Page 29 - Summer2018

its trusty but sometimes tricky sidekick, the CAUSES OF GALLBLADDER Inability to
gallbladder. Unfortunately, gallbladder problems DYSFUNCTION digest fats
can affect every aspect of a person’s life, includ- Although classic medical gallbladder cases
ing food choices, weight, mineral absorption, are inelegantly said to be “4F”—female, fertile, is a primary
hormone balance, emotional balance, family fat and forty—the problem is occurring in ever reason for
dynamics and intimate relationships. I’ve seen younger people of both genders, in large part due sugar and
divorces related to faulty gallbladder function, to our increasingly toxic foods and lifestyles.
even involving otherwise wonderful people! Low (not high!) stomach acid is a primary carbohydrate
direct cause of “liver congestion” and gallblad- cravings,
THE ALL IMPORTANT LIVER der dysfunction, but there are a number of other making mood
The liver—which traditional Chinese risk factors. These include dietary factors such
medicine views as the seat of emotion and as diets high in simple carbohydrates, low in and weight

intelligence —is a miraculous organ with an fiber, low in traditional fats or high in “fake stability very
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unbelievable number of functions. I am going fats” such as margarine; excessive protein challenging.
to focus on just two aspects of this organ: fat intake; overconsumption of fried foods; a his-
digestion and hormone management. Both of tory of a vegetarian or vegan diet; deficiencies
these functions are incredibly important in of phosphorous and magnesium (related to
determining how we feel and what we can suc- calcium stone formation); low dietary choline,
cessfully eat. methionine and/or lecithin (common in those
A healthy liver produces over a quart of bile who avoid egg yolks); and overeating or obesity.
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daily, which is supposed to be a thin, slippery, There are also medication-related risk factors,
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yellowish alkaline enzyme complex that breaks including a history of use of birth control pills
down fats for absorption in the small intestine. (women), synthetic hormones or statin drugs.
However, a variety of conditions can set the Women with high estrogen levels (estrogen
stage for bile to change into a thicker, stickier, dominance) are particularly prone to gallbladder
creamier and more acidic fluid. Further metabolic problems and the emotional chaos that results.
problems (often related to stress and resultant Individuals with symptoms or lab results indica-
low stomach acid production) and nutritional tive of hypothyroidism or a history of chronic
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deficiencies (including deficiencies of vitamin dehydration also can be at risk of gallbladder
A, lecithin, choline, methionine and essential dysfunction, as can those with lifestyles high
fatty acids) can cause the bile ducts to contract in stress or anger-creating situations.
poorly so that the bile is retained too long in the
liver and gallbladder. When this happens, the bile THE WISDOM OF THE “FAULTY” BODY
will congeal, forming a “sandy” or “gravel-like” Here is why Casey does not like to eat her
sludge made of cholesterol and bile salts—and grass-fed butter and bacon: her body is wise.
eventually forming hard and sometimes mineral- It knows that it cannot properly digest that fat,
based gallstones and liver stones. These stones and it does not want to add removal of rancid
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further limit bile flow and therefore reduce fat fat to its burden. As a result of this bodily
digestion, causing the fat in food to sit around in wisdom, Casey gets the message from her gut
the stomach and small intestine and basically go not to eat these otherwise healthy foods. This
rancid. Problems with bile production also impair can appear as either nausea, not feeling hungry
some of bile’s other important roles, including (especially in the morning) or having strong
removing fat-soluble toxins from the body and cravings for carbohydrates (because she can still
preventing the development of food allergies. digest those—for now). Inability to digest fats
Congested bile has also long been known to is a primary reason for sugar and carbohydrate
have emotional repercussions, including causing cravings, making mood and weight stability
irritability. In fact, the terms “choleric,” “melan- very challenging.
cholic” or “of a bilious nature” have been used In a vicious cycle, once Casey stops digesting
to refer to an irritable, moody or angry person fats well, not only will she develop an aversion
in writings even from before the time of Christ. to good fats and proteins, but the fat-soluble

SUMMER 2018 Wise Traditions 27