According to an article in the NY Times, more than 600,000 cholecystectomies (gallbladder removal surgeries) are performed EVERY YEAR [1]. That number is crazy! Yes, some of them are necessary, but in Ute Mitchell’s case, it was just part of the “package deal” when undergoing liver surgery. Mitchell, a fellow nutritional therapist, needed a large part of her liver removed, so the doctors took her gallbladder, too. It wasn’t until after the surgery that she actually learned about the importance of the gallbladder and its very big responsibility in the digestion process.

After extensive research, Mitchell accurately and succinctly describes the function of the gallbladder, as well as what happens to this process after a cholecystectomy [2]:

The liver, our body’s powerhouse, produces bile, which is stored in the gallbladder until food enters the small intestine. The gallbladder receives a signal to release bile, which breaks down fats into fatty acids. Without the gallbladder, the liver continues to produce bile and it trickles into the small intestine at all times. In many humans this means that there won’t be enough bile to break down fats, [which] in turn leads to the excretion of these fats, usually as diarrhea.

Gallbladder removal decreases metabolic effects as well as increases the risk of many health issues including but not limited to [3]:

Once the gallbladder has been removed, a change in diet is necessary to avoid the aforementioned health concerns. Many major medical websites tend to recommend a low fat diet to patients, but this is NOT the way to go. Low fat diets have a tendency to slow bile excretion from the liver, which can lead to cysts in the liver and stones in the gallbladder. 

Mitchell recommends the following diet for everyone who has undergone a cholecystectomy [2]:

1) Bile salts: Take them a few minutes before each meal. You do not have to pass on butter or coconut oil, just increase your dose of bile salts before a higher fat meal. You can purchase these through my Wellevate Shop -- free 2-day shipping with a purchase of $49 or more! 

2) Liver Flush: Please check with your doctor before you do a flush. The liver flush by “The Liver Doctor” to be extremely helpful for my overall well-being, and my liver surgeon did not have any concerns about it.

3) Raw Vegetables: You don’t have to become a vegetarian, but increase your amount of raw veggies. Your gut and liver will thank you.

4) Milk Thistle and Dandelion Tea: These are great for the liver. And a healthy liver produces better bile.

5) Spicy Foods: Mustard, garlic, and horseradish – all of these are great for the liver and bile ducts.

6) Water: Need I say more? Water is the most abundant macronutrient in our bodies. Its many benefits cannot all be listed here. Just take my word it (and the word of every single other health or medical professional ever).

Mitchell made these changes to her diet and started seeing positive results almost immediately:

24 hours - diarrhea gone

A few days - stomach ache and heartburn gone

A few weeks - pain-free

The power of a good diet is incredible.

Want to avoid ever having the need for gallbladder surgery? Try a Paleo or Primal diet. Ask me (Heidi) for some good suggestions on this. 

 

 

https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/31/us/personal-health-gallbladder-surgery-is-easier-is-it-too-common.html

https://paleoflourish.com/humans-need-gallbladders-guest-post-ute-mitchell/?fbclid=IwAR1Il-56DCVewPcm324LG39ygXFM11bIqteZ9iorLpZRzuYSJx9LPCDUlJc

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27347902