Gallstones are solid particles that form in the bladder caused by bile. The gallbladder is a small organ near the pancreas and liver responsible for producing digestive enzymes and bile to digest fats. Gallstones prevent the gallbladder from doing its job properly, preventing the easy digestion of all foods. At OneHowTo.com we explain what to eat if you have gallstones.
In general, the dietary recommendations to follow if you have gallstones are simple: a varied diet low in fat and cholesterol, adjusting the calories to the diet, divide the meals into 5 portions a day, avoid fasting and eat smaller meals.
If you have or have had gallstones, it is necessary to have a diet that is low in fat. That does not mean we have to completely exclude them from our daily foods, but simply that you have to keep track of them. Try to eat healthy fats instead of unhealthy ones. Only in very advanced stages should they be totally eliminated. To significantly cut down on fats, we recommend learning how to cook without oil or butter.
It is important to introduce different products in to the new diet. You should consume from 7-9 portions of fruits and vegetables a day, such as; beetroot, artichokes, cucumbers, tomatoes and radishes are all recommended; you can also include vegetable juices.
Like vegetables, fruits are also very desirable. You can choose from pears, apples, figs, melons, papaya, amongst others. Include them in your diet at least twice daily.
When choosing meat, it is advisable to opt for lean meats like chicken, turkey and rabbit as they are the lowest-fat meats and therefore easier to digest. It is advisable to remove the skin and choose lean cuts.
When choosing what to eat, if you have gallstones, you can also choose white fish because its fat content is smaller than the red fish, although that does not mean that the red fish like salmon and tuna should be excluded entirely from the diet. They are desirable fish such as monkfish, hake, squid or panga. It is important to cook them with little oil: steamed, baked or grilled.
Dairy remain important in the daily diet, but it is essential that they are skimmed to aid digestion and disposal of fats. It is better to avoid using cream.
Water consumption is the same as in any balanced diet: take 2 litres per day to promote hydration of the body and improve the performance of removing waste components.
To improve health when you have gallstones, it is good to avoid flatulent foods and those that stimulate digestive secretions such as coffee, tea, orange juice and alcoholic beverages.
No red meat, fried, spicy and products containing gluten are recommended.
Remember that if you are going to consume fatty foods, it's better if they are raw. This is the case with margarines, oils and butter. Also, make sure that you can tell which fats are the 'healthy' ones, and stick to those.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to What foods to eat if you have or have had gallstones, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.