Located just under your liver, the gallbladder is a small sac with the primary function of storing bile produced by the liver. Without the bile, your body will not be able to digest fats properly. Under normal circumstances, your liver releases bile into the small intestine. It happens soon after you eat something. However, your gallbladder releases more bile in case the food you have eaten is laden with fats. The process may not work properly if you eat foods that irritate gallbladders. You may even develop gallstones that can cause inflammation in the gallbladder. Therefore, it is important to have information about foods to avoid with gallbladder flare-ups. This can save you from experiencing serious discomfort.

Foods to Avoid with Gallbladder Flare Ups

Whether you already have some gallbladder issues, or you just want to avoid developing any, you should always pay close attention to your diet.

1.    High Fat Meats

Fatty meats can always irritate your gallbladder and lead to serious problems. Meats like ground beef, salami, sausages, and bacon are packed with saturated fat and your gallbladder has to work hard to digest it. This often results in inflammation. Therefore, it is better to avoid fatty meats as much as possible and switch to veggies to improve your protein intake.

2.    Dairy Products

Limiting your intake of milk and dairy products is also important to keep your gallbladder healthy. You may also have to avoid everything made from milk, such as ice cream and cheese. You should never eat dairy products made using whole milk because they come with a high fat content and cause serious problems for your gallbladder. Your symptoms may become worse if you are lactose intolerant.

3.    Refined Foods

You should also avoid refined foods when you want to avoid gallbladder flare-ups. Anything like white bread, cookies, cakes, pastries, pasta, and crackers can irritate the gallbladder. Ideally, you should avoid anything made from refined sugar or refined wheat flour. Your symptoms may become worse when you eat eggs, and that is mainly because eggs contain loads of cholesterol.

4.    Peppers

It is better to avoid pepper as much as possible; in fact, you should eliminate red hot chili peppers from your diet when you have gallbladder issues. Spicy foods can irritate your gallbladder and eventually lead to flare-ups. If you really want to use something to spice up your dishes, you can opt for green peppers. Just use in moderation though.

5.    Condiments

Commonly used in potato salads and sandwiches, condiments are also on the list of foods to avoid with gallbladder flare ups. The use of fatty oils, eggs, salt, and other seasons turn mayonnaise into a condiment that is laden with fat. It is always a better idea to use some organic ketchup or sauce to add flavor to your sandwiches. You should also say no to spicy mustard.

6.    Sweets and Desserts

People with gallbladder problems should avoid commercially processed sweets and desserts because they are very high in refined sugar. Your body needs to release more insulin to deal with excess sugar and this can increase fat accumulation in the body. Be sure to avoid commercial desserts, baked goods, pies, cakes, doughnuts, ice cream, cookies, chocolate, and puddings made from whole milk and trans-fats. You will be better off eating pudding made with skim milk, fruit ice, nonfat frozen yogurt, vanilla wafers, gelatin, graham crackers, and ginger snaps.

Remedies to Try

Avoiding certain foods will help avoid gallbladder flare-ups, but you can also try some remedies to improve your condition. Here are some options to consider:

1.    Try Apple Cider Vinegar

Thanks to its acidic nature, it keeps your liver from making cholesterol, which in turn helps keep your gallbladder healthy and free of gallstones. It also helps when you already have gallstones.

Take a glass of apple juice and add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to it. Mix well and drink it when you have gallbladder flare-ups. This will help ease the pain in a few minutes.

2.    Drink Lemon Juice

To prevent a gallstone attack, you can also drink lemon juice. Again, its acidic nature helps control the amount of cholesterol the liver makes. Another good thing about lemon juice is that it contains pectin, which is supposed to help reduce pain caused by stones.

Take four lemons and squeeze their juice. Drink it with a glass of water and repeat for several days to get good results.

3.    Try Peppermint

By promoting the flow of bile, peppermint helps improve digestion. It also contains a compound called terpene, which is supposed to help dissolve gallstones. Drinking a cup of peppermint tea may also help relax spasms and alleviate gallbladder pain.

Take a cup of water. Bring it to a boil and then add a teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves to it. Then, remove it from heat and let it steep for five minutes. Strain it and add a teaspoon of honey to the mixture. Drink it slowly. Drink it twice a day for four weeks to treat your symptoms.

4.    Drink Vegetable Juice

When dealing with gallstones, you can get good results by increasing your intake of vegetables and limiting the use of fried and fatty foods. You can also drink a mixed vegetable juice to treat your symptoms and relieve gallstone pain.

Take a beetroot, four medium-sized carrots, and a cucumber. Extract their juice and drink twice a day. Continue for about two weeks to improve your condition.

5.    Try Psyllium

An incredible source of soluble fiber, psyllium can help improve your digestive system and treat gallstones as well. It lowers cholesterol and improves normal bowel movements. Regular use of psyllium may also help prevent constipation.

Take a glass of water and add a tablespoon of psyllium powder to it. Mix it well and drink twice a day. Continue with the remedy until you no longer experience any gallstone pain.