Low-Fat Diet for Gallbladder Disease: Care Instructions (2024)

Low-Fat Diet for Gallbladder Disease: Care Instructions (1)

Overview

When you eat, the gallbladder releases bile, which helps you digest the fat in food. If you have an inflamed gallbladder, this may cause pain. A low-fat diet may give your gallbladder a rest so you can start to heal. Your doctor and dietitian can help you make an eating plan that does not irritate your digestive system. Always talk with your doctor or dietitian before you make changes in your diet.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

  • Eat 4 to 6 small meals and snacks each day instead of three large meals.
  • Choose lean meats.
    • Cut off all fat you can see.
    • Eat poultry, like chicken, duck, and turkey without the skin.
    • Many types of fish, such as salmon, lake trout, tuna, and herring, provide healthy omega-3 fat. But, avoid fish canned in oil, such as sardines in olive oil.
    • Bake, broil, or grill meats, poultry, or fish instead of frying them in butter or fat.
  • Choose skim or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, other milk products, or fortified soy beverage.
    • Read the labels on cheeses, and choose a reduced fat option.
    • Try fat-free sour cream, cream cheese, or yogurt.
    • Avoid cream soups and cream sauces on pasta.
    • Eat low-fat ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sorbet. Avoid regular ice cream.
  • Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits. These are high in nutrition and low in fat.
  • Limit the amount of avocado and coconut due to their high fat content.
  • Eat whole grain cereals, breads, crackers, brown rice, or pasta. Avoid breads that have been fried or deep-fried, like bannock or doughnuts, or breads that have a high fat content, like croissants.
  • Flavour your foods with herbs and spices (such as basil, tarragon, or mint), fat-free sauces, or lemon juice.
  • Try applesauce, prune puree, or mashed bananas to replace some or all of the fat when you bake.
  • Limit fats and oils, such as butter, margarine, mayonnaise, and salad dressing, to no more than 1 tablespoon (15 mL) a meal.
  • Avoid high-fat foods, such as:
    • Chocolate, whole milk, ice cream, processed cheese, and egg yolks.
    • Fried, deep fried, or buttered foods.
    • Sausage, salami, and bacon.
    • Cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, cookies, and other pastries.
    • Prepared snack foods, such as potato chips, nut and granola bars, and mixed nuts.
    • Coconut and avocado.
    • Fast food and convenience food meals that have lots of fat.
  • Learn how to cook and bake with less fat and sugar.
  • Learn how to read food labels for serving sizes and ingredients.

Adaptation Date: 6/14/2023

Adapted By: Alberta Health Services

Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services

Low-Fat Diet for Gallbladder Disease: Care Instructions (2024)

FAQs

What is a low-fat diet menu for gallbladder? ›

Eat whole grain cereals, breads, crackers, brown rice, or pasta. Avoid breads that have been fried or deep-fried, like bannock or doughnuts, or breads that have a high fat content, like croissants. Flavour your foods with herbs and spices (such as basil, tarragon, or mint), fat-free sauces, or lemon juice.

What is a low-fat diet before gallbladder surgery? ›

Eat fish or poultry in preference to red meat, as red meat contains more fat. Avoid dairy and egg. Eat home cooked food (where you can control what goes in, rather than purchased or processed foods) Trim all fat and skin off meat when cooking.

Can a low-fat diet cause gallbladder problems? ›

Furthermore, if restricting dietary fat does lead to a reduction in gallbladder contractions and emptying, it may also increase the risk of gallstone deposition, as lithogenic bile would be retained longer in the gallbladder. thus potentially exacerbating the problems.

What diet should you follow if you have gallstones? ›

Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Gallstones
  • Eat more foods that are high in fiber, such as. ...
  • Eat fewer refined carbohydrates and less sugar.
  • Eat healthy fats, like fish oil and olive oil, to help your gallbladder contract and empty on a regular basis.
  • Avoid unhealthy fats, like those often found in desserts and fried foods.

What is a low-fat breakfast for gallbladder problems? ›

GALLBLADDER DIET
  • Breakfast. Fruit: All but Avocado. Cereal: Any. ...
  • Lunch. Soup: No creamy or fatty soups. Vegetable: Cooked vegetables only, such as carrots, string beans, peas, beets, spinach. ...
  • Dinner. Meat: 1 serving of any lean meat, chicken, or turkey. No fried or fatty meats allowed. ...
  • THE FOLLOWING FOODS MUST BE AVOIDED.

What salad dressing is good for the gallbladder? ›

Light mayonnaise, vinaigrettes, mustard, lemon juice, fat- free salad dressings, tomato-based sauces (some can contain oil), salsa, balsamic dressing.

Is peanut butter bad for the gallbladder? ›

In one study, women who ate at least one serving of peanuts a day had a 20% lower chance of having their gallbladder removed compared to women who rarely ate peanuts or peanut butter. But the evidence is still far too preliminary to recommend any of these foods solely for the purpose of preventing gallbladder problems.

What foods soothe an inflamed gallbladder? ›

What foods are good for gallbladder problems? If you have gallstones, you may want to focus your eating plan on whole foods that are rich in essential nutrients, like fiber. This can include vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, and lean protein sources.

Is applesauce ok for the gallbladder? ›

Try applesauce, prune puree, or mashed bananas to replace some or all of the fat when you bake. Limit fats and oils, such as butter, margarine, mayonnaise, and salad dressing, to no more than 1 tablespoon a meal. Avoid high-fat foods, such as: Chocolate, whole milk, ice cream, and processed cheese.

Is coffee bad for the gallbladder? ›

Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption stimulates cholecystokinin release, which in turn stimulates the smooth muscle of gallbladder, causing its contraction [9]. However, gallbladder contraction may cause pain/colics in patients with gallstones.

Are eggs bad for gallstones? ›

The gallbladder produces bile that helps the body digest fats. A high intake of fats, and especially saturated and trans fats, may put extra strain on this process. Researchers have found that people who consume red, processed meats, and egg as part of an overall unhealthful diet have a higher risk of gallstones.

What is low-fat meat for gallbladder? ›

Plain pieces of lean red meat, chicken, turkey, white fish such as cod, haddock and pollock, tinned fish in brine or water, boiled and poached eggs. Whole/full fat milk, evaporated and condensed milk, full fat yoghurts, cream and full fat cheese e.g. cheddar, brie and stilton.

What foods cleanse the gallbladder? ›

In most cases, a gallbladder cleanse involves eating or drinking a combination of olive oil, herbs and some type of fruit juice over several hours. Proponents claim that gallbladder cleansing helps break up gallstones and stimulates the gallbladder to release them in stool.

What snacks can I eat with gallstones? ›

Foods to eat with gallstones
  • Lots of fruits and vegetables. Try to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, such as beans, citrus fruits, dark, leafy greens, peppers and tomatoes. ...
  • Lots of fibre. ...
  • Lots of fluids. ...
  • Starchy carbohydrates. ...
  • Dairy. ...
  • Lean protein. ...
  • Healthy fats.

Can you eat potatoes with gallbladder problems? ›

A healthy, well balanced diet is recommended to prevent formation of further gallstones. Eat more fibre – choose mostly seeded wholemeal bread, oats, brown rice, wholemeal pasta and noodles. Eat potatoes with skins. Eat at least 5 portions of fruits, vegetables and salad every day.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Last Updated:

Views: 5635

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Birthday: 1993-01-10

Address: Suite 391 6963 Ullrich Shore, Bellefort, WI 01350-7893

Phone: +6806610432415

Job: Dynamic Manufacturing Assistant

Hobby: amateur radio, Taekwondo, Wood carving, Parkour, Skateboarding, Running, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.