Nutrition For Gallstones: Allowed And Forbidden Foods
Those suffering from gallbladder stones must follow a diet consisting mainly of low-fat foods. In the diet for gallstones are therefore to avoid fried foods, fats and cured meats. Instead, the consumption of water, fruit and vegetables will be increased.
These eating habits reduce symptoms, such as abdominal pain or discomfort, which usually accompany colic. At the same time, however, the diet cannot replace the treatment prescribed by the doctor, which can also include the intake of certain medications.
What are gallbladder stones?
Gallstones or gallstones are a common problem. These are solid particles that are formed as a result of the crystallization of bile.
The gallbladder, also called the gallbladder or gallbladder, is a small organ that together with the pancreas and liver produces the digestive enzymes and bile needed to digest fat. Gallstones prevent the gallbladder from doing its job, hindering the digestion of food.
One hypothesis considers gallstones as an effect of poor eating habits. Excessive consumption of fatty foods actually forces the liver to secrete more bile. That is why it is important to control what we eat in order to prevent stone formation, but also to calm the symptoms.
Nutrition for gallstones
It is very important to drink 2.5 to 3 liters of water per day and to follow a strict diet. If you take medications, but don’t correct your eating style, you can’t solve the root problem. It is necessary to consume 5-6 meals a day at fixed times, taking into account the following advice:
- Do not consume more than 4 servings of fruit per day.
- Include three main meals and two or three snacks.
- Don’t let more than an hour pass between waking up and breakfast.
- Do not let more than 4-5 hours pass between meals.
Permitted foods
If you have gallbladder stones, you should eat foods rich in water and with little or no fat content, such as:
- Fruit, except coconut and avocado.
- Vegetables in general, especially cooked, as it facilitates digestion.
- Whole grains such as rice, pasta and wholemeal bread.
- Lean, cooked or grilled meats such as skinless chicken, fish and turkey.
- Water and fruit juices.
It is important to grill or steam these foods, two cooking methods that do not involve adding fat to foods.
Foods not allowed in the diet for gallstones
Forbidden foods are those rich in fat such as:
- Whole milk, ricotta and yogurt.
- Yellow-fleshed cheeses such as Parmesan.
- Butter and any other fat of animal origin.
- Fatty meats such as ribs, sausages, goose or duck meat.
- Innards such as liver, heart, kidneys or tripe.
- Nuts like walnuts, almonds, peanuts and chestnuts.
- Other foods : chocolate, biscuits, puff pastry, meat broth, ready-made sauces, mayonnaise.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Sweetened products.
- Carbonated drinks.
Why is it important to limit fat intake?
The function of bile, a substance produced by the gallbladder, is to mix with the fats present in the intestine in order to favor its absorption. By ingesting fatty foods, therefore, the gallbladder will be stimulated to release bile, causing more pain and discomfort.
It is important to remember that those suffering from gallstones should consult a gastroenterologist to receive a tailored diet and define the treatment to be followed.
