The Gallbladder’s Role in Digestive Health
Are you aware that the gallbladder plays a crucial role in the digestive process? If you have yet to have gallbladder issues, you may be blissfully unaware of its job in your digestion. Its function is imperative to optimized digestive health, and yet many of us are either missing one or having serious troubles with it. Let’s take a look at what the gallbladder is and does, why it’s important, how to help support it, and what to do if you’ve already had it removed.
So, what is the gallbladder?
The gallbladder is a small organ that sits right below your liver. Its function is to store bile; a fluid made in the liver. Bile, produced in the liver, is stored in the gallbladder until it's needed to help absorb dietary fats. This process is crucial not only for fat absorption, but also for the uptake of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K. Additionally, bile has antibacterial properties that help eliminate microorganisms found in food.
The Gallbladder’s Role in Fat Digestion
When we consume dietary fats, they are broken down first in the stomach by our digestive juices into a smoothie-like consistency. Then the broken-down food enters the upper part of the small intestine (the duodenum) where signals are sent to the gallbladder to release bile. The bile acts like dish soap with fats, breaking them down into usable forms; fatty acids and glycerol molecules. This step is crucial for nutrient and fat-soluble vitamin absorption.
When our gallbladder is not functioning well, we lack the ability to absorb these key fatty acids that are essential for overall health.
Why is Fat Absorption So Important?
High-quality fats play a pivotal role in maintaining overall health, as they perform numerous important functions within the body. The primary functions they perform include:
Healthy fats help us feel satiated and keeps us full longer, since they are the slowest nutrient to absorb. Plus, they taste great!
Fatty acids are a key component of the membrane of every single cell in the body. The health of our cells depends on the quality and quantity of fats we consume.
Fats allow us to absorb fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, K, and the antioxidant CoQ10.
They are critical to the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system, as well as the immune system. Where would we be without those?
Cholesterol, a fatty acid derivative, is transformed into hormones; including sex hormones and neurotransmitters.
In a beautiful cycle, fat is required to create bile, which is required to emulsify and digest fats from the diet. A low fat diet can create problems, as it fails to activate the gallbladder. That stagnant bile can quickly turn to gallstones.
What happens when the gallbladder stops functioning properly?
When things aren’t functioning correctly in the gallbladder, it can produce several negative symptoms. You are likely having trouble digesting fats, and therefore feel worse when you eat them.
Some of the symptoms that can come from a poorly functioning gallbladder are:
diarrhea
bloating
gas
nausea
More serious symptoms of biliary dysfunction include:
pale stool
itchiness
pain in the upper back or on the right side of the body
dark urine
gallstones
jaundice
Gallstones are solid matter that forms in the gallbladder. These stones develop because cholesterol, pigments, and other constituents in bile sometimes form hard particles.
Gallbladder dysfunction can happen for several reasons, but the primary ones include lack of good quality dietary fats like olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, butter from grass fed cows, and nut oils. Or conversely, too much of the ultra-processed industrial seed oils like canola, soybean, safflower, sunflower, partially hydrogenated oils, and vegetable oils.
All too often, unfortunately, gallbladder removal tends to be the fix for these problems. If you still have your gallbladder, but it’s dysfunctioning, there are several other, not-so-invasive solutions to heal it.
How can I support my body when my gallbladder is failing?
There are many foods that help support the function of the gallbladder. Beets, a remarkable root vegetable, offer significant benefits for gallbladder health. This veggie works wonders for the gallbladder! In fact, I recommend eating beets daily if you are struggling with your gallbladder.
Other supportive foods are dandelion greens or dandelion tea, high quality fats, oily fish, and fresh (preferably organic) vegetables/fruit. You’ll want to avoid processed and refined foods and oils as these gum up the works.
Gallbladder Removal
While gallbladder removal surgery can be advised as the only option by practitioners, it has several negative impacts. Without a place to store the bile, the bile drips into the small intestine from the liver. When a fatty meal enters the upper portion of the small intestine, there won’t be enough bile to properly break the food down.
This is why doctors often recommend a low-fat diet after gallbladder removal. You will likely not be able to process fats well, and symptoms after gallbladder removal can be diarrhea, nausea and bloating if you do consume them.
The thing is, we NEED fat (as outlined above), so all of this can be considered pretty counterintuitive. In the case of a gallbladder removal, there are still ways to support your digestive system.
I always recommend that my clients without a gallbladder supplement with Ox Bile. This will supply the digestive system with the bile it needs to break fats down properly and it makes a WORLD of difference! Once you have Ox bile in your life, you can resume eating quality fats.
The Takeaway
As you can now imagine, the gallbladder is an incredibly important part of our digestive system. It plays a significant role in a healthy gut system, and needs attention and support! If you are struggling with your gallbladder issues, have recently had your gallbladder removed or just have further questions regarding this topic or other gut health matters, please contact me. I am always here to offer more information and guidance on how to alleviate gallbladder issues naturally. With the proper diet and targeted supplements, you can restore your digestive health and feel truly good on the inside!
