Inflamed gallbladder, also known by the medical term cholecystitis, is a condition that consists of inflammation or thickening of the walls that make up this organ located under the liver. The increase in the thickness of the walls of the gallbladder can cause a modification in vascularization which in turn, could over time weaken the walls of the organ and finally the rupture of these.
Cholecystitis is a disease that can develop acutely (in a short period of time) or chronically (growing slowly over several weeks and lasting longer). In addition to taking the treatments assigned by the doctor, it is also very important to take special care in our diet since some meals could worsen the condition. Therefore, in the following article of we tell you what are the 9 prohibited foods for the inflamed gallbladder.
Causes and Symptoms of Inflamed Gallbladder
As we have advanced, the inflamed gallbladder or cholecystitis is the inflammation of the walls of this organ which is under the liver and is responsible for storing bile and expelling it when necessary for digestion. According to the Mayo Clinic, cholecystitis is a condition that can be caused by the following causes:
- Gallstones: these particles cause an obstruction in the cystic duct so that bile accumulates and inflammation occurs.
- Occlusion of the bile ducts: The appearance of scarring on these pathways can cause this condition.
- Viral infections.
- Tumors: this type of masses prevent the drainage of bile so inflammation occurs.
- Damaged blood vessels: due to this, blood flow to the gallbladder is reduced, causing cholecystitis.
Learn more about the Causes of Gallbladder Inflammation in this other article.
So that you recognize the basic signs that will indicate that you should go to the doctor and that you probably have an inflamed gallbladder, we show you the most common ones. Thus, among the main symptoms of cholecystitis we find the following:
- Constant pain in the right of the abdominal area.
- Fever (more than 37.5ºC).
- Lump in the area where the gallbladder is located, on the right side of the abdomen.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Jaundice, which is the yellowish color on both the skin and the whites of the eyes.
9 Forbidden Foods for Gallbladder Inflammation
Swollen gallbladder is a condition that requires medical attention and drug treatments (and sometimes even surgical intervention). However, in addition to the medications assigned by the health personnel, you will also have to take care of your diet, since the consumption of some foods could aggravate the symptoms of this disease.
Next, we leave you the list of the 9 prohibited foods for the inflamed gallbladder:
- Whole milk and other dairy products such as yogurts and cottage cheese.
- Yellow cheeses (especially Parmesan).
- Fatty meats such as duck, ribs and sausages.
- Nuts (walnuts, almonds and peanuts among others).
- Organ meats such as kidney, guts, liver or heart,
- Butter and other animal fats.
- Fish rich in fats such as salmon, sardines and tuna.
- Alcohol.
- Other foods such as cookies, chocolate, puff pastry and sauces such as mayonnaise.
Allowed foods for inflamed gallbladder
Just as there are foods that we should avoid at all costs if we have an inflamed gallbladder, we can also find foods that are recommended to improve our state of health. Below, we give you a list of the recommended foods for cholecystitis:
- Skimmed milk and other skimmed dairy.
- Low-fat meats, such as chicken or turkey.
- White fish.
- Whole grains.
- Vegetables except cabbage, cabbage, artichokes, onions and raw peppers.
- Fruits that are fresh and ripe. However, the following can be consumed very sporadically: acidic fruits (such as orange), dried and candied fruits.
- Drinks such as soft infusions, still and sugar-free soft drinks and natural and sugar-free juices (except orange).
- Other products: olive oil, margarine, sunflower and soybean seeds, jams and eggs.
Home Remedies to Relieve Gallbladder Inflammation
In addition to taking care of our diet, there are also some natural remedies that can help us relieve the symptoms caused by inflammation of the gallbladder. Among the most popular home remedies for inflamed gallbladder, we find:
- Artichoke infusion: their richness in acids reduces the accumulation of bile in the bile duct. Boil the leaves of an artichoke with two cups of water. When it reaches its boiling point, turn off the heat and let them sit for 5 minutes. Then strain the drink and drink two cups a day for 3 weeks.
- Apple juice: its richness in pectin and acids help reduce inflammation of the gallbladder. Extract the juice from 5 apples and then rinse it with half a glass of water. Take the juice daily on an empty stomach for 2 weeks.
- Beetroot juice: its high content of antioxidant substances help reduce clogging in the gallbladder pathways. Add 2 raw and chopped beets and two glasses of water to the glass of a blender. Process it all and drink the juice twice a day (fasting and in the afternoon) for 2 weeks.
You can check out more in this other article on Home Remedies for Gallbladder Inflammation.
