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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Health Issues and Diet >>  Cholecystitis >>  Cholecystitis Diet

Cholecystitis Diet, Foods


Cholecystitis is the inflammation or swelling of the gallbladder. It can be sudden and acute in onset or chronic and persistent. In acute cases of cholecystitis, the patient complains of extreme pain that usually worsens when he/she moves. In most cases, acute cholecystitis is caused due to the gallstones irritating the gallbladder walls. Following certain dietary changes can help provide relief from cholecystitis to some extent.

Here are a few things you can keep in mind when following a cholecystitis diet plan:

  • As part of your cholecystitis diet plan, make sure you avoid high-fat meats and fried foods. This will prevent gallstones from forming. Cutting out fat from your meals can also help reduce any symptoms associated with cholecystitis. Here are some foods you need to avoid as part of your cholecystitis diet plan: red meat (duck, lamb, and pork), nuts, eggs, dairy products, fried foods, ice cream and chocolates, carbonated drinks, black tea, coffee, and vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage. If you do need to consume meat, make sure you use lean and skinless meat.   
  • Include foods such as olive oil, hemp, black seed oil, avocados, blackberries, vinegar, and hemp in your cholecystitis diet after surgery. You can get cholecystitis nutrition from foods such as potatoes, pasta, rice, yogurt, low fat milk and whole grain foods.
  • In addition to following a cholecystitis diet therapy, make sure you avoid drinking excessive alcohol. Excessive alcohol can increase your risk for cholecystitis and gallstones.
  • Also avoid following crash diets as they are to some extent responsible for causing cholecystitis.
  • As part of your cholecystitis treatment your diet, you should also include foods that are high in fiber. Fiber accelerates the digestion process and also ensures that your digestive tract is healthy. Some good dietary fiber sources include legumes and whole grain. Consuming vegetables and fruits can also ensure that your diet is high-fiber and low-fat. Make sure that you include a wide variety of vegetables and fruits as part of your meal.
  • Make sure that you do not overeat as this can be quite stressful on your bladder. Do not skip any meals, especially breakfast, as this can also adversely affect your gallbladder.
  • Increase your intake of dietary fiber and cut down on the refined carbohydrates you consume. Avoid animal foods if possible and move to a vegetarian diet.


Cholecystitis Foods to Eat, Avoid


Here are some of the best foods that you can include as part of your cholecystitis diet.
  • Olive oil is considered to be extremely effective in treating acute cholecystitis. Start your day by consuming approximately 30 ml of this oil, and follow it with approximately 100 ml grapefruit juice or lemon juice. Olive oil helps lessen the chances of some symptoms of cholecystitis.
  • Another good food for cholecystitis is raw beetroot juice. This juice helps cleanse your system. Drink about 100 ml beet root juice twice daily.
  • Black seed oil is an extremely effective remedy to treat cholecystitis. It helps cleanse your system but has to be taken in moderate proportions as it might cause loose stools.
  • Adding about two teaspoons of hemp to your diet can be a very effective treatment for cholecystitis.
  • Some other good cholecystitis foods are lemon juice and vinegar. Lemon juice and vinegar help break down the fatty acids that are present in the bile that help digest your food.  
  • Avocados contain important oils that provide the vitamins the patient’s body needs.

Some other cholecystitis foods to eat include blackberries and dandelion. Blackberries have very high fiber content and are also rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, and fiber, all of which that ensure that your digestive system remains healthy. Consume berries on a daily basis as this will help prevent constipation and also provide the essential nutrients to your body.        

Some cholecystitis foods to avoid include high-fat dairy foods such as cheeses, creams and whole milk. High-fat processed foods such as donuts, biscuits, cakes, fritters, and sweet rolls should be eliminated. Restrict your consumption of eggs to about three per week. Opt for lean meats and stay away from cream soups. Limit your fat consumption of products such as mayonnaise, cream, bacon, shortening, nuts, olives and butter. Avoid foods such as red meat, ice cream, black tea, carbonated drinks and coffee. To sum up, fatty foods should be avoided as they prevent gallstones from forming. Drinking excessive alcohol can also increase a person’s risk for cholecystitis. Avoid spicy foods such as such as wasabi and hot peppers as they can irritate your gastrointestinal tract and worsen cholecystitis symptoms. It is important that you maintain a healthy weight as this helps prevent cholecystitis. However, if you plan on losing weight, make sure that you do not go on a crash diet as crash diets contribute to the formation of gallstones. Eating a well-balanced diet and engaging in some form of daily exercise is the best way to stay healthy and fit.

Submitted on January 16, 2014