Most people never think about the health of their gallbladder. The pear-shaped organ has an important job: collecting and storing bile – the fluid that helps the body digest fats. But unlike the heart, liver and kidneys, the gallbladder is not necessary to keep the body healthy and functioning. Even if it doesn’t work as well as it should and gallstones develop, most people are unaware that there is a problem.
Still, gallstones can cause a variety of symptoms in a small percentage of people, such as abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. When gallstone symptoms are frequent, recurring, and especially uncomfortable, the typical treatment is surgery to remove the gallbladder.
“The majority of people with gallstones never develop symptoms throughout their lives,” says John Martin, MD, associate professor of medicine and surgery, and director of endoscopy at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Once you start developing symptoms, the gallbladder should be removed.”
While dieting won’t directly cause gallbladder problems — and it won’t cure them — paying attention to what you eat and maintaining a healthy weight can help you prevent gallstone formation and prevent some discomfort if you do develop gallstones.
A number of risk factors contribute to gallstone formation, including a family history of gallstones and gender. Women are twice as likely as men to develop these. Body weight is also a factor; the risk of gallstones is greater in overweight and obese people.
Diets high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber appear to play a role. “There are a lot of things you can’t change on that list, but you can certainly influence your diet,” says F. Taylor Wootton III, MD, clinical consultant, associate professor of internal medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, and member of the board of the American Gastroenterological Association.
If you are overweight, try to lose the extra weight; but do it gradually. There is a link between rapid weight loss and the formation of gallstones. Crash or yo-yo dieting can cause the liver to release more cholesterol into the bile, disrupting the normal balance of cholesterol and bile salts. That extra cholesterol can form into crystals, leading to gallstones, Wootton says.
Whether or not you are at risk for gallstones, it is always a good idea to keep your body at a healthy weight and eat a diet that is low in fat and cholesterol, moderate in calories and high in fiber.
All of the following are healthy foods for your gallbladder, as well as the rest of your body:
- Fresh vegetables and fruits
- Whole grains (whole wheat bread, brown rice, oats, bran cereals)
- Lean meat, poultry and fish
- Low-fat dairy products
Certain foods have been researched for their potential to prevent gallbladder problems or reduce symptoms. For example, research has shown that drinking caffeinated coffee reduces the risk of gallstones in both men and women. Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol has also been linked to a reduced incidence of gallstones. One study found that women who ate at least one serving of peanuts per day were 20% less likely to have their gallbladder removed than women who rarely ate peanuts or peanut butter. But the evidence is still far too preliminary to recommend any of these foods solely for the purpose of preventing gallbladder problems.
Researchers say many gallbladder symptoms stem from the modern Western diet, which is high in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats. “If you have symptoms of gallstones, it’s because, as your gallbladder tries to squeeze, some of the gallstone blocks the outflow of bile stored in your gallbladder,” says Martin. “You squeeze a closed door, and that’s why it hurts. If you eat greasy food, it pinches even more.”
Changing your diet won’t get rid of the gallstones that are already there, but eating a healthy, balanced variety of nutrients and limiting the amount of saturated fats and cholesterol-rich foods you eat can help relieve your symptoms.
Try to avoid or limit these high-fat foods in your diet:
- fried food
- Highly processed foods (doughnuts, cake, cookies)
- Full-fat dairy products (cheese, ice cream, butter)
- Fatty red meat
Also avoid very low-calorie diets. If you are overweight, aim for a gradual weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week by eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly. Always follow a diet under the supervision of your doctor.
If you continue to have symptoms, see your doctor. You may need surgery to have your gallbladder removed.
Many other things also affect your chance of developing gallstones, including:
- Age
- Gender (Gallstones are more common in women than men.)
- Family history of gallstones
- Pregnancy
- Fasting often
- Not being physically active
- Conditions such as cirrhosis, diabetes or sickle cell disease.
Certain medications can also cause you to develop gallstones.