Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The gallbladder has one main role. While bile is produced in the liver, it is actually stored in the gallbladder in quantities of about 50 mL to be released after we consume a meal.
The combined role of the liver and gallbladder helps to ensure we are properly metabolizing fats and excreting unwanted toxins from the body.
Without a gallbladder, or with a sluggish gallbladder, we see poor detoxification, and other issues!
To support the lack of a gallbladder, or a poor functioning gallbladder - we need to support BILE.
Bile is so important because it has these main roles:
- Fatty Acid Metabolism - Helps us break down our fats so we don’t have diarrhea or floating stools when we eat fats!
- Blood Sugar Metabolism - Struggling with weight?? Bile can definitely a driver of poor blood sugar regulation.
- Kills off Bad Bacteria - Bile, similar to stomach acid, helps to regulate our gut microbiome by killing off unwanted pathogens that can make their way into our body.
- Excretes Toxins - If bile is not being released properly, then this critical detoxification pathway will not be functioning as it should. Built up toxins can contribute to unwanted bacterial growth, chronic inflammation, weight gain, and several associated consequences.
- Supports healthy hormones! Hormones are built from fats, so if we aren’t properly digesting fats, we will struggle with hormonal balance!
So what do we do!?
1️⃣ Eat Bitter Foods and Bile-Stimulating Foods
These are some of the best foods to help get your body making adequate bile:
- Organic acids from apple cider vinegar, lemons, and limes
- Bitter Herbs (parsley, cilantro, dandelion, milk thistle)
- Warming spices like ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon