What to Do If You Don't Have a Gallbladder?
Gallbladder problems are extremely common. Approximately 750,000 Americans have their gallbladder removed each year. In most cases, the pain of a malfunctioning gallbladder becomes so bad, that surgery is the only viable option. Most people are under the impression that once their gallbladder is taken out, the pain and discomfort they’ve been living with will be gone. Sadly that’s often not the case. It is common to have just as much discomfort after the gallbladder is removed.
People without a gallbladder are more prone to digestive problems and liver problems; they can even form stones within the ducts of the liver. The risk of developing a fatty liver is also greater in people without a gallbladder. Some herbs and nutritional supplements are extremely beneficial if you don’t have a gallbladder. Are you confused about which supplements to take, or which foods you should avoid?
The function of the gallbladder
Your gallbladder is important. Your liver continually manufactures bile, which travels to your gallbladder, where it is stored and concentrated. Bile helps you to digest fat; therefore your gallbladder secretes a lot of bile into your intestines after you’ve eaten a fatty meal. Bile is also your body’s way of excreting wastes and toxins. Bile contains cholesterol and other fats that your liver has broken down and wants to excrete. A well functioning gallbladder helps your body excrete cholesterol, other fats and fat soluble toxins.What happens when you don’t have a gallbladder?
Your liver continues to manufacture bile, but there is no longer a place to store it or concentrate it. Therefore bile continually slowly trickles into intestines. If you eat a fatty meal, you will not be able to secrete a large enough amount of bile into your intestines, therefore the fat will be poorly digested. This means many people experience diarrhea, bloating, nausea or indigestion. Not digesting fat well means you will not be able to digest essential fatty acids, including omega 3 and omega 6 fats. It also means you’ll have a hard time absorbing fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins D, E, A and K. These nutrients are vital for good health, and you will probably need to take a supplement.How to have a healthy liver and good digestion without a gallbladder
First of all it’s important to realise that you developed a gallbladder problem in the first place because you had an unhealthy liver. If your liver is not healthy, it will make poor quality bile. The bile will be prone to forming sludge and stones. Just whipping the gallbladder out doesn’t solve that problem, and in fact sludge and stones can form within the liver, compromising its function. Here are some vital tips to follow:- Keep your intake of dairy products and grains to a minimum or avoid them altogether. Dairy products (milk, cheese, ice-cream, yoghurt) worsen all cases of gallbladder disease, liver disease and they are very difficult to digest. Food intolerance is a common cause of gallbladder problems, and there is research that links gluten intolerance with gallstones. A good reason to keep your intake of grains low is to reduce the risk of developing a fatty liver. There is an easy to follow eating plan in my book Fatty Liver - You Can Reverse It.
- Take a good quality liver tonic such as Livatone. The herbs St Mary’s thistle, dandelion root and globe artichoke leaves all increase bile production and bile flow. Taurine is an amino acid necessary for bile production. This should help to make you feel more comfortable after a meal, and should reduce the risk of stones forming inside your liver.
- Eat some good fats and avoid the bad fats. Your doctor may have recommended you follow a low fat diet after having your gallbladder removed. This is not necessary and in fact it is harmful. Your body desperately needs good fats and I recommend you include moderate quantities of extra virgin olive oil, avocados, coconut milk and oil, nuts and seeds in your diet.
- Take an ox bile supplement. This is the most important recommendation for people who have lost their gallbladder. A lack of bile can produce symptoms such as bloating and indigestion after meals, light colored stools, diarrhea, fatigue after meals and nutrient deficiencies. Taking a good quality ox bile supplement with each meal is wonderful for completely eliminating these symptoms in most individuals.
- Take a Digestive Enzymes supplement. The majority of people who developed a gallbladder problem have suffered with poor digestion for many years. If your stomach and intestines are not in optimal health, they will not send signals to your gallbladder, telling it to contract properly. Irritable bowel syndrome, dysbiosis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and Candida overgrowth are common in people with a gallbladder problem. If you have had your gallbladder removed, you may continue to suffer symptoms due to those conditions. These digestive problems also cause insufficient digestive enzyme production. Taking digestive enzymes in supplement form helps to restore good digestive health and reduces symptoms of indigestion.
- You may need a vitamin D3 supplement. People with compromised liver or digestive function are often vitamin D deficient. Exposure of your skin to the sun’s UVB rays enables your body to manufacture vitamin D. However, this process occurs in your liver and kidneys. People with a sluggish liver often do not manufacture vitamin D adequately. Therefore it’s a good idea to get a blood test and take a supplement. 5000 IU of vitamin D3 is a safe and effective dose for most people, but it’s best to be guided by your own doctor.
- Include some bitter and sour foods in your diet. They should help to improve your digestion and make it easier to tolerate good fats in your diet. Suitable bitter and sour foods include lemons, limes, radicchio lettuce, chicory, endive and dandelion leaves. These leaves are fairly easy to grow at home if you are lucky enough to have your own veggie patch.
The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
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That's great that you are ordering the Ox Bile. We recommend 1-2 caps at the beginning of each meal.
We also recommend Livatone Plus 2 caps twice daily to improve liver function.
These can be purchased here:https://shop.liverdoctor.com
It is important to avoid grains, dairy, processed food and takeout meals.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutritional Consultant for Liverdoctor.com
Dr Cabot recommends
Ox Bile 1 to 2 caps at the beginning of every meal three times daily, as this will replace the bile that is no longer provided by the gallbladder for essential fat absorption.
Livatone Plus 2 caps twice daily to improve liver function
NAC 2 caps twice daily, at least 2 hours away from food, if any upset occurs please take with meals.
We recommend she avoid gluten, dairy, processed foods and high fructose corn syrup.
Let us know how she gets on.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutritional Consultant for Liverdoctor.com
You need to avoid grains, dairy and processed foods.
I recommend you take Livatone Plus 2 caps twice daily so that your liver can start making healthy bile and Ox Bile 1 - 2 capsules in middle of every meal to replace the bile that can no longer be delivered from your gallbladder to help essential fat absorption.
You should read Dr Cabot's book: 'Save Your Gallbladder Naturally and What to Do If You've Already Lost It'.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutritional Consultant
I have one concern cause my gallbladder was removed few days ago. Am I still able to continue to consume my diet supplement like fat burner for exercise? And other supplement like collagens or cleansing detox?
Thanks!
As I'm not sure of the exact supplements you are taking I would check with the company that makes them.
You should take 1 -2 capsules of Ox Bile capsules at the beginning of each meal to replace the bile that can no longer be delivered from your gallbladder to help essential fat absorption, and Livatone Plus 2 caps twice daily to improve liver function.
It is also important to eliminate or reduce dairy, grains and processed foods.
For more information see our book: 'Save Your Gallbladder Naturally and What to Do If You've Already Lost It'.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutritional Consultant
This is actually quite common after gallbladder removal. It’s because the original liver problem that caused the gallstones hasn’t been addressed.
There is information to help you in this book:http://shop.liverdoctor.com/save-your-gallbladder.html
Regarding your diet, we recommend it is free of sugar, gluten and dairy products.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Sales & Nutrition Consultant
I am not familiar with the book you are referring to, so it would be best to direct the question to the author of the book.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Sales & Nutrition Consultant
I wish I had realized sooner that all of my stomach/bathroom troubles could be a result of not having a gallbladder and what foods I've been consuming.
Good luck
Your symptoms are caused from not having the bile available from your gallbladder to break down dietary fats.
We recommend you eliminate all processed foods, dairy, gluten, take out meals and high fructose corn syrup.
We recommend you take
Ox Bile 1 to 2 caps in the middle of meals three times daily to replace the bile that is no longer coming from the gallbladder for essential fat absorption.
Livatone Plus 2 caps twice daily to improve liver function.
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) 2 caps twice daily at least 2 hours away from food, if any upset occurs please take with meals. This supplement works well with Livatone Plus to get the liver better faster.
These supplements are available here:https://shop.liverdoctor.com
Let us know how you get on.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutritional Consultant for Liverdoctor.com
I am looking for the liver flush/cleanse for people with gallbladder removed. Would you be able to let me know what kind of liver/magnesium flush you did please. Is that Andreas Moritz's?
Thank you.
You need to take Livatone Plus 2 caps twice daily and Ox Bile three times a day in middle of meals.
You need to stop eating sugar, grains, processed foods and dairy, or if you can't give up these foods reduce them.
Look at eating foods such as good protein, good fats, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Raw juicing is excellent, refer to our book 'Raw Juices Can Save Your Life'.
I guarantee you get our books: 'Save Your Gallbladder Naturally and What To Do If You've Already Lost It, and 'Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It'.
Let us know how you get on.
Kind Regards,
Jessah
I am referring to refined grains such as pasta, white bread, crackers, cereals and white rice that are rapidly converted into sugar in the body.
Kind Regards,
Jessah Robinson
Nutrition Consultant for Liverdoctor.com