So how can you keep and preserve your gallbladder?
Let’s talk about it.
Gallbladder disease in the United States has doubled over the last three decades. The risk factors for gallbladder disease are older age, male gender, diabetes/insulin resistance, and inactivity. Over the age of 50, gallstones affect about 25% of women and 15% of men.
The gallbladder acts as a reservoir for bile produced by the liver. When you eat fat, nerves from your tongue communicate with your hypothalamus which orchestrates the release of cholecystokinin – a hormone produced by the gut to stimulate the release of bile from the gallbladder. Bile helps neutralize the acidic chyme from the stomach and helps emulsify fat so pancreatic digestive enzymes can break it down into absorbable molecules. If bile is not released properly, you may develop duodenal ulcers and malabsorption.
As we age, the biliary tracts become dry and stick together preventing proper flow of bile, forming sedimentation and eventually stones in your gallbladder. The treatment for gallstones is usually surgery. Once your gallbladder is removed your biliary ducts must release the bile and do not always do it well, so you have dumping syndrome or diarrhea immediately after eating.
If you want to keep your gallbladder… you need to modify your risk factors:
#1: Get moving
Being sedentary increases your risk for gallbladder disease. So being physically active and exercising regularly will help to reduce that risk.
#2: Change your diet
Consume more fiber and less saturated and trans fats. Basically switch from the standard American diet to the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is your gallbladder’s friend.
#3: Do regular liver and gallbladder cleanses
At least monthly until your gallbladder heals, then quarterly, particularly after overeating at the holidays or when on vacation.
I developed a liver cleanse diet that helps to clear your gallbladder.
My husband and my mother both suffered from cholecystitis, or gallbladder inflammation. They were able to keep their gallbladders by using my liver/gallbladder cleanse. In fact, in over 30 years of clinical practice, I can count on one hand the number of patients who have to have gallbladder surgery. My liver cleanse diet and gallbladder flush helped them maintain healthy gallbladder function.
Liver Cleanse Diet
For three to seven days, drink hot lemon water every morning. About 15 minutes later, eat ½ cup of fruit. Wait 15 to 30 minutes and consume 1 cup of cooked whole grains like oats, brown rice, bulgur – no dairy or sweetener. Your other two meals are all cooked vegetables. For the most nutrition and ease in digestion, I recommend roasting your vegetables in olive oil – root vegetables, squash, cruciferous vegetables, onions, and garlic. Avoid high-starch vegetables like potatoes or yams.
Then, consume roasted beets – red beets – for your very first dinner to determine your gut transit time. You should see pink in your stool 8 to 12 hours later. If it takes more than 12 hours to see pink in your stool, you have a slow transit time and need an osmolytic laxative like polyethylene glycol or psyllium to cleanse your bowels out properly. (If your bowels aren’t moving, your liver is not going to cleanse properly.)
Drink lots of clear, non-caffeinated, non-caloric fluids during the day.
If you tend to get a little hypoglycemic, you may have a little bit of lean protein like fish or chicken in the afternoon.
Every night, drink a shot of equal parts (at least a tablespoon) of olive oil and lemon juice. If you have gallbladder issues in between your liver cleanses, you can always take a shot of olive oil and lemon juice to lubricate your biliary ducts.
If you do have gallbladder disease, stones, or sediment, you can add a gallbladder flush daily during the 3-7 day liver cleanse. My favorite recipe is to juice an orange, a lemon, add 2-4 tbl of olive oil, one minced garlic clove, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
#4 Optimize your hypothalamus function by taking Genesis Gold® daily.
An optimally functioning hypothalamus improves your digestion, absorption, and liver function and helps with detoxification.
If you have any questions or want access to my FULL liver cleanse diet and gallbladder flush, please join me in my Hormone Reboot Training.
0 Comments