Gallbladder Removed?

Gallbladder problems are extremely common.  Approximately 750,000 Americans have their gallbladder removed each year.  In most cases, the pain of a malfunctioning gallbladder becomes so bad, that surgery is the only viable option. 

What is Gallbladder?

Your gallbladder is a sac located under the liver. It stores and concentrates bile produced in the liver. Bile aids in the digestion of fat and is released from the gallbladder into the upper small intestine in response to food (especially fats).

Surgery to remove the gallbladder is called cholecystectomy and is usually carried out if you have painful gallstones (small stones that can form in the gallbladder as a result of an imbalance in the substances that make up bile).

Gallstones often cause no symptoms and you may not even realize you have them, but occasionally they can block the flow of bile and irritate the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis) or pancreas (acute pancreatitis), which can cause various symptoms, like sudden and intense abdominal pain, feeling sick, yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice).

Surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most effective treatment in the vast majority of cases.

Do I Need Gallbladder?

Despite common beliefs our gallbladder is important.  Your liver continually manufactures bile, which travels to your gallbladder, where it is stored and concentrated.  Bile helps you to digest fat; therefore your gallbladder secretes a lot of bile into your intestines after you’ve eaten a fatty meal. 

Bile is also your body’s way of excreting wastes and toxins.  Bile contains cholesterol and other fats that your liver has broken down and wants to excrete.  A well functioning gallbladder helps your body excrete cholesterol, other fats and fat soluble toxins.

Your liver continues to manufacture bile, but there is no longer a place to store it or concentrate it.  Therefore bile continually slowly trickles into intestines.  If you eat a fatty meal, you will not be able to secrete a large enough amount of bile into your intestines, therefore the fat will be poorly digested.  This means many people experience diarrhea, bloating, nausea or indigestion. Not digesting fat well means you will not be able to digest essential fatty acids, including omega 3 and omega 6 fats.  It also means you’ll have a hard time absorbing fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins D, E, A and K.  These nutrients are vital for good health, and you will probably need to take a supplement.

If you have had your gall bladder removed, you may benefit from a bile supplement. Bile helps digest your healthy fats. When the gall bladder is missing, sometimes your healthy fats won’t get fully digested and absorbed. Fat is essential for hormone balance and a healthy brain, among other things. Read more here.

Did you have your gallbladder removed? Ask us which bile supplement is best for you!