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Following LCHF without a gallbladder?

Z

zand

Master
Messages
10,973
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I was chatting on another thread and rather than derail that thread, I thought I would start a new one.

This doesn't apply to me, but I have 2 non diabetic friends who say they can't follow LCHF because they have had their gall bladders removed. I read somewhere on this forum (months back) that you could buy enzymes to help with this problem and I also found a link on diet doctor that says if you had your gallbladder removed you need to increase your intake of fats very slowly to give the body time to adapt.

http://www.dietdoctor.com/gallstones-and-low-carb (the bit about not having a gallbladder is at the end of this section )

I was just wondering if anyone has any practical experience of this and if they could give any advice on what to do and what not to do and if it is indeed possible to follow LCHF after having had a gallbladder removed.

Thanks. :)
 
While your gallbladder plays a part in the digestion of fat, the main organ is the pancreas, the pancreas makes the enzymes that breaks fats down and helps absorption of vitamins, so there is no reason your friends cannot follow a lchf diet.
In UK replacement enzymes (that actually work) are prescription only called Creon. Creon is only prescribed if your panc is not producing the enzymes
 
I had my gallbladder removed nine years ago, i also suffer from silent reflux. I was diagnosed type 2 in May 2015 , started low carb full fat in July 2015 and I've never had a problem in fact I feel better than I did previously. Can't see why not having a gallbladder would stop you doing the diet
 
Hi, I'd say it varies hugely. Some people with no gallbladder have no difficulty eating fat, I read 30% do, to varying degrees.

My personal experience is some fats seem much easier to tolerate than others and am now eating more fat than I used to.

If you have no gallbladder, and eat more fat than you can tolerate, it can be very painful, so dietdoctor advice spot on re build up very gradually.
 
I haven't had my gallbladder removed, but used to get quite a lot of discomfort in that area and have large gallstones showing in ultrasounds/scans. I found taking supplements of digestive and/or pancreatic enzymes very helpful - they weren't on prescription though, I got them from a health food shop. From memory, I took them for about a year and still have some on hand that I take if I start getting reflux after a meal.

I also found the following article useful:
http://paleoparents.com/featured/how-to-enjoy-bacon-without-a-gallbladder/
 
Mrs S had her gallbladder removed but eats LCHF with me (she's not diabetic) without problem. I think usually there's enough 'baseload' fat-processing capability in the bloodstream, the gallbladder just provides a booster storage facility, so if fat intake is spread out there shouldn't be a major problem.
 
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