Give your Gallbladder some love

The Gallbladder is not an organ we often give much thought to truthfully, but when you read about the work it does for you every day, supporting it seems like a good idea. The gallbladder is a small sack located just under the liver behind the ribs on the right side of your body. It stores bile, which is the liquid made by the liver to help the body break down fats eaten as part of our daily food intake.

This function can be impaired when bile salts and cholesterol are out of balance. Symptoms such as the following may be indications of poor gallbladder function:

• bitter fluid coming up into the mouth after eating, or a bitter taste in the mouth

• bloating

• bowel looseness

• burping

• clay coloured stools

• dizziness

• feeling of fullness or food not digesting

• headache over the eyes (especially right side)

• nausea/vomiting; fever (in a gallbladder attack)

• indigestion after eating, especially fatty or greasy foods

• pain in the back, between the shoulder blades or under the right shoulder blade

There are many foods which can cause problems when gallbladder function is impaired, and equally many foods which are helpful. Knowing what foods are triggers for you, and which are helpful can help you manage your gallbladder symptoms well, improving function of this important organ. Starting with an assessment of your dietary fat may seem like a logical place to start, and it is, but did you know that there are some unlikely culprits in the mix too?  Like pork, milk and eggs? 

If you have gallbladder problems, getting to the cause is always the best strategy. 

Certainly low-fat or yo-yo diets can bring on gallbladder challenges. Poor quality fats and oils can also be an issue. If you recognise a few of the above symptoms for yourself, or have a known gallbladder condition, we are happy to advise on an eating plan that may help you.

Tracey Loughran.