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6 Tips on Your Diet After Gallbladder Removal | After Cholecystectomy Share: December 28, 2021 | By Leyla Muedin MS, RD, CDN Q: Is it harmful to ingest too much fat at one meal after you’ve had your gallbladder removed? A: The gallbladder is essentially a depot for bile secreted by the liver. Bile is necessary for the emulsification, digestion, and absorption of fats. After eating a meal containing some fat, the hormone CCK (cholecystokinin) is released by the epithelial cells of the duodenum to stimulate contraction of the gallbladder to release bile. Bile shrinks fat droplets, allowing enzymes to more readily break them down. Having had your gallbladder removed (cholecystectomy), there is no “depot” anymore for the bile to go. Therefore, a common short-term side effect after this procedure is diarrhea. And due to this, the common nutritional advice is to eat a low-fat diet. After some time, however, the body will readjust to living without a gallbladder and any diarrhea should resolve on its own or just occur occasionally at worst. Eating a high-fat meal soon after having your gallbladder removed may result in diarrhea. This isn’t harmful, per se, except for losing some electrolytes with dehydration short term. But you should be able to return to a more moderate-fat diet (like a Mediterranean style diet, which is 40% fat) as your liver adjusts to regular bile secretion without a gallbladder. Gallstones are a primary reason for cholecystectomy, and the primary risk factor for developing gall stones, barring any side effects of prescription medications, is a very low-fat or nonfat diet. When on such a diet, the gallbladder has little opportunity to contract at all. The bile housed there can sludge, crystallize, and eventually turn to stones. Ironically, those suffering from painful gallstones are advised to follow a very low-fat diet so the gallbladder barely contracts at all, or have their gallbladder removed. I’ve had patients do very well on moderate fat to high-fat diets like keto—all without their gallbladders. To your health! Share: Recommended Articles
Intelligent Medicine Radio for November 19, Part 1: B Vitamins vs. Covid featured product I like them so much I took them with me on my recent trip to Iceland! Explore their full line of immune supporting supplements, and protect yourself with the power of Vital Nutrients! LEARN MORE... How long after gallbladder surgery can you eat fatty foods?Avoid high-fat foods, fried and greasy foods, and fatty sauces and gravies for at least a week after surgery. Instead, choose fat-free or low-fat foods. Low-fat foods are those with no more than 3 grams of fat a serving.
What happens when you eat fatty food without gallbladder?Eating the wrong food after gallbladder surgery can induce pain, bloating and diarrhea. To side-step this gastrointestinal discomfort, avoid eating high-fat or spicy foods, including: French fries and potato chips. High-fat meats, such as bologna, sausage and ground beef.
Can you digest fat after gallbladder removal?After gallbladder removal, a person may be less able to digest fats effectively. Their stomach may empty more slowly after meals. Bile will also flow directly into the small intestine, which can result in food moving faster through the digestive tract and may harm the microbiome.
Can you eat fried chicken after gallbladder removal?Foods you should avoid after gallbladder removal surgery include: Deep fried foods (fries, potato chips, fried chicken) High fat meats and dairy products, as well as products that contain them (like cream-based soups or pasta sauces) Any food made with butter, lard, or hydrogenated oil.
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