The Gallbladder Removal Surgery Diet: What to Eat and What to Avoid

Your life changes completely once you get laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.

You have to make changes in your complete diet and cut back on many cravings.

So, you may ask, “But when do I go for a gallbladder removal surgery?”

The gallbladder- connected to your liver, does the work of breaking down your food effectively and delivering it to the small intestine. When there is any infection or if any stones get detected in your gallbladder, the only option that remains is to remove it.

This gallbladder removal procedure is called cholecystectomy.

However, you CAN survive without a gallbladder! You just need to make some minor changes in your diet.

First of all, let’s look at what kind of food you cannot eat! Majorly, you have to avoid foods that are difficult to digest such as high-fat, greedy, oily, and even processed foods.

These limitations may not be for your whole life but you have to be super careful in the initial days. After some months, you can slowly and gradually introduce those foods back into your diet.

Now, let’s find out what you can have and what you should take care of after a gallbladder removal surgery.

What Food To Stay Away From?

No doctor ever gives a standard diet after gallbladder surgery but there are foods that you should stay away from! So on a general basis, put greasy, fatty, processed, and sugary foods aside and focus on healthy food for a speedy recovery.

Fatty Meats consisting of:

• Pork
• Lunch meats, like bologna and salami
• Lamb
• Steak or high-fat cuts of red meat
• Sausage
• Beef, whole or ground
• Bacon

Processed meat or meat that is high in fat can literally create chaos in your digestive system due to the absence of a gallbladder. So forget those meats for a while till your digestive system heals.

Dairy Food Products containing:

• Butter
• Ice-cream
• Milk (whole)
• Yogurt (full-fat)
• Cheese (full-fat)
• Lard
• Whipped cream
• Sauces that contain cream
• Sour cream

Dairy food products can be hard to break down and then digest without a gallbladder. So you must try to avoid the above-mentioned dairy products.

If you are someone who cannot restrict dairy, look for fat-free or low-fat options like fat-free yogurt, fat-free milk, or low-fat cheese. You can also consider options like almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk for milk alternatives.

Highly processed foods like:

• Cake
• Cookies
• Cereals containing sugar
• White bread or any other processed bread
• Pie
• Food prepared in vegetable oil or similar oil

The foods that are highly processed usually contain a high amount of sugar and fat. So the food stays longer in the stomach and takes time to digest. Additionally, it also doesn’t provide any nutritional benefits.

Now you may wonder,

What can you actually eat after a gallbladder removal surgery?

Choose to eat foods like,

• High-fiber foods,
• fruits and vegetables that are dense in nutrients and vitamins,
• Try to find meat alternatives or lean meats,
• Healthy fats, or low-fat food
• Find good Fat-free food alternatives

To Conclude

A lot of people get a laser operation for gallbladder stone removal and mostly it is not a serious thing. There are only a few important adjustments that you need to make in your diet and you are good to go. Make sure to cut off all the fatty, sugary, oily, and processed food.

If you are looking for the best gallbladder surgeon in Patna, Dr. Prashant is the best option for you!