What to eat after having your gallbladder removed

What to eat after having your gallbladder removed

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After gallbladder removal surgery, it is very important to eat a low-fat diet, avoiding foods such as red meat, bacon, sausage and fried foods in general, to avoid symptoms such as nausea, pain and diarrhea.

The gallbladder is an organ located on the right side of the liver and whose function is to store bile, a liquid that helps to digest fats from food. Therefore, immediately after surgery, fat digestion becomes more difficult, making it necessary to prioritize foods with a low fat content, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

Over time, after surgery, the body gets used to having the gallbladder removed and, therefore, it is possible to eat normally again, but without overindulging in fat intake.

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Recommended foods

Foods that help prevent nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea and are therefore recommended after gallbladder removal surgery are:

  • lean proteins, such as fish, skinless chicken, eggs, tofu and turkey;
  • Fresh fruit, such as strawberry, papaya, orange, watermelon, pear and apple;
  • fresh vegetables, such as chayote, green beans, tomatoes, cabbage, arugula and carrots;
  • Whole grains, such as oatmeal, brown rice, wholemeal bread and wholemeal pasta;
  • Low-fat dairy products, such as skimmed milk, skimmed yogurt and white cheeses, such as ricotta, cottage and Minas cheese;
  • Legumes, such as lentils, chickpeas, lupins and beans.

It is also important to reduce the volume of food you eat, spreading it over 5 to 6 meals throughout the day. Furthermore, it is recommended to gradually increase your intake of foods rich in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, to avoid excess gas and cramps.

In case of persistent diarrhea, it is important to prioritize foods with less fiber, such as white rice, chicken and cooked vegetables, and with few seasonings. See other tips on what to eat during diarrhea.

Diet menu after gallbladder removal

The following table is an example of a diet menu after gallbladder removal surgery:

This menu is just a model that may vary according to each person’s general health, age and preferences. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a nutritionist so that an individualized eating plan can be created.

In the first few days after surgery, it is important to prioritize easily digestible foods, such as cooked vegetables, peeled fruits, vegetable soup, and mashed potatoes or carrots, thus avoiding excess gas and cramps.

As digestion improves, you should progressively increase your intake of foods rich in fiber, such as unpeeled fruits, raw vegetables and whole grains, and foods with healthy fats, such as chia seeds, flaxseeds, chestnuts, peanuts, olive oil, for example.

What foods should be avoided

After gallbladder removal surgery, it is important to avoid foods with a high fat content, such as red meat, bacon, liver, gizzards, heart, sausage, sausage, ham, milk and dairy products with a high fat content, chocolate, avocado, coconut, peanuts, ice cream, cakes, cookies, pizza and fried foods in general.

Furthermore, it is recommended to avoid spicy seasonings, such as pepper, curry, paprika, cinnamon and ginger, as they can irritate the stomach and cause vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhea.

It is important to remember that alcoholic beverages and foods rich in caffeine, such as coffee, black tea and green tea, should be avoided, as they can irritate the stomach and cause diarrhea.

What is digestion like after removing the gallbladder?

After gallbladder removal surgery, the body needs a period of 3 to 6 weeks of adaptation to relearn how to properly digest foods rich in fat and fiber. Therefore, writing down the foods that cause gas, cramps or diarrhea helps to identify which ones still need more time to return to the diet.

It is important to highlight that after surgery the person may lose weight, due to changes in diet, which becomes more balanced, with a low amount of fat and rich in fruits, vegetables and whole foods.

See nutritionist Tatiana Zanin’s tips on what to eat after surgery to remove your gallbladder: