How should your diet be if you have gallstones?

It is very important to drink 2.5 to 3 liters of water a day and be strict with the diet for stones in the gallbladder, because if medication is taken and food is not corrected, we will not solve the problem at the root.

If you have stones in the gallbladder, you should follow a diet consisting mainly of low-fat foods so you will have to avoid the consumption of fried foods, oils, and sausages. Instead, you will have to increase the consumption of water, fruits, and vegetables.

All these cares help to diminish the symptoms like pain or abdominal discomfort during the crises, being the feeding a fundamental component. However, this should not replace the clinical treatment prescribed by the doctor, which may include the use of some medications to relieve symptoms.

What are the stones in the gallbladder?

The stones in the gallbladder are hard deposits that can clog the bile ducts.

 Your timely intervention can help prevent complications in health.

The appearance of stones in the gallbladder is a frequent problem. The stones in the gallbladder or gallstones are solid particles that form in the vesicle caused by the crystallization of bile.

The gallbladder is a small organ that together with the pancreas and the liver is responsible for producing digestive enzymes and bile to digest fats. Gallstones prevent the gallbladder from performing its work by preventing easy digestion of all foods. 

There are those who believe that gallstones can be caused by bad eating habits. Excessive consumption of high-fat foods forces the liver to secrete more bile. Hence the importance of controlling what is eaten, both to prevent the appearance of stones and to relieve their symptoms.

Diet for patients suffering from stones in the gallbladder

It is very important to drink 2.5 to 3 liters of water per day  and be strict with the diet for stones in the gallbladder, because if medication is taken and food is not corrected, we will not solve the problem at the root.

Take a  glass of water at breakfast with a few drops of lemon because it will help a lot, to neutralize them hyperacidity of the internal environment, which accelerates the formation of stones. Reduces or suppresses alcoholic beverages as they increase the production of uric acid and triglycerides.

Establish a  fixed schedule of 5-6 meals, taking into account:

No more than 4 pieces of fruit per day.

Three main meals and two / three snacks.

Do not let more than an hour pass, since you get up without breakfast.

Do not let more than 4-5 hours pass between meals.

If you spend more than 3 hours from dinner at bedtime, you should take a snack (mid-morning or afternoon snack).

Allowed foods

High protein foods for vegans

You should eat foods rich in water and with little or no fat content, such as:

• Fruits, except coconut, avocado, and asaí.
• Vegetables in general, especially those cooked, since they facilitate digestion.
• Whole grains such as rice, pasta, and whole grain bread.
• Milk and non-fat products.
• Low-fat meats and cooked or grilled like a chicken without skin, fish and turkey.
• Water and fruit juices.

In addition to consuming these foods, it is important to cook them grilled or steamed, because these are the ways of cooking that do not add fat to food.

Read also: 6 signs that alert you to problems in the gallbladder.

Foods not allowed

Forbidden foods are foods with high-fat content such as:

• Whole milk,  cottage cheese, and yogurt
• Yellow cheeses like Parmesan
• Butter and any other animal fat
• Fatty meats such as ribs, sausages, duck or goose meat
• Guts such as liver, heart, kidney or intestines
• Oilseeds such as nuts, chestnuts, almonds, peanuts
• Fatty fish such  as tuna, salmon and sardines
• Other: chocolate, cookies, puff pastry, meat broth, ready sauces, mayonnaise
• Alcoholic drinks
• Sugary products
• Carbonated drinks

Why is it important to limit the consumption of fats?

What happens in a person with stones in the gallbladder when ingesting fats is that the bile is a substance produced by the vesicle. Its function is to mix with fats in the intestine to help them to be absorbed, so if they swallow the gallbladder will be stimulated to release bile and this will cause even more pain and discomfort.

It is important to remember that people with stones in the gallbladder should consult a nutritionist to have an individual nutritional plan, according to their needs. It is also important to go to a gastroenterologist to indicate the treatment to follow.