What is the Diet for Gallbladder diseases
If you have a gallbladder condition, you may have trouble digesting fats. Eating a low-fat diet can help reduce your symptoms, and may be helpful before and after having surgery to remove your gallbladder (cholecystectomy).
Your health care provider may recommend that you work with a diet and nutrition specialist (dietitian) to help you reduce the amount of fat in your diet.
What are tips for following this plan?
General guidelines
- Limit your fat intake to less than 30% of your total daily calories. If you eat around 1,800 calories each day, this is less than 60 grams (g) of fat per day.
- Fat is an important part of a healthy diet. Eating a low-fat diet can make it hard to maintain a healthy body weight. Ask your dietitian how much fat, calories, and other nutrients you need each day.
- Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day instead of three large meals.
- Drink at least 8–10 cups of fluid a day. Drink enough fluid to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
- Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink a day for nonpregnant women and 2 drinks a day for men. One drink equals 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1½ oz of hard liquor.
Reading food labels
- Check Nutrition Facts on food labels for the amount of fat per serving. Choose foods with less than 3 grams of fat per serving.
Shopping
- Choose nonfat and low-fat healthy foods. Look for the words “nonfat,” “low fat,” or “fat free.”
- Avoid buying processed or prepackaged foods.
Cooking
- Cook using low-fat methods, such as baking, broiling, grilling, or boiling.
- Cook with small amounts of healthy fats, such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil.
What foods are recommended?
- All fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables.
- Whole grains.
- Low-fat or non-fat (skim) milk and yogurt.
- Lean meat, skinless poultry, fish, eggs, and beans.
- Low-fat protein supplement powders or drinks.
Spices and herbs.
What foods are not recommended?
- High-fat foods. These include baked goods, fast food, fatty cuts of meat, ice cream, french toast, sweet rolls, pizza, cheese bread, foods covered with butter, creamy sauces, or cheese.
- Fried foods. These include french fries, tempura, battered fish, breaded chicken, fried breads, and sweets.
- Foods with strong odors.
- Foods that cause bloating and gas.
Summary
- A low-fat diet can be helpful if you have a gallbladder condition, or before and after gallbladder surgery.
- Limit your fat intake to less than 30% of your total daily calories. This is about 60 g of fat if you eat 1,800 calories each day.
- Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day instead of three large meals.
