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Gallbladder Problems: Disease, Symptoms & Natural Remedies

Published November 18, 2015

Location of the gallbladder within the body

When it comes to helping with digestion, the liver and gallbladder work closely. While the liver makes the bile necessary to break down fats into fatty acids, the gallbladder (located beneath the liver) stores that bile until it’s needed in the small intestine. Because of this, it's very important to keep both organs healthy. Through this article, we will focus on common gallbladder problems and a few natural remedies.

Types of Gallbladder Diseases

Gallstones (cholelithiasis)

If there's too much cholesterol in the gallbladder, bile can crystallize into small, hard buildups called gallstones. While poor diet is the main cause, heredity could also play a role in their formation, as a 2007 study highlighted a gene that increases a person's chances of forming gallstones. ^[1] ^[2]

Inflamed Gallbladder (Cholecystitis)

Your liver and gallbladder are connected by the cystic duct, and gallstones can actually block that passage, causing a buildup of bile. It's important to never ignore an inflamed gallbladder (also called cholecystitis) because it can affect your overall health as the gallbladder becomes weaker and possibly even ruptures; a fever and sharp abdominal pain or biliary colic are two common symptoms of cholecystitis. If this bladder attacks happen more than once, it means you are more likely to experience them in the future.

Gallbladder Polyps

The exact cause of these growths is still unknown. While these lesions are often benign, this is not always the case; there's even some evidence suggesting a person's age, the presence of gallstones, or larger polyp size could be linked to malignancy. ^[3] ^[4] However, since polyps aren't usually diagnosed until either an abdominal ultrasound or gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy), it's important to be aware of what could be a serious health issue.

Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder cancer is difficult to diagnose because there aren't major early signs and many of the symptoms are like those of other illnesses. What this means is that it's often difficult to catch the disease early enough for surgery, which is widely believed to be the only chance for a complete cure. One recent study even comments only 10% of gallbladder cancer patients are viable surgical candidates because of this. ^[5] Being aware of the possibility of such a serious gallbladder problem could save your life.

Foods to Avoid

If you want to help your gallbladder out, you'll need to keep away from certain foods. Here are a few to avoid:

Meat
Dairy
Coffee
Soda
Chocolate
High-Sugar Foods

How to Follow a Smart Gallbladder Diet

If you're looking for a diet plan, incorporating low-fat, low-cholesterol is a smart choice. A high-fiber diet could also keep your digestive system (and gallbladder) working at peak levels. Avoiding additional sugars and processed foods, like meats and dairy products, can be a contributing factor to lower your LDL cholesterol. Foods that support the liver and gallbladder are important to incorporate into your diet to support bile and enzyme production. Lastly, herbal supplementation can also prove helpful with your digestive health; one in particular is dandelion root, which has generated interest for bile production support.

What do you do for gallbladder health? Tell us about it in the comments below?