• Nutrition

5 Healthy Foods to Eat After Gallbladder Surgery

If you’re preparing for a gallbladder removal surgery, it’s crucial to plan what you’ll be eating after the procedure.

Certain foods may hinder your recovery and make you feel unwell. Other foods can help you recover faster as they are more gentle on your digestive system while it adjusts to no longer having a gallbladder.

In this article, we provide some guidance on the best diet after gallbladder removal surgery. We’ll also discuss which foods to avoid to ensure a smooth and comfortable recovery.

Why Should You Follow a Gallbladder Removal Diet?

The main function of your gallbladder is to collect and store digestive fluids and bile produced by your liver when it digests food. 

The gallbladder continuously releases bile to aid the digestion process.

If your gallbladder isn’t functioning properly or if you have gallstones, it may need to be removed.

The reason you should pay special attention to your diet after the surgery is that there is no gallbladder to concentrate or control the bile in your digestive system once it’s removed.

This means bile now passes directly through your intestines, which could lead to diarrhea and frequent stools until your body adjusts to not having a gallbladder.

You need to eat foods that are easy for your body to digest and don’t create excess bile. For example, large quantities of high-fat foods could lead to more diarrhea, gas, and bloating. 

5 Foods to Include in Your Diet After Gallbladder Surgery

Following a gallbladder removal, there are certain foods you should aim to include in your diet. Some of these include:

High-fiber foods

The gallbladder removal can lead to changes in how your body digests food. High-fiber foods can help regulate the digestion process. 

Increasing your fiber intake also helps to regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation, which is a common issue after surgery.

Fiber helps bind bile acids in the small intestine, potentially preventing irritation and diarrhea that sometimes occur when bile is not regulated by the gallbladder.

Whole grains such as oats, barley, and quinoa are excellent sources of soluble fiber to include in your diet after the surgery. Nuts, seeds, and legumes are also great options.

Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and veggies are typically gentle on the digestive system, making them easier for the body to process. This is especially true if they are cooked, as they are softer.

They’re also rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential for healing and recovery. Their fiber content is beneficial for the reasons explained above.

Additionally, fruits and vegetables are low in fat, making them ideal to eat as the body has a harder time digesting fat without a gallbladder.

Good options include pears, apples, carrots, oranges, watermelon, spinach, kale, and broccoli.

Lean meat

Fatty meats are much harder for the body to digest without a gallbladder compared to lean options. If you eat fattier meats, you may experience discomfort or pain.

Lean meats also contain plenty of protein, which is essential for the repair and growth of tissues. After the surgery, your body will need ample protein to repair the surgical incisions. 

Finally, lean meats provide important nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin B, which are vital for maintaining your health during the healing process.

Examples of lean meat to include in your diet after gallbladder surgery include skinless chicken breast, turkey, fish, and pork tenderloin.

Healthy fats

Healthy fats provide essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, which the body doesn’t produce on its own. Fatty acids are vital for reducing inflammation and supporting the immune system, which is important for healing after the surgery.

These fats also help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins, which makes consuming them important to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.

After gallbladder surgery, you may not be able to tolerate large meals, which could impact your energy levels. Including small amounts of healthy fats in your meals can provide you with energy without requiring large quantities of food.

Some healthy fats to eat after surgery include avocado, olive oil, and fatty fish.

Low-fat dairy

Low-fat dairy products are easy for the digestive system to process, potentially reducing discomfort and diarrhea following gallbladder surgery.

These products provide essential nutrients like calcium and protein, which your body needs, but with lower fat content.

As your body adjusts to a new digestion process, you can aid your recovery by helping it absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Low-fat dairy helps the body use vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Good options include low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, and kefir.

Foods to Avoid After You Have Your Gallbladder Removed

It’s best to avoid these types of foods after gallbladder surgery:

High-fat foods

Without the gallbladder, it becomes much harder for the body to break down and absorb large amounts of fat. This can lead to digestive discomfort, such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

Consuming fatty foods can cause an excess of bile acids in the colon, which can cause irritation and diarrhea — a condition known as malabsorption.

It’s best to stick to low-fat foods and avoid options like fried foods, fast food, and oily or creamy sauces.

Spicy foods

Your digestive system will be sensitive following gallbladder surgery. Spicy foods can irritate the sensitive digestive lining, leading to discomfort.

Capsaicin, the compound that gives spicy foods their heat, can stimulate the stomach to produce more acid and prompt the liver to increase bile production. This excess bile can lead to issues like diarrhea and bloating.  

When the body is still adjusting after gallbladder surgery, the irritation caused by spicy foods can cause conditions like heartburn or acid reflux to be more pronounced. 

Avoid hot peppers and chillies, spicy sauces, curries, seasoned meats, and spicy soups.

Full-fat dairy products

The saturated fats in full-fat dairy products are hard for the body to digest without a gallbladder. 

This can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Full-fat dairy can also cause the bile acid malabsorption described above. 

After your surgery, avoid whole milk, butter, cream, full-fat cheese, ice-cream, and full-fat yogurt.

Processed foods

Many processed foods contain high levels of unhealthy fats, like saturated and trans fats. As mentioned earlier, these fats are difficult for your body to digest without a gallbladder, and eating them can cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

Processed foods typically have a high sodium content, which can cause dehydration and bloating while your body is trying to recover from the surgery. Excess sodium can also impact your blood pressure and overall health.

Finally, processed foods are usually low in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. After surgery, consuming nutrient-dense foods is crucial to ensure healing and recovery.

Try not to eat prepackaged meals, sugary foods like cookies, canned soups, baked goods, and processed meats like sausages and hot dogs.

Very sweet foods

Sweet foods, especially those high in refined sugar, can cause rapid changes in blood sugar levels. This can lead to bloating, gas, and other uncomfortable symptoms during your recovery.

Sugary foods can also increase inflammation in the body, which may slow down the healing process and exacerbate pain or discomfort.

Avoid eating candy, pastries, sugary cereals, sweetened beverages, and syrups. 

Guidance for Eating After Gallbladder Surgery

Now that you know what to eat and what to avoid after your surgery, here is some general advice about consuming food following the procedure:

• Eat smaller meals: Without a gallbladder, the liver continuously releases bile into the small intestine. However, it doesn’t do this in the concentrated bursts needed to digest large amounts of food. Small meals ensure that the amount you eat is aligned with the available bile. This can help the digestion process and prevent discomfort. 

• Slowly introduce solid foods: Once your gallbladder is removed, your digestive system needs time to adapt to the continuous and less concentrated flow of bile from the liver. Slowly introducing solid foods into your diet helps the digestive system to adjust and prevents strain.

• Stick to a low-fat diet: In the weeks and months following your surgery, limit your intake of saturated and trans fats. You’ll likely already be experiencing some discomfort following the surgery, and eating foods with a high fat content can worsen these symptoms.

Where Can I Learn More About What to Eat After Gallbladder Surgery?

At LifeMD, we want you to have a smooth and safe recovery from gallbladder surgery. 

Licensed healthcare professionals are here to provide you with the best guidance on what to eat after your surgery.

We can connect you with board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners who can also advise you on how to recover comfortably, minimizing gastrointestinal symptoms as much as possible.

Visit our website to book your online appointment with LifeMD, today.

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