Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe Function of BileFried FoodsGreasy FoodsVegetable OilsConvenience FoodsLiquids During MealsLarge MealsSpicy FoodsOther FoodsFoods to Eat After Gallbladder Surgery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Function of Bile
Fried Foods
Greasy Foods
Vegetable Oils
Convenience Foods
Liquids During Meals
Large Meals
Spicy Foods
Other Foods
Foods to Eat After Gallbladder Surgery
After you have yourgallbladder removed, you may find you can’t eat like you did before the surgery. You might have pain after eating. You might also havediarrhea soon after eating.
This happens because your digestive system doesn’t work the same way it used to.
This article will discuss some of the specific foods and types of foods you should avoid and foods to eat after you have your gallbladder removed. It will also look at eating habits that may contribute to pain and discomfort after meals.
Gallbladder Surgery Recovery Time
Without your gallbladder, there is no longer a place to store bile. Instead, the bile drips from your liver continuously. This means there is less bile available to break down fats. The bile can also end up in thelarge intestine, which can causediarrheaand abdominal pain.
This is why you need to be careful about the foods you eat after surgery.You may no longer be able to enjoy some of your favorite foods. On the plus side, gallbladder removal may help you form healthier eating habits.
Certain health conditions can cause ongoing digestive symptoms.This includes post-cholecystectomy syndrome. This is a condition associated with pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms after a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal surgery).It is important to speak with your doctor about yourpost-surgery symptoms. This will ensure you get a proper diagnosis and the right course of treatment.
Certain health conditions can cause ongoing digestive symptoms.This includes post-cholecystectomy syndrome. This is a condition associated with pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms after a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal surgery).
It is important to speak with your doctor about yourpost-surgery symptoms. This will ensure you get a proper diagnosis and the right course of treatment.
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Fried foods are hard on most people’sdigestive systems. They are even worse when you don’t have a gallbladder.
Fried foods contain a lot of fat. Since you are no longer storing bile in a gallbladder, it’s much harder for your body to digest and process fat.
You do still need to eat fats. But since it’s harder for your body to break them down, you will want to save your bile for fats that are good for you.
Foods you should avoid now that you no longer have a gallbladder include:
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Avoid greasy foods for the same reason you avoid fried foods. Without a gallbladder, it’s just too hard for your body to digest fats.
A food that makes your hands greasy or leaves oil on the plate is probably too greasy for you to eat. The grease in these foods will make its way to your digestive tract. Without a gallbladder, your body won’t be able to process it comfortably.
Greasy foods you should avoid include:
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It is important to get healthy fats in your diet, but you’ll need to consume them in small amounts after gallbladder removal. There are two types of healthy fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are both polyunsaturated fats.Omega-3 fatty acidsare essential fatty acids (meaning the body can’t produce them and they have to come from the diet). They provide heart, eye, and brain health benefits.
Omega-6 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats also have heart health benefits.
Without your gallbladder, you’ll need to choose fats carefully. When cooking with oil, use small amounts of those higher in monounsaturated fat and omega-3 fats (since your body can’t make these) while occasionally using oils with omega-6 fats.
Oils that contain monounsaturated fat or omega-3 fatty acids include:
Oils that contain omega-6 fatty acids include:
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Convenience foods aren’t usually healthy. They often contain lots of sugar and refined grains. These ingredients can raise your risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Convenience foods also tend to be high in omega-6 fatty acids. This is because they are often made with soybean oil.
Avoid store-bought versions of the following:
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You may find it’s easier to digest your food if you don’t drink as much liquid before and during a meal.
This may be because too much liquid can dilute stomach acid anddigestive enzymes. Without a gallbladder, you depend more on these substances to help you digest food.
Because water in the stomach is absorbed rapidly, though, it doesn’t play a large role in acid and enzyme secretion. So drink water when you are thirsty.
Large, Heavy Meals
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Large meals are harder to digest. Eating a large meal causes the stomach and intestines to have to work harder. This may make abdominal pain and diarrhea worse.
Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may help you avoid these uncomfortable symptoms.
Spicy foods that contain capsaicin (a component of chili pepper) can irritate the stomach and cause digestive issues. Consider avoiding foods that contain a large amount of:
Other Potentially Troublesome Foods
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Not everyone reacts to the same foods in the same way. Eliminating obvious problem foods may not be enough.
Certain foods can cause digestive upset for many people. This even includes those who still have a gallbladder.
Foods that cause problems for many people include:
Although there is no specific diet you should follow after having gallbladder surgery, low-fat foods are easier to digest and are less likely to cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea. Examples of foods that are nutritious and typically well tolerated include:
Snacks can include any of the foods listed above, such as:
Summary
Your gallbladder stores bile, which helps you digest food.Without a gallbladder, there are some foods you may no longer be able to eat comfortably.
Avoid fried and greasy foods, as well as cooking with too much oil. Convenience foods also tend to be high in fat, sugar, and refined grains. You may also find it helpful to drink less fluids while eating and to eat smaller meals.
If none of these tips help prevent discomfort after eating, you may need to talk with your healthcare provider or registered dietitian for nutrition recommendations tailored to your needs.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shin Y, Choi D, Lee KG, Choi HS, Park Y.Association between dietary intake and postlaparoscopic cholecystectomic symptoms in patients with gallbladder disease.Korean J Intern Med.2018;33(4):829-836. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.223Arora D, Kaushik R, Kaur R, Sachdev A.Post-cholecystectomy syndrome: a new look at an old problem.J Minim Access Surg. 2018;14(3):202-207. doi:10.4103/jmas.JMAS_92_17Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Types of fat.Harvard Medical School.No need to avoid healthy omega-6 fats.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shin Y, Choi D, Lee KG, Choi HS, Park Y.Association between dietary intake and postlaparoscopic cholecystectomic symptoms in patients with gallbladder disease.Korean J Intern Med.2018;33(4):829-836. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.223Arora D, Kaushik R, Kaur R, Sachdev A.Post-cholecystectomy syndrome: a new look at an old problem.J Minim Access Surg. 2018;14(3):202-207. doi:10.4103/jmas.JMAS_92_17Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Types of fat.Harvard Medical School.No need to avoid healthy omega-6 fats.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Shin Y, Choi D, Lee KG, Choi HS, Park Y.Association between dietary intake and postlaparoscopic cholecystectomic symptoms in patients with gallbladder disease.Korean J Intern Med.2018;33(4):829-836. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.223Arora D, Kaushik R, Kaur R, Sachdev A.Post-cholecystectomy syndrome: a new look at an old problem.J Minim Access Surg. 2018;14(3):202-207. doi:10.4103/jmas.JMAS_92_17Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Types of fat.Harvard Medical School.No need to avoid healthy omega-6 fats.
Shin Y, Choi D, Lee KG, Choi HS, Park Y.Association between dietary intake and postlaparoscopic cholecystectomic symptoms in patients with gallbladder disease.Korean J Intern Med.2018;33(4):829-836. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.223
Arora D, Kaushik R, Kaur R, Sachdev A.Post-cholecystectomy syndrome: a new look at an old problem.J Minim Access Surg. 2018;14(3):202-207. doi:10.4103/jmas.JMAS_92_17
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Types of fat.
Harvard Medical School.No need to avoid healthy omega-6 fats.
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