The behavior of gallstones and the condition of the body largely depends on nutrition. Consumption of prohibited foods causes severe pain and threatens to worsen. No medicine can alleviate the condition as much as a diet for gallstones.
Dietary goal
Gallstones cannot be prevented. They can form for a number of reasons, including the quality of water and food, lifestyle, weight, and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. A diet for cholelithiasis can be used for prevention, but is more often used to eliminate unpleasant symptoms of the disease.
The main goals of the therapeutic diet:
- restore cholesterol balance;
- remove, reduce the severity of pain, colic;
- get rid of bitterness in the mouth;
- remove nausea;
- extend the period of remission;
- prevent complications;
- reduce the amount of medications taken.
If you follow all the rules, then a diet for gall bladder disease will help avoid surgery. But everything is strictly individual; the prognosis for recovery should be made by the attending physician. Also, diet is not the only method of treatment; complex therapy must be carried out.
Prohibited products
When prescribing a diet for gallstone disease, the doctor must take into account the patient’s condition and the characteristics of his body. Nutrition during remission and exacerbation differs, but many foods are prohibited for consumption in both cases. The list of foods that cause pain and discomfort can be expanded depending on the type of disease and the degree of manifestation of symptoms.
It is prohibited to use:
- lard and fatty meat;
- semi-finished products;
- offal: lungs, kidneys, brains and liver;
- canned meats;
- mayonnaise and margarine;
- fresh bread, pastries and confectionery;
- pasta and wheat cereals;
- sweets;
- garlic with onions and green onions;
- radishes and radishes;
- spinach with sorrel;
- alcohol with carbonated drinks;
- mushrooms;
- pickled vegetables;
- caviar
It is forbidden to eat foods rich in cholesterol, as they cause stagnation of bile in the gallbladder. The exception is butter, which can be added to ready-made porridges and other dishes. The diet for gallstone disease and cholecystitis also prohibits the consumption of any baked goods, fatty or mushroom broths, chocolate, ice cream and seasonings. It is not recommended to include legumes, cranberries, hard-boiled eggs and strong coffee in the menu.
Baked goods, sausages, smoked meats and sweets should be prohibited
Basic principles of nutrition on a therapeutic diet
Since the diet for gallstones is a therapeutic system, it is important to follow all the rules. The main point is to exclude fatty foods, as well as fast carbohydrates, which require large amounts of bile for processing.
All the secrets of proper nutrition on a diet for gallstones:
- Minimum salt. It is impossible to eliminate sodium completely, but the daily amount of salt on the diet should be reduced to 8 grams. Do not forget that finished products may already contain it.
- Frequent meals. It is important not to provoke large releases of bile. You cannot overeat, portions are no more than 300 ml. Therefore, a fractional nutrition system is used with a frequency of meals up to 6–7 times.
- In order for a diet for gallstones to give quick results, it is recommended to reduce the amount of protein to 70 g per day, to a maximum of 90.
- Correct consistency. You cannot eat meat or vegetables in large pieces during the diet. It is important to grind, beat, and chop dishes. But this does not apply to soft foods.
- Heat treatment. The main diet is based on boiled and baked foods. During an exacerbation, it is important not to eat the crust that forms on dishes in the oven.
- Light broths. The diet does not prohibit meat, but it is advisable to cook the first courses in water. Or use light poultry broths without skin.
The temperature at which food is consumed is also of great importance. It has a very strong effect on the mucous membranes and causes irritation. Cold and hot foods should be excluded; the optimal food temperature on a diet is from 35 to 45 degrees.
What can you eat on a diet for gallstones?
The therapeutic diet is strict, but varied; foods from all groups are allowed, which greatly facilitates the preparation of the diet. With this diet, you can have sugar, but in limited quantities, you should not abuse it. The abundance of sweets puts a strain on the digestive organs.
Authorized Products | Prohibited Products | |
Vegetables | Pumpkin, potatoes, zucchini and other types after boiling | Raw vegetables, onions, garlic, legumes |
Fruits, berries | Baked, steamed, stewed pears, apples and other fruits, a small amount of steamed, boiled dried fruits is allowed | Raw fruits |
Meat, poultry | Rabbit, turkey, chicken, veal (all without fat) | Smoked meats, fatty meats, poultry skin |
Fish | Crucian carp, hake, pike perch, pike, perch, tench and other low-fat species | Red fish, smoked meats, crab sticks, fatty fish |
Bakery products | Stale bread, biscuits, crackers without spices | Any baked goods with fats, fresh baked goods (even today’s rye bread) |
Cereals | Buckwheat, semolina, oatmeal, and rarely millet. Pasta | Pearl barley, brown rice and other types with a rough shell, bran |
Sausages | Children's sausages, boiled doctor's sausage according to GOST | All types with fat, smoked, semi-smoked sausages, salami |
Eggs | Only squirrels | Whole eggs |
Dairy | All types with fat content up to 2%, cheese can be up to 40%, but limit to 2 slices per day | Fatty milks, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream |
Beverages | Weak tea, herbal decoctions as prescribed by a doctor, rose hips, compotes, jelly, mineral water | Strong tea, coffee, alcohol, kvass, lemonade |
Dessert | Pastille, fruit puree, jam, marshmallows | Candies, cakes, any industrially produced products/desserts containing fats and cocoa |
All dishes are prepared without the use of fat. But it is allowed to introduce unrefined vegetable oils into salads made from boiled vegetables. It is advisable to choose the most healthy types (olive, mustard, sea buckthorn, etc.)
The diet for cholelithiasis and gallstones does not include the addition of aromatic spices; all purchased sauces are prohibited. As a dressing, you can only use low-fat vegetable broths, purees, and herbs in small quantities.
Important! What is possible and what is not on a diet for gallstone disease also depends on the complexity of the case, the patient’s weight, and the presence of chronic diseases. It is advisable to agree on the list with your doctor.
What foods are allowed and prohibited for calculous cholecystitis?
To prevent the growth of stones, it is recommended to create a menu in such a way that it contains:
Nutrition for gallbladder dyskinesia
- foods containing fiber. The richest foods in dietary fiber are vegetables (cabbage, green peas, asparagus, carrots, corn, pumpkin), fruits (bananas, peaches, pears, apples), dried fruits (prunes, dried apricots, dates), nuts (almonds, cashews), cereals (buckwheat , oatmeal, white rice), bran, legumes;
- salads seasoned with unrefined vegetable oil (olive, sunflower, flaxseed). The oil promotes bile secretion and prevents the development of fatty hepatosis;
- dairy products. Kefir, fermented baked milk, yogurt help increase the pH of liver secretions;
- cereals with a high magnesium content (buckwheat, millet, barley, oatmeal). They improve the functioning of the cardiovascular, endocrine, and digestive systems, and help absorb B vitamins, which are necessary for liver function. Magnesium improves the condition of blood vessels and blood flow, therefore preventing vascular spasm. There is a lot of magnesium in sesame, bran, cocoa, halva, soy, pistachios, sunflower seeds;
- protein products (low-fat fish, cottage cheese, chicken protein) and vegetable oil, since they promote the synthesis of endogenous bile acids, which do not allow cholesterol to crystallize;
- products rich in vitamin A (milk, cottage cheese, cream, sour cream, butter). Retinol normalizes metabolism in the body, strengthens the immune system, accelerates tissue regeneration;
- products with lecithin (butter, sour cream, cream). They prevent cholesterol crystallization;
- free liquid at least 2 liters. It prevents stagnation of bile and affects its consistency.
A magnesium diet is recommended if cholelithiasis provokes constipation or there are stagnant processes in the gallbladder
The basis of therapeutic nutrition with a high magnesium content is dietary table No. 5, to which the additional consumption of large amounts of food rich in magnesium is prescribed. The trace element stimulates bile secretion, enhances the motor activity of the gallbladder and intestines, which accelerates the elimination of cholesterol.
A magnesium diet is contraindicated for inflammation in the tissues of the stomach and intestines, in which fermentation is increased and diarrhea occurs, and it should not be followed during an exacerbation.
For diseases of the liver and gallbladder, it is necessary to limit the use of:
- products containing essential oils (citrus fruits, garlic, onions, parsley, dill, celery);
- dishes with a high content of extractive substances (broth, cabbage-based broth, crust formed when roasting meat, tea);
- butter, puff pastry, shortcrust pastry;
- fatty meats and offal, which contain a lot of cholesterol, as well as all fried foods;
- alcohol;
- easily digestible carbohydrates (jam, sugar, confectionery, sweets, honey).
In case of cholelithiasis, biliary colic is likely, which can be provoked by negative emotions, consumption of fatty foods, spices, hot seasonings, therefore it is necessary to monitor the diet and consume only approved foods.
Magnesium diet for gallbladder gallstones during exacerbation
Relaxations in nutrition are possible only during the period of remission, but violations can significantly reduce it and cause new attacks of pain and colic. Therefore, doctors recommend adhering to the rules regardless of how you feel. The strictest diet for gallstone disease is observed at the time of exacerbation.
It is important to carefully monitor the freshness of dishes, remove crusts, reduce fat to a minimum, and also switch to a special magnesium diet.
What is the essence of this system:
- Warm liquids are consumed for three days. You need to drink a few sips up to 5 times an hour. Tea, fruit decoction, rose hips are consumed, juices are allowed, but half and half with water. You can't drink concentrates.
- Then for another three days vegetable soups and ground porridge are added to the drinks. Consume portions of no more than 150 grams every three hours.
Next, when the acute symptoms of the disease fade, you can move on to proper nutrition, according to the menu below for the classic diet for gallstones. Below is an example for one week.
Content
- Principles and features of the diet
- Allowed food and drinks
- Prohibited products
- Nutrition during exacerbation of the disease
- Recommendations for creating a menu
The diet for gallstone disease is indicated for diseases of the gallbladder and its ducts. It helps to alleviate the patient’s condition and prevent complications during an exacerbation. Excluding fatty, fried and salty foods from the patient’s diet at the doctor’s insistence can reduce the manifestation of pain in the right hypochondrium, the area of the collarbone or scapula. Also, following a therapeutic diet helps get rid of heartburn, belching, bitterness and dry mouth.
Treatment menu for a week
Here is a sample menu for one week. It doesn’t matter whether you alternate days; you can also change meals in places. The diet for gallstones is no different for women and men. But you can make the portions in the men’s menu a little larger, and also increase the protein intake to 110 g per day. The average calorie intake for women should be from 2200 to 2400 kcal.
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
Breakfast | Semolina porridge on water with milk | Buckwheat | Oatmeal with 2 pcs. steamed prunes | Millet porridge (mashed) | Corn porridge with water and milk | Pumpkin porridge with rice cereal (recipe below) | Rice porridge with grated apple |
Lunch | Cottage cheese | Baked apple | Piece of casserole | Cottage cheese | Baked cheesecakes | Baked apple with honey | Pumpkin puree with apple |
Dinner | Vegetable puree soup, croutons | Fish soup with vegetables and white fish | Rice soup with meat | Roast chicken and vegetables from pots | Pumpkin puree soup | Noodle soup with light chicken broth | Buckwheat soup with vegetables |
Afternoon snack | Crackers with jam, tea | Cottage cheese with a spoon of jam | Kissel, 2-3 biscuits | Rose hip decoction, 2 pcs. marshmallows | Tea, biscuits | Compote, dried bread, jam | Cottage cheese casserole |
First dinner | Pasta with twisted beef | Fish casserole with rice | Mashed potatoes with steam cutlet | Pasta with cheese | Steamed fish, vegetable puree | Vegetable stew with beef | Baked zucchini with chicken fillet |
Second dinner | Chicken omelette in a bag (recipe below) | Squash caviar | Boiled beet salad | Pumpkin puree | Boiled carrot salad | White omelette | Vinaigrette without cucumbers |
For the night | If desired, you can drink kefir at night, eat light vegetable puree, fruit jelly, but 1-2 hours before bedtime |
For breakfast, in addition to porridge, you can drink any permitted drink. At lunch, you can serve a piece of old bread or a cracker as a complement to the soup.
Allowed food and drinks
Diet for gallstone disease in women and men involves following a certain diet. The basis of the diet is diet No. 5 and No. 5a. Food should not cause stagnation of bile or unpleasant pain after eating. The diet should include protein foods, vegetable and animal fats, and dishes rich in magnesium. Some vegetables and fruits can be eaten without restrictions, others need to be consumed only in small quantities.
Allowed to include in the diet:
- lean meat and lean fish;
- dairy products: cottage cheese, cheese, milk and yogurt;
- eggs in small quantities, no more than 2-3 pieces per week;
- buckwheat, oatmeal;
- vegetable oil, including olive, corn;
- fruits and vegetables and juices squeezed from them;
- fruit and vegetable purees, salads;
- tannin-rich juices from quince, pomegranates, bird cherry and blueberry;
- small amount of butter.
Fruits, fresh herbs and vegetables help prevent constipation and improve the secretion of bile. Their daily use can stop or slow down the formation of stones. The best vegetables to eat are carrots, cauliflower, and pumpkin. Useful fruits and berries during a diet for gallbladder gallstones are grapes, apples, prunes, strawberries and watermelons.
The diet for gallstone disease in women and men should include milk and vegetable soups, cereals, unsweetened drinks and berry decoctions. In small quantities you can eat dried day-old bread, unsweetened cookies, jam and honey. If there are no exacerbations, it is allowed to include rice, soaked herring, sour cream, vegetable borscht and pasta in the menu.
Fruits, berries and vegetables help remove bile
Recipes for diet for cholelithiasis
The diet allows the consumption of many foods, but the catch is in the preparation methods and additives. Since spices and onions and garlic are prohibited, it is difficult to make interesting dishes. But here are some basic recipes that can be used to feed you on this diet. All dishes are prepared using gentle methods and can be eaten at any time of the day.
Pumpkin porridge with rice for diet
The basis of the therapeutic diet is porridge, but it quickly gets boring. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to cook in different ways. Here's a recipe with pumpkin. It cooks to the grain, not the other way around.
Ingredients:
- 300 g pumpkin;
- 150 g rice;
- 2 tbsp. water;
- sugar, salt.
Preparation:
- Cut the pumpkin into pieces, place in a saucepan, add water and simmer for 4-5 minutes until soft. Take a pestle and mash it slightly to get rid of large pieces.
- Rinse the rice, pour water for about five minutes, then drain the liquid and add the cereal to the pan. For porridge, it is best to use small round rice, chopped rice is suitable.
- Cook the porridge until the cereal is ready. At the very end, add sugar and salt.
For variety in the dietary menu, you can prepare pumpkin porridge with millet, semolina, use corn or other types.
Vinaigrette for diet
Since the diet for gallstone disease does not allow the consumption of raw vegetables, constipation may occur. You can solve a delicate problem with the right appetizers, for example, this vinaigrette.
Ingredients:
- 2 beets;
- 2 carrots;
- 2 potatoes;
- salt;
- 1 tbsp. l. oils
Preparation:
- Boil the vegetables, cool and peel. Cut into small cubes and pour into a bowl.
- Add salt and vegetable oil, stir.
You can store this vinaigrette in the refrigerator for up to three days, but keep it warm before using.
Steam cutlets for diet
Using this recipe, you can prepare cutlets for a diet from any meat and fish. They are without onions and bread, but they still turn out fluffy and juicy; you can make semi-finished products and freeze them.
Ingredients:
- 500 g veal or other lean meat;
- 60 g oatmeal;
- 1 protein;
- 1 potato;
- salt.
Preparation:
- Roll the oatmeal with a rolling pin so that the flakes become a little finer, pour into the minced meat, add one raw protein and salt. Stir, cover, let stand for an hour. It's better to put it in the refrigerator.
- Grate peeled potatoes and add to meat. Stir, form small cutlets, you can give them a round or oval shape.
- Place the products on the steamer rack. You can add laurel, any spices and vegetables into the water that will be used.
- Cook medium-sized cutlets for about half an hour. Serve with any side dishes.
It is important not to add potatoes right away, otherwise the vegetable will darken, produce juice, and spoil the taste of the cutlets.
What should you not eat if you have gallstone disease?
Category | Dish |
Bread and flour products | Fresh baked goods, puff pastry, pastry, fried. |
Soups | Mushroom and cooked in fatty broth. |
Dairy | Ryazhenka, snowball, milk more than 2.5%, unnatural yoghurts, stale kefir, fatty cottage cheese. |
Eggs | Fried and yolks. |
Sweets | Berries and sour fruits, cakes, sweets, ice cream, pastries, chocolate. |
Sauces, spices | Pepper, horseradish, mustard. |
Meat, poultry | Fatty meats, sausages, liver, brains, kidneys, heart. |
Groats | Legumes. |
Fish | Fatty varieties, salted and smoked fish. |
Beverages | Cold drinks, cocktails, cocoa, black coffee, alcohol. |
Fats | Butter, vegetable oil, as an independent dish. |
Vegetables | Sour cabbage, fresh onions, peas, corn, spinach, radishes, green onions. |