Gallbladder, Gallstones & Gallbladder Sludge

What about Gallstones

What to do if your gallbladder has already been removed

Gallbladder: a membranous muscular sac in which bile from the liver is stored — called also cholecyst

The gallbladder is a small four inch long, pear-shaped sack located between the liver lobes directly under the liver. (see photo) A small Y-shaped duct, called the common bile duct, carries bile from both the gallbladder and the liver to the small intestines. The gallbladder’s job is to store and to concentrate bile which the liver produces.

When fats are taken into the digestive system, a hormone is secreted which cause the gallbladder to contract, thus releasing the bile into the stomach and small intestine. The bile’s job is help food digestion by working on digested fats. Lecithin in the bile dissolves this fat into droplets so small that the enzymes can surround them and process them so they can pass through the intestinal wall into the blood which takes it to the cells where your body can use it.

Bile is a green blend which contains water, lecithin, acids, cholesterol, bile salts, and minerals. Bile is vital to health.

Bile  Bile is crucial for proper digestion and absorption of essential nutrients. It’s also responsible for eliminating toxins and waste from the body.

There are two types of bile:

Primary bile, which is made in the liver

Secondary bile, which is composed of bile salts that are made by your microbiome.

The gallbladder concentrates bile so that it can efficiently extract fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids from the foods you eat.

Whenever you eat, concentrated bile fluid is released from your gallbladder into your small intestine through the common bile ducts. Bile then breaks down fats with the help of enzymes produced by your pancreas.

Once the fats are broken down in the small intestine, your body can begin to use them for fuel.

Deficiencies related to low bile:

Inadequate Bile Flow

Trouble starts when the diet is too high in refined sugar and starches and too low in protein. When too little bile is formed by the liver and when the gallbladder is too “lazy” (due to nutritional deficiencies) to empty its content, the fat cannot be readily absorbed.

When not absorbed, the fat then unites with calcium and iron from food (stopping these minerals from entering the blood where they can do some good), and forms a hard soap, then forms hard packed fecal matter and causes constipation.

This persistent stealing of essential iron and calcium can bring on iron-deficiency anemia, osteoporosis (honeycombed bones) or osteomalacia (week and caving-in bones).

Without enough bile, fats, which quickly melt at body temperature, cover the carbohydrates and proteins that are also being digested, making it hard to continue the digestion process.

Then bacteria attack this partially digested mess, bringing on gas and discomfort, contributing to a smelly bowel movement and an equally foul breath. Much of the undigested food is usually lost in the stools. Poor elimination associated with gall bladder problems invariably indicates a major loss of vital minerals.

Because the lack of bile acids prevents the absorption of vitamin A, D, E, & K, and whatever fat has been broken down, deficiencies are produced. People with insufficient bile flow are usually so deficient in vitamin A that they have difficulty in driving a car at night, sewing, or doing other close work.

Although a low fat diet is recommended to decrease these digestive problems (it keeps the gall bladder quiet until healing has occurred), when the gall bladder has to be removed obviously a low fat diet cannot rectify this situation or increase the absorption of needed vitamins.

There is a peril of a low-fat or no-fat diet.

Deficiencies related to low bile:

Vitamin A deficiency – Vision problems and trouble seeing in the dark.

Vitamin D deficiency – Bone pain, poor immune function, and depression.

Vitamin E deficiency – Dry skin, hot flashes, chest pain, and weak muscles.

Vitamin K deficiency – Bruising, kidney stones, high blood pressure, joint aches, and calcified arteries.

What causes low bile production?

Vitamin A deficiency – Vision problems and trouble seeing in the dark.

Vitamin D deficiency – Bone pain, poor immune function, and depression.

Vitamin E deficiency – Dry skin, hot flashes, chest pain, and weak muscles.

Vitamin K deficiency – Bruising, kidney stones, high blood pressure, joint aches, and calcified arteries.

What causes low bile production?

Here are five potential reasons you have low bile.

Low-fat diets – Dietary fat (especially saturated fat) triggers the production and release of bile. If you’re on a low-fat diet, you may have low bile production.

Fatty liver – The liver is your body’s bile factory—so if it’s damaged, bile production will slow down. Diets high in carbs and omega-6 fatty acids are especially damaging to the liver.

Unbalanced microbiome – Friendly gut bacteria are essential for producing secondary bile acids. Microbes also help your body recycle bile. Junk food, high-carb diets, antibiotics, and stress can throw off your microbial balance and reduce the number of bile-producing bacteria in your gut.

Poor gut health – 95% to 97% of bile is collected at the end of the small intestine (terminal ileum) and recycled. Gastrointestinal damage can interrupt the recycling process, allowing bile to pass through the large intestine.

Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) – Your gallbladder stores and concentrates bile so it’s stronger and released when it’s needed. You may not produce less bile after having your gallbladder removed, but your bile may be less effective, increasing the need for supplemental bile salts.

Gall bladder sludge: Also called biliary sludge can be looked upon as a condition of microscopic gallstones, although it is not clear at what size the particles should be considered gallstones.

Gallbladder sludge is composed of calcium salts and cholesterol crystals. Unless you flush it from your system quickly, it can lead to gallstones, or worse, painful pancreatitis and inflammation of the gallbladder. If it isn’t resolved, surgical removal of the gallbladder is sometimes recommended by medical doctors.

Gall bladder sludge can develop after fasting, rapid weight loss, certain medications, a high cholesterol level, drug or alcohol damage, or pregnancy.

Symptoms include pain in the abdomen, nausea, and vomiting just like gallstones.

Sick Gallbladder (contracted Gallbladder)

A contracted gallbladder is not normal and indicates that your gallbladder needs support. It is not functioning correctly.

What do you do for a “sick” gallbladder? You get the body to build a healthy gallbladder. You do that by supplying it with the nutrients that the body needs to build a healthy gallbladder. Bodies are designed to create energy and build health given the right tools that it needs (nutrients).

There are different formulas you can take as well as changing your diet.

You do have choices.

What is a Gallbladder Attack? – Symptoms and Causes

The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile salts. The bile salts break down fats. The bile salts also extract Omega 3 fatty acids as well as the fat soluble vitamins that need to be extracted from food so it can be used by the body.

Gall bladder attack is when a stone gets stuck in the tube, the liver itself or the gallbladder. The liver makes the bile which then goes down the tube and is stored in the sack. The back pressure of a stone being stuck will cause pain. You can have stomach pain, nausea, right shoulder pain, pain under the rib cage, cramping The right shoulder pain is due to a nerve that goes up to your neck. This causes different right side pain in any right sided muscle and even headaches.

Bile is made with lots of cholesterol. Bile will also eliminate excess cholesterol. High cholesterol can be not enough bile to eliminate from the body.

What causes these stones?

Gallstones are mostly made of cholesterol. It is super concentrated but remember cholesterol is needed to make the bile.  Cholesterol is needed by the body as it makes hormones, immune system, etc.  It is the super concentrated cholesterol that makes the stones.

The trigger for releasing bile is saturated fat, without the fat, it can dry up the bile and the lack of bile forms the super concentrated cholesterol stone. You need the bile. When you have enough bile and enough cholesterol you don’t have a problem.

How do you maintain enough bile?

There are three main causes – too much insulin (high carb diet, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes or diabetes). You will deplete the bile reserves, creating stones.

Increasing cortisol can shut down bile production.

Increased estrogen will cause it to shut down.

Preventing stones?

If we have a deficiency of a fat soluble vitamins or omega 3 fatty acids it could be that there is a deficiency of bile.

The microbes in your gut are important as bile is recycled by these microbes. Increasing your flora in the gut improves the production of bile.

The bile can become thick and this creates the same congestion and symptoms even without a stone   Bile salts are a lubricant and you can get constipation, bloating, belching, burping and sluggishness. Bile salts are so important.

Removal of gall bladder you still get bile but not the same amount – may benefit by taking bile salts. If you have a symptom of diarrhea, it is too much bile – you don’t want to take bile salts.

Diet:

1) Eat a high fiber diet. Eat more beans and fresh fruits and vegetables each day. You can add oat bran to your cereal.

2) Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. It flushes the liver and dilutes the bile secretions that lead to gallstones.

3) Green juices. Spinach, parsley – these are rich in chlorophyll, a pigment that has a natural cleansing effect. An eight ounce blend of two ounces of green juice and two ounces of carrot juice, diluted with an equal amount of water. You can also find fresh vegetable juices with this combo at your health food store such as Whole Foods

Gallbladder Symptoms:

The gallbladder is a very important organ. It is NOT an extra body part that you can do without as you will soon discover. Symptoms include low thyroid, headaches and right shoulder pain to bloating, low vitamin D and even high cholesterol.

How to stimulate healthy bile flow naturally

Focus on improving your bile output to improve fat digestion and your overall digestive wellness.

Here are ten foods and supplements that help improve bile production naturally. These can be effective even if you don’t have a gallbladder!

1. Beet tops
Beet tops have amazing benefits for your liver and gallbladder. You can eat them raw, steamed, or sauteed. Try adding beet tops to a healthy smoothie!

2. Ginger
Ginger can directly stimulate the liver and help improve bile output. Ginger is delicious in teas, smoothies, and savory sauces.

3. Artichoke
Artichokes are amazing for your digestive system. They support liver function, gallbladder health, and bile production. Try this incredible Keto Creamy Spinach Artichoke Casserole recipe.

4. Lemon/Lime
Citrus fruits like lemon and lime are an easy way to stimulate the liver and improve the production of bile. You can add them to almost anything! Add fresh lemon juice to your water or squeeze some lemon juice and olive oil onto your salad. Remember to use fresh lemon juice, not the pasteurized bottled variety.

5. Dandelion greens
Dandelion greens can be found almost anywhere and are excellent for optimal liver function. They make a great salad—or you can sautee them with other vegetables for a tasty side dish.

6. Milk thistle
Milk thistle is an excellent supplement for liver detoxification. Supporting a healthy liver can help improve bile production and flow.

7. Choline
Not only does choline stimulate bile production, but it can also help improve a fatty liver. Egg yolks are an excellent source of choline. You can also take it as a nutritional supplement.

8. Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice with powerful phytonutrients and countless health benefits. It can reduce liver and gallbladder inflammation and restore healthy bile flow.

9. Betaine hydrochloride
Betaine is an amino acid that can help support healthy digestion and stimulate bile flow. It’s found in beets, spinach, and shellfish.

10. Bile salts Bile salt supplements add bile back into your digestive system. You can take bile salts.

RECOMMENDED:

For Sludge & faulty gallbladder function.

Build a healthy gallbladder:

Dr. Berg’s Gallbladder Formula – Gallbladder Formula contains natural ingredients to help break down gallstones and provide bile salts for bloating and digestive stress.

This formula gets results.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? EMAIL AND GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

What to know about Gallstones

If you’ve had your Gallbladder Removed – read what to do about the problems

References”

* Functions of the Gallbladder PubMed.gov Compr Physiol. 2016 Jun 13;6(3):1549-77. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c150050.