Is Your Gallbladder Causing Your Symptoms?

The health and functionality of the gallbladder This is often overlooked unless gallstones Gallstones can cause severe pain and may need to be removed surgically. Most gallstones are not symptomatic. It is true that the gallbladder is often the root cause for many chronic gastrointestinal issues. It does not mean that you have to suffer from a “gallbladder attack” To have underlying concerns in the biliary system.

First, let’s delve into the biliary tract to understand gallbladder physiology.

The Biliary System

The biliary system is made up of the gallbladder and liver. They work together to produce, store and secrete bile. Bile is produced in the liver. It then travels through the common gallbladder and the commonbile duct. The gallbladder acts as a storage tank for bile. The hormone cholecystokinin can be released when certain cells in the small intestinale detect dietary fats. Cholecystokinin stimulates the gallbladder’s release of bile.

Bile is an important secretion that aids in the emulsification of fats. Bile contains bile acids as well cholesterol, bilirubins, phospholipids and trace minerals. Bile is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent due to its important role in detoxification and gut health. Bile is necessary for the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, A, D and E as well as cholesterol.

Gallstones

Gallstones can be defined as crystallized deposits containing cholesterol and other bile constituents. Gallstones are easy to identify and oftentimes, they are easily visible. Gallstones can cause severe symptoms, which often require people to go to the emergency room or have their gallbladder removed surgically. Gallbladder surgery is one of the most popular surgeries. Individuals should consider the function and health of the gallbladder to help them avoid unnecessary surgery and improve their overall health.

Gallstones are characterized by the following symptoms:

• A severe and sudden feeling of pain in the upper right abdomen, possibly extending to right shoulder or upper back
• Fever and shivering
• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Jaundice (yellowing the skin or eyes)
• Dark urine and stool of clay-, khaki-colored color

Biliary Stasis

The underlying issue with many cases of poor gallbladder health isn’t gallbladder stones but instead biliary stasis. This is a condition in which the bile becomes overly thick and doesn’t secrete well to help digest fats.

An ultrasound can sometimes show gallstones in people with biliary stagnation. For many, however, excessively thick bile can be the problem. There are several signs that can indicate this condition.

You may experience the following symptoms of biliary stasis:

• Burping after meals
• Fish oil burps are made with fish oil capsules
• Feel worse if you eat fatty foods
• Floating stools
• Constipation is a chronic condition.

The most common form of biliary stasis in overweight women over 40 is those who have had children. This is due in part to hormonal shifts that affect the gallbladder.

General Gallbladder Concerns

Although we have made the distinction between gallstones or biliary stagnation, there are other warning signs that could indicate gallbladder issues.

Other gallbladder symptoms include:

• Dry hair, eyes and itchy skin.
• Diarrhea, bloating, cramping, excessive gas
• SIBO (small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth).
• Headache/migraines
• Chemical sensitivities: Perfume, perfume, cologne, tobacco fume
• Hypothyroidism
• Weight loss resistance

There are many underlying causes that can cause these symptoms. To restore health and achieve optimal health, it is necessary to address the root cause of gallbladder dysfunction and biliary stagnation. Proper gallbladder function is essential to digest fat properly. This can cause various symptoms throughout your body.

Inadequate digestion of fats can result in poor sphincter function. This is especially true for the ileocecal, which is the valve that connects the small and large intestinal tracts. If the ileocecal vale isn’t working properly, bacteria can get into the small intestinale from the large intestine. This is small intestinal bacterial growth (SIBO). SIBO causes many symptoms, including gas and bloating,  chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea, or alternating constipation and diarrhea.

Biliary stasis hinders the liver’s detoxification pathways which can increase the toxic burden within the body. The entire body can be affected if the liver is not able to properly detoxify hormones, toxins and other metabolites. In turn, the body’s inflammation level increases.

People with gallbladder problems or biliary stasis often experience symptoms from dietary fats. This includes health-promoting fats like coconut oil and extra virgin olive oils. Gallbladder problems are often something we see. “fish burps” After taking fish oils. Gallbladder issues often avoid dietary fats due to the potential for unwanted side effects. This is a problem because healthy-promoting fats are vital for your overall health, particularly for optimal brain and hormone function. Avoiding fats may also result in deficiencies of vital fat-soluble vitamins D, E and K.

Perhaps you find that your gut health is being supported by diet and supplements but still suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms. This is a sign that gallbladder problems should be addressed.

How to Improve Gallbladder Well-being

There are many strategies to support gallbladder health, fat digestion and liver detoxification. The body can be supported by incorporating these nutritional factors and supplements.

These strategies can help you improve and maintain gallbladder health.

• Get more fiber. Get between 25-40 grams of fiber each day.
• Avoid refined carbohydrates such as white flour, sugar, potatoes and pasta.).
• Avoid trans fats and hydrogenated fats as well as processed vegetable oils.
• Take in plenty of essential fatty oils and omega 3 fatty foods.
• Eliminate food sensitivities. The most common food sensitivities are gluten and dairy.
• To end the cycle of inflammation, biliary stagnation, lack of bile and further inflammation in the gut, you must heal the lining.
• Curcumin and milk thistle as well as ginger are good for promoting bile flow.
• Gallstones can be reduced or eliminated using taurine, phosphatidylcholine and lemon.
• Support your body if it suffers low thyroid function or Hashimoto’s autoimmune hypothyroidism.
• These strategies can be useful if you have had your gallbladder removed. You might also consider adding oxbile to your meals.

Next steps

There are many things that can help you if you have any of these symptoms. In-depth blood panels can assess for many markers, including liver, gallbladder and thyroid function. You also have markers that help to understand nutrient deficiencies and fatty acid profiles. This will help you improve your overall health.

These EpochHealth articles are intended to be used as information and not to replace individualized medical advice. For personal medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult a trusted professional. Have a question? Send us an email at [email protected]

Dr. Ashley Turner, a traditional trained naturopath, is a board-certified doctor in holistic health for Restorative Wellness Center. Dr. Ashley Turner is an expert on functional medicine and author of the gut healing guide. “Restorative Kitchen” And “Restorative Traditions,” This cookbook contains holiday recipes that are not inflammatory.