Dietary considerations for patients with cholecystitis and gallbladder stones

  With the change of Chinese diet, more and more people are suffering from cholecystitis and gallbladder stones. Both cholecystitis and gallbladder stones are causal and often co-exist. Whether we use surgery or conservative treatment, we must combine dietary control in the treatment of cholecystitis and gallbladder stones to ensure the effectiveness of treatment.  Patients should temporarily fast during acute attacks of cholecystitis to allow the gastrointestinal tract and liver and gallbladder to get adequate rest, reduce the secretion of bile and gastrointestinal digestive juices, lower the pressure in the gallbladder, reduce inflammation and relieve pain. At this time, nutrition by intravenous supplementation is needed, and the attending physician will develop a different intravenous nutrition plan according to each patient’s condition. Once the condition has improved, appropriate water can be consumed and sodium and potassium salts can be supplemented while drinking. After the acute inflammation subsides, a light liquid diet with low fat, low cholesterol and high carbohydrate, such as rice soup, lotus root powder and soybean milk, can be eaten appropriately. After the condition further improves, a low-fat semi-liquid diet or low-fat soft rice with less residue, such as rice porridge, bean curd brain, soft noodles, noodle flakes, etc., can be eaten.  Patients with cholecystitis and gallbladder stones should usually limit high-fat and high-cholesterol foods. The fat intake should be strictly limited to 40 g per day. This is because fat can promote the production of cholecystokinin, enhance the contraction of the gallbladder and further aggravate the inflammation of the gallbladder. Patients should avoid foods with high cholesterol such as fatty meat, animal offal, fish roe, crab roe, chocolate and fried foods. Foods such as shiitake mushrooms and fungus have a cholesterol-lowering effect and can be eaten appropriately.  Choose a diet based on complex carbohydrates, such as rice, noodles, potatoes, etc. Limit the intake of sugar appropriately, such as granulated sugar and glucose. The daily protein intake should be 50~70 g. Adequate amount of protein is beneficial to the repair of damaged tissues, especially high-quality protein, such as fish and shrimp, lean meat, tofu, etc. Eat more foods rich in vitamin A, such as carrots, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A helps the growth of epithelial cells in the lining of the gallbladder, which helps the repair of the disease and reduces the formation of stones. In addition, B vitamins and vitamins C and E should also be adequately supplemented. The supply of dietary fiber should be increased, which helps to prevent constipation and reduce the formation of gallstones. Drink plenty of water, which is good for bile dilution, and thus the daily water intake should not be less than 1500 ml. Avoid alcohol and spicy foods. Garlic, onion, ginger, chili and other spicy foods, as well as tobacco, alcohol, coffee and other stimulating foods, will promote the secretion of excessive gastric acid, gallbladder contraction increased, the gallbladder stones are easy to occur in the neck embedded, and can even cause spasm of the lower bile duct sphincter, which can induce severe biliary colic.  Patients with cholecystitis and gallbladder stones should usually adopt the principle of eating less and more meals and avoid overeating. Eating small amounts can reduce the burden on the digestive system. Increase the number of meals can stimulate bile secretion, reduce the concentration of bile accumulation in the gallbladder, keep the bile ducts open, and can effectively avoid acute attacks of cholecystitis.  Of course, patients with cholecystitis and gallbladder stones should follow the instructions of the attending physician for treatment and rehabilitation according to each person’s own condition. A reasonable diet can help patients achieve the best treatment results.