How is your gallbladder functioning?

The many important functions of bile include

Emulsifies fats and facilitates absorption

• Helps eliminate toxins, hormones, bilirubin, and cholesterol from the body

• Protects against intestinal infections by excreting IgA and stimulating the innate immune system in the intestine

• Delivers Vitamin D from the liver to the intestine, as well as B12, folate and B6

• Regulates triglycerides, glucose and energy metabolism

Warning signs your body communicates that indicate you may have gallbladder problems include

• Difficulty digesting fatty meals/foods or feeling nauseated after these meals

• Light/tan stool that smells bad

• Less than 1 bowel movement per day

• A bitter or sour taste in mouth after eating

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Itchy skin

• Gas and bloating, reflux

• Lack of appetite

• Dry skin/hair

• Feeling of fullness with deferred pain to head, stomach and right shoulder blade

• Dark urine

• High cholesterol and/or triglycerides

What you can do to support a healthy gallbladder and bile flow?

1. Take high quality omega 3 fats daily as this decreases the cholesterol supersaturation

2. Take ginger and artichoke extracts to promotes gallbladder contraction, and motility

3. Have 2g Vitamin C daily in divided doses as it is required for the conversion of cholesterol into bile salts

4. Eat 30-40g of fibre per day (lots!) and make sure your bowels are regular

5. Avoid sugar, refined carbs, fried foods, trans fats, processed vegetable oils

6. Eat healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and bile-stimulating radishes, turnip greens, artichokes, beets and dandelion

7. Exercise for at least 30min 5x a week

Gut health is one of the areas I'm passionate about.