can have a similar effect as fatty or fried foods. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends eliminating suspected food allergens such as wheat, corn, soy and chemical food additives in addition to milk products.
The gallbladder stores and excretes bile and bile acids necessary for digestion of fat. Gallbladder problems include cholecystitis, or the inflammation of the gallbladder, and cholelithiasis, or gallstones 34.
Gallbladder problems may cause severe pain, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Surgical removal of the gallbladder is necessary in some cases.
A diet that's low in fiber and high in cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for gallbladder disease. Following a low-fat diet and avoiding certain foods can help you manage your gallbladder disease, ease symptoms and minimize attacks.
Read more: Foods to Avoid When You Have Gallstones
Why a Special Diet?
When you experience difficulty with your gallbladder, your body isn't able to digest and absorb fat properly. Therefore, you need to follow a low-fat diet. According to Regional Digestive Consultants, patients with gallbladder disease should restrict their fat consumption to 25 to 40 grams per day or 10 to 20 percent of their calorie intake 2.
It's important to eat a variety of foods from each of the food groups, but to limit high-fat foods, especially full-fat dairy and meat. Vitamin C-rich foods, such as citrus fruits and green peppers, help to break down cholesterol. You may require supplemental vitamin C and fat-soluble vitamins due to malabsorption.
- When you experience difficulty with your gallbladder, your body isn't able to digest and absorb fat properly.
Full-Fat Dairy
Recommended Diet to Deal with Gallstones and Biliary Colic
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Milk and other dairy products contain vitamin D, calcium and protein. While you need these nutrients, certain foods, such as:
- whole milk
- buttermilk
- cream
- butter
- sour cream
- nondairy creamer
- whole-milk cheese
- cheese spreads
- chocolate milk
- ice cream are high in fat
Fatty Meats
To avoid developing gallbladder disease or to prevent gallbladder attacks, limit meats that are rich in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.
Read more: Sources of Low-Fat Protein
Eggs in Moderation
What Foods to Eat With a Reduced Gallbladder Ejection
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Eggs should be eaten in moderation on a gallbladder diet. You shouldn't eat more than three eggs per week. Eggs are rich in calories, fat and cholesterol; however, they're a good source of protein and choline, known to boost brain function. Prepare eggs by scrambling or poaching with very little or no fat. As an alternative, try using egg whites and egg substitutes with less fat.
- Eggs should be eaten in moderation on a gallbladder diet.
- As an alternative, try using egg whites and egg substitutes with less fat.
Fried Foods
One of the worst cooking methods if you're on a gallbladder diet is frying. Stay away from fried foods that are rich in calories, saturated fat and trans fat. Avoid foods such as:
- French fries
- onion rings
- doughnuts
- fritters
- pastries
- even vegetables that are fried
Limit your use of butter when sautéing foods; use a small amount of margarine instead.
Sweets and Desserts
These foods are high in empty calories and fat and may not be well tolerated or support good health.
Avoid adding whipped cream or dessert toppings that may be high in fat.
Read more: Foods You Can Eat With Gallstones
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References
- Jackson | Siegelbaum: Low Fat Diet
- Regional Digestive Consultants: Gallstones/Diet for Gallstones
- Mayo Clinic: Cholecystitis
- MedlinePlus: Gallstones: Also Called Cholelithiasis
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). Gallstones. //www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones
- University of Maryland Medical Center. (2018). Gallstones and gallbladder disease. //www.umms.org/ummc/patients-visitors/health-library/in-depth-patient-education-reports/articles/gallstones-and-gallbladder-disease
- Njeze GE. Gallstones. Niger J Surg. 2013;19(2):49-55. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.119236
- Maurer KJ, Carey MC, Fox JG. Roles of infection, inflammation, and the immune system in cholesterol gallstone formation. Gastroenterology. 2009;136(2):425-40. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2008.12.031
- Halpin V. Acute cholecystitis. BMJ Clin Evid. 2014;2014:0411.
- Balmadrid B. Recent advances in management of acalculous cholecystitis. F1000Res. 2018;7: F1000 Faculty Rev-1660. doi:10.12688/f1000research.14886.1
- Ahmed M. Acute cholangitis - an update. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2018;9(1):1-7. doi:10.4291/wjgp.v9.i1.1
- Derici H, Kara C, Bozdag AD, Nazli O, Tansug T, Akca E. Diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder perforation. World J Gastroenterol. 2006;12(48):7832-6. doi:10.3748/wjg.v12.i48.7832
- Toouli J. Biliary Dyskinesia. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol. 2002;5(4):285-291.
- Ahmed M, Diggory R. Acalculous gallbladder disease: the outcomes of treatment by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2011;93(3):209-12. doi:10.1308/003588411X563402
- Shaffer EA. Gallbladder cancer: the basics. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2008;4(10):737-41.
- Wang JK, Foster SM, Wolff BG. Incidental gallstones. Perm J. 2009;13(2):50-4.
- Bree RL. Further observations on the usefulness of the sonographic Murphy sign in the evaluation of suspected acute cholecystitis. J Clin Ultrasound. 1995;23(3):169-72.
- Robinson P, Perkins JC. Approach to Patients with Epigastric Pain. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2016;34(2):191-210. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2015.12.012
- Pejić MA, Milić DJ. [Surgical treatment of polypoid lesions of gallbladder]. Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2003;131(7-8):319-24.
- Genc V, Sulaimanov M, Cipe G, et al. What necessitates the conversion to open cholecystectomy? A retrospective analysis of 5164 consecutive laparoscopic operations. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2011;66(3):417-20. doi:10.1590/S1807-59322011000300009
- Katzarov AK, Dunkov ZI, Popadiin I, Katzarov KS. How to measure quality in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Ann Transl Med. 2018;6(13):265. doi:10.21037/atm.2018.05.01
- Catalano MF, Thosani NC. (2016). Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Howell DA (ed). UpToDate, Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc.
- Lee JY, Keane MG, Pereira S. Diagnosis and treatment of gallstone disease. Practitioner. 2015 Jun;259(1783):15-9,2.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). Gallstones.
- University of Maryland Medical Center. (2018). Gallstones and gallbladder disease.
Writer Bio
Erica Wickham covers health, exercise and lifestyle topics for various websites. She completed an internship in dietetics and earned a Master of Science in dietetics from D’Youville College in Buffalo, N.Y. Wickham now serves as a registered dietitian.