Foods to Eat and Avoid: For a Gallbladder Attack or Flare Up

This is the time of year when everyone tends to overindulge in drinks and food. Although going back for seconds isn’t always a bad thing, in some individuals this can put a tremendous stress on an already overburdened gallbladder. When the gallbladder is under acute attack, it takes longer to become distended and can stay contracted for 4-6 hours.

So if you’ve pigged out on Grandma’s homemade cookies or overdid it on the eggnog, this article will certainly help get you back on track and out of the pain zone. Before we take a look at what to eat, let’s start with some important basics you’ll need to know.

Beastly Basics

  • Wait 4-6 hours before your next meal. By spacing out your meals you will put less strain on an already stressed out gallbladder.
  • Think small. Eating smaller meals will also place less stress on your gallbladder.
  • Eat organic. Organic food is important because it is free of harmful herbs and pesticides. Ingesting harmful chemicals puts a tremendous strain on the liver, and it in turn places an extra stress on the gallbladder.
  • Don’t forget to lightly cook or gently steam your food.

What to Eat

  • Baby food – fruits and vegetables
  • Baby food – cereals
  • Beets
  • Cucumber
  • Celery
  • Garlic
  • Dandelion
  • Green beans
  • Parsley
  • Zucchini

What to Avoid

  1. Eliminate all fried and greasy foods this includes fast foods, baked goods and pastries.
  2. Avoid fats. This includes healthy fats. Fats are the slowest digesting of the macronutrients. The body has a hard time processing and eliminating them.
  3. Avoid a high fiber diet. Just like fats, fiber takes the body a long time to digest and should be eliminated from your diet during a flare up. With the exception of gently steamed vegetables.
  4. This is no means a cure, but by eliminating these foods from your diet for the interim it will provide you with a considerable amount of relief.

Beastly Tip # 1

Switch from solids to liquids until your gallbladder calms down.

  • Drink Juice. Apple juice, beet juice, grape juice or grapefruit juice can be calming to the gallbladder. All juice must also be 100% organic.
  • Make a protein shake. Use a plant, pea or rice based protein powder. These protein powders are beneficial proteins to the gallbladder and liver because they contain herbs that help promote bile flow. Add several jars of baby food fruit to it.
  • Try juicing. Juicing will eliminate the fiber and is very cleansing and healing.
  • Pick up a green smoothie at an organic juice bar or local health food store.

Beastly Tip #2

This Beastly Tip is considered a flushing method and should be done on an empty stomach before bed.

  1. Cut 1 large grapefruit into wedges.
  2. Place it in a large glass bowl.
  3. In a smaller glass bowl, add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. For health benefits, EVO should be cold pressed and in a green or brown bottle.
  4. Dip the grapefruit wedges into the EVO and eat it like an orange.

You can also use one cup of grapefruit juice. Simply pour the grapefruit juice into a ceramic mug and add two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to it. Stir and drink.

Beastly Tip #3

Warm your food.

  1. Use a crock pot to warm a healthy homemade broth.
  2. Add small chunks of chopped celery.
  3. Add oregano for flavoring.

Beastly Notes

By using some of these dietary strategies, you may be able to avoid gallbladder surgery completely; I did. It is my personal belief that no matter the health crisis, diet plays a key role in reclaiming your health. Making necessary dietary modifications can tremendously improve your overall health and quality of life.

If you or a loved one has been struggling with a chronic or debilitating health condition, I’d love to help you feel better. Life should not be a daily struggle; it should be about living. I encourage you to take the time to read an amazing story about my good friend Jim.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Am loving this website! I was diagnosed with gallstones and I’m struggling with middle of the night attacks as I try (mostly through trial and error) to find gallbladder friendly foods. Ill have to look into protein powder too. Also, your feel better link is not working.

  2. Thanks for all the suggestions. I’ve had bad eating habits all my life. Now I’m 54 and it’s starting to close in. I’ll definitely use your suggestions.

  3. You say that celery is good for the gall bladder, but fiber is not, celery is about as fiberous as you can get. After eating celery for 3 days I had a really bad attack. If I eat green beans for 2 or 3 days I have an attack too, although they are milder. I’ve gone for 6 or 7 attacks a year to 2 or 3. I do take flaxseed oil regularly.

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