Diet and Exercise to Improve Gallbladder Health

A healthy gallbladder is very important for your health, helping the digestive system function effectively. This small, pear-shaped organ found right underneath the liver stores bile, releasing it each time you eat. Once it reaches your intestines, it helps break down fat and makes digestion smoother.

The problem is that more than 20 million people have gallbladder issues, and that’s only in the United States. Left alone, this can lead to different complications like gallstones and even cancer. This is why you should ensure the gallbladder stays healthy to avoid all these issues. This blog will teach you more about diet and exercise tips to improve gallbladder health.

What Are Some Things That Affect Your Gallbladder?

Gallbladder issues can appear for various reasons, throwing your health off balance. Gallstones are likely the most common problem. These are hard deposits in your bile duct or the gallbladder itself and are often caused by an imbalance in bile, causing it to harden.

Weight management issues like obesity and rapid weight loss could also lead to changes in your bile composition, causing stones to form. This is why dietary and lifestyle factors are essential to keep the gallbladder healthy. A genetic factor to gallbladder disease also exists, which means that steps should be taken if multiple members of your family have these issues.

Diet Tips to Improve Gallbladder Health

Your diet is one of the most important factors that could influence the health of your gallbladder. Severe issues could lead to gallbladder surgery, so you should take precautionary steps to improve it. If you’ve had a history of gallstones or are at risk of developing the disease, here are some diet tips to follow:

• Keep Your Meals Regular

Your gallbladder lets go of bile each time you eat. By skipping meals, that bile has nowhere to go and sits in your gallbladder. This can cause cholesterol levels to increase, leading to gallstones. By eating regular meals, you could prevent that from happening.

• Go for Whole Grain

Fiber lowers LDL cholesterol, which we know is the “bad kind.” Whole-grain foods are rich in this compound and can keep a healthy flow of bile running through the body. Ensure your diet includes whole-grain bread, wild or brown rice, oatmeal, and other whole-grain foods.

• Consume Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables don’t only pack a lot of fiber, but they are also rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Regardless of your favorites, balancing them during your meals and snacking time is bound to keep the gallbladder happy.

• Reduce Fatty or Fried Food

When you eat fatty food, your gallbladder must work several times as much to digest it. Fried food is generally packed with high cholesterol, which puts your gallbladder under pressure and increases the risk of gallstones. Rather than frying, consider boiling or baking the food, or at least try air frying.

Finding the Right Exercise Types for Gallbladder Health

Seeing as obesity can potentially increase the risk of gallbladder disease, having an active lifestyle could also reduce it. Gallstones most often occur as an accumulation of cholesterol, which could be kept under control with exercise. Cardiovascular exercise is recommended in this scenario, but any strength exercise that elevates the heart rate can be effective.

Individuals should make it a rule to get at least a half an hour of daily activity to keep the gallbladder healthy. This could include anything from calisthenics, pilates, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to cycling, jogging, walking, tennis, and more. The type and intensity of the exercise doesn’t really matter as long as you get some movement.

The Bottom Line

As small as it might seem compared to other organs, your gallbladder’s health is very important for your general well-being. If you’ve had issues with your gallbladder, you should consider changing your exercise and diet regimen. Contact Dr. Patrick Moore, and he can help provide guidance!

For more information about gallbladder health and how to follow a healthy lifestyle, you can contact Dr. Patrick Moore, MD, at 951-477-5700. He can offer all the details you need to follow a healthy lifestyle.