Diet for gallstone disease: what you can and cannot eat

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Inflammation of the digestive organs, as well as regular viral infections, can cause the development of gallstone disease. In addition, poor nutrition, poor lifestyle, hereditary predisposition and metabolic disorders in the body can contribute to the appearance of stones in the gallbladder.

Patients with this diagnosis are recommended special nutrition. Its observance is very important, since, in combination with drug therapy, it allows you to relieve an attack much faster and achieve remission.

Diet for cholelithiasis is aimed at removing the inflammatory process, preventing the formation of new stones and improving the general condition of the patient. So what is its essence? What restrictions does it imply? Let's figure it out together.

Basic recommendations for nutrition of patients

During attacks of cholelithiasis, the patient is recommended to eat frequently. Food should be consumed at least five times a day, in small quantities.

In this mode, significantlyimproves the absorption of nutrients and improves intestinal motility. The last property is the most important, since diseases of the gallbladder are often accompanied by systematic constipation.

Diet for cholelithiasis during an exacerbation prohibits eating before bedtime. So that food does not irritate the intestines, it must be consumed warm. The optimal food temperature during this period is 25-60 degrees.

Products must undergo heat treatment without fail. Boiled or steamed food is allowed.

S alts and acids that promote the formation of new stones are completely excluded from the diet. Fatty and fried foods are also not allowed.

During cooking, it is recommended to finely chop or grind the products. Food must be chewed thoroughly. In this case, its digestion will not require a large amount of bile, and the body will be able to work in a light mode.

Basic principles of nutrition in diseases of the gallbladder

During an exacerbation of cholelithiasis, patients are advised to follow diet No. 5. It is based on an increased intake of foods high in magnesium (about 4 times the daily value).

In addition to magnesium, fiber-rich foods that improve intestinal motility and vitamins are included in the diet. Particular attention should be paid to foods high in pectin. This substance helps to thin bile, normalize digestion and preventsdeposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels.

Such a combination of nutrients can significantly reduce spasms and completely or partially relieve pain.

Diet No. 5 implies a regimen divided into 3 main cycles. Each of them has a duration of 3-4 days. Consider each cycle separately.

Description of magnesium diet cycles

The first principle (cycle) of nutrition is used in the very initial stage of treatment. This is where diet 5a comes into play. As a rule, the state of he alth of patients during this period is greatly deteriorated and is characterized by a complete lack of appetite. For this reason, the diet is based on a sparing way of eating.

At this time, the diet consists exclusively of warm drinks. During an exacerbation of cholelithiasis, the diet includes juices diluted with warm water, rosehip broth, weak green tea with the addition of a small amount of sugar. The amount of fluid you drink should not exceed 2-3 glasses per day. At the same time, you need to drink in small portions: first, one teaspoon, and then one tablespoon.

After three days, you can proceed to the second cycle of the diet. Here it is already allowed to add light soups and cereals to the diet. Preference is given to mucous oatmeal and rice porridge. You can also use semolina in diluted milk, grated fruits, jelly.

At the stage of the third cycle, low-fat cottage cheese, meat and fish can be gradually introduced into the diet.

Please note that the rules of nutrition whencholelithiasis are based on knowledge of the energy value of the consumed products. It should not exceed 2300-2500 kcal per day.

It is important to note that the magnesium diet is strictly prohibited for patients suffering from gastritis, enterocolitis, having a stomach ulcer. In this case, your diet should be under strict medical supervision!

Features of nutrition during an exacerbation of the disease

The main goal of compiling a diet during an exacerbation of the disease is to ensure the rest of the digestive system. Nutrition is selected according to the principle of complete exclusion of coarse foods, leading to mechanical irritation of the walls of the stomach and intestines.

At the stage of exacerbation, the diet for cholelithiasis excludes products that cause fermentation. Meat dishes are only served minced.

Diet 5a includes a restriction on the use of bread products: dried wheat bread made from first-class flour is allowed in the diet.

Soups and purees should be prepared with diluted milk. Rice and oatmeal must be ground beforehand.

It is allowed to use pumpkin, potatoes and carrots in cooking. For dressing dishes, you can take sour cream of minimum fat content.

This diet is observed during the first 1, 5-2 weeks. Then the patient is transferred to table No. 5.

List of approved products

The menu for cholelithiasis is made up from the list of allowed products. It includes:

• toasted bread and diet cookies;
• low-fat meats and fish (in the form of cutlets);
• soups (vegetarian type);
• low-fat dairy;
• buckwheat, rice, oatmeal;
• eggs (in the form of a steam omelet, no more than 1 pc. per day);
• baked apples and pears;
• dried fruits (raisins, prunes, dried apricots);
• boiled vegetables (except prohibited);
• vermicelli;
• low-brewed milk tea;
• vegetable oil and butter (added to food).

All dishes are cooked in a slow cooker, double boiler, baked or boiled. Meals are taken every 2-3 hours (in small portions).

List of Prohibited Foods

Prohibited foods for cholelithiasis can provoke a worsening of the patient's condition. For the duration of the disease, they should be completely abandoned.

This list includes:

• alcohol, black coffee, carbonated drinks;
• dishes with a high content of oxalic acid (pickle, cabbage soup, green borscht);
• fermenting foods (legumes, mushrooms);
• barley, corn grits, millet porridge;
• fatty meats and fish (salmon, salmon, sardine, etc.);
• cabbage;
• offal;
• canned food (including homemade);
• eggs (hard boiled);
• puff pastry, fresh and rich pastries;
• products containing cocoa beans (cocoa, chocolate, confectionery);
• sorrel, spinach;
• ice cream;
• fat dairy;
• various sauces (including mayonnaise).

When the disease is exacerbated, it is strictly forbidden to eat fast food. It is also not recommended to add all kinds of spices, hard and sour foods to food.

Basic table rules 5

Despite the existing restrictions, the diet for patients with gallstone disease implies a balanced diet. The menu is based on the following requirements:

1. Daily water intake should be about 1.5-2 liters.
2. Consumption of s alt should not exceed 6-10 grams. During an exacerbation, this component can be completely excluded from the patient's diet.
3. Daily carbohydrate intake - not less than 300 and not more than 350 grams.
4. The daily intake of fat added to meals is 70-75 grams.
5. Protein intake - 90 grams per day.

Food according to the above recommendations will satisfy the daily needs of the body for its normal functioning. In this case, the digestive system will not be subjected to much stress.

Now consider the approximate menu of table 5.

Diet for gallstone disease: sample menu for breakfast

At first glance, the restrictions of this diet seem very strict to many. Patients fall into despair and look forward to hungry days with horror. However, do not go to extremes. It is quite possible to cook delicious dishes from permitted products.

Let's consider options for breakfast for 7 days.

Day 1: Oatmeal with cookies, light tea.

Day 2: cottage cheese casserole (seasoned with sour cream), rosehip broth.

Day 3: buckwheat or rice porridge, tea with a little lemon.

Day 4: Pasta with butter and cheese, lemon tea, biscuits with natural fruit jam.

Day 5: apple and carrot salad, cottage cheese with sour cream, natural jelly.

Day 6: chicken or fish soufflé, semolina, marmalade tea.

Day 7: Macaroni pudding with dried fruit, baked apple tea.

As you can see, the menu is quite varied. If you show imagination, dishes can be made even more interesting and unusual.

Sample second breakfast options

Do not forget that the diet for gallstone disease requires fractional and frequent meals. After 2-2, 5 hours after breakfast, it's time to start the second meal. It should be lighter, but no less useful.

A weekly diet may consist of the following dishes:

Monday: carrot and beetroot salad, juice without preservatives.

Tuesday: oatmeal soufflé, rosehip decoction (or low-brewed green tea).

Wednesday: boiled chicken with potatoes, fruit jelly (for example, from blackcurrant berries).

Thursday: Cottage cheese casserole with nuts, black tea.

Friday: fermented baked milk or curdled milk, dry sweetcookies.

Saturday: milk porridge with banana, dried fruit compote, biscuits.

Sunday: pasta, baked apples, natural juice.

Between meals, you can have a bite of dried bread, cookies or crackers. To improve the taste, you can sprinkle them with a little honey.

Diet meals for lunch

What can you eat for lunch with gallstone disease? More hearty dishes that do not contradict the therapeutic diet are suitable here. If the disease is not in an acute stage, all products from the permit list can be used for cooking.

A weekly diet might look like this:

1. Monday: vegetable borscht, boiled chicken with rice porridge, fruit juice.
2. Tuesday: Buckwheat soup, lean fish, milk tea.
3. Wednesday: milk porridge or pasta soup, potatoes (mashed potatoes), steam cutlets, jelly.
4. Thursday: vegetable soup, boiled rabbit meat, cauliflower garnish, rosehip drink.
5. Friday: vegetable soup with rice, boiled or steamed fish, pumpkin puree, juice.
6. Saturday: cabbage soup without meat, steam meatballs, juice or rosehip broth.
7. Sunday: grated potato soup with croutons, fish soufflé, jelly.

There should be a light afternoon snack between lunch and dinner. Here you can get by with a glass of fermented baked milk, jelly or juice with dry biscuit cookies (about 100 grams).

Creating a menu for dinner

Eveningeating should not heavily burden the stomach. Under this rule, the diet for gallstone disease is also adapted. Meals for dinner should be quite satisfying, but not heavy. Strictly monitor their dosage, as overeating at night is not recommended.

Meals should be taken no later than 18:00. The diet can be selected as follows:

Monday: chicken meat with coleslaw, banana, jelly or juice.

Tuesday: fish stew, grated boiled beets with walnuts.

Wednesday: lean boiled meat, baked potatoes, fruit compote.

Thursday: meat soufflé with cauliflower, tea, biscuits.

Friday: steamed meatballs, pasta, juice.

Saturday: fish soufflé with rice, carrot salad, green tea.

Sunday: steam cutlets, baked pumpkin, tea.

A couple of hours before bedtime, it is allowed to additionally eat a fresh apple, a few dry slices of bread or drink a glass of yogurt.

A few important questions about dieting

Recipes for cholelithiasis include only approved products - this is understandable. But what about drinking? Can I drink mineral water?

In this disease, it is recommended to use medicinal water: "Borjomi", "Polyana Kvasova", "Luzhanskaya". First, you need to release gas from it!

What spices can be added to dishes to improve the taste? The diet does not provide for the use of spices, but turmeric is an exception. In addition to taste, it contributesremoving toxins from the body, which is very useful during an exacerbation of gallbladder diseases.

Conclusion

We looked at what the diet for gallstone disease is and what restrictions it includes. In conclusion, I would like to note that strict adherence to the recommendations set out in it will significantly speed up the removal of painful sensations and bring recovery closer.

Following a diet may seem very difficult at first glance, but in fact this period is a great opportunity to learn new recipes and taste dietary dishes. And who knows, maybe one of them will become your favorite.