Page 31 - Summer2018

diagnosis of gallbladder problems should be gallbladder disease) because the ongoing “liver congestion” problem
based on what patients tell their doctors—not continues. Thick, sludgy bile continues to get stuck in the liver, resulting
on which tests are ordered. in ongoing digestive problems, fussy eating and pain in the liver area.
Those who have had gallbladder surgery are not, therefore, off the hook
CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT for dealing with this problem! In fact, people who have had gallblad-
When a serious gallbladder problem is di- der surgery should consider taking a bile-based digestive enzyme—for
agnosed, the usual medical solution (undergone life—with any meal that contains fat, because they cannot effectively
by over half a million Americans per year) is store and release enough bile at the proper times.
surgical removal of the gallbladder; other “stan-
dard” medical treatments (such as drugs and a THREE COMMON SENSE THERAPIES
procedure involving high energy shock waves Naturopathic physicians equate the surgical solution to removing
called lithotripsy) are not very effective. Typi- the light bulb of the “check engine” light on a car dashboard rather than
cally, practitioners carry out gallbladder surgery repairing the engine. Fortunately, there is a better way. It is possible to
via laparoscope, considered easier on the patient. combine good lifestyle habits and common sense therapies into effective
Unfortunately, laparoscopic gallbladder surgery prevention and rehabilitation of gallbladder problems. Ironically, parts
has a dramatically increased rate of damage to of the very best prevention—a Wise Traditions diet—can be intoler-
the bile ducts as well as other complications. able in the short term for those who have serious gallbladder problems.
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In addition, gallbladder surgery sets patients Like Casey, those with gallbladder issues often exhibit significant fat or
up for a lifetime of reduced ability to digest fat meat intolerance, indigestion or aversion, making some of the Weston
(while failing to improve mortality rates from Price dietary guidelines frustrating to follow. Rather than avoiding good

LOVE YOUR LIVER AND GALLBLADDER: PREVENTION AND SAFE INTERVENTION
There are many safe and effective dietary and lifestyle steps that one can take to support the liver and gallbladder
and prevent gallbladder issues:
1. NOT OVEREATING: It is important to avoid overeating, particularly in the evenings after 6:00 pm when bile flow is
naturally at its lowest. Most people digest optimally a meal size of about two (of their own) cupped hands full of food
per meal. Older folks often do well with two meals a day rather than three. Sticking to two to three meals a day—with
no snacks—helps create the proper pH and transit time in the intestine.
2. GOOD FATS: Most of us need a minimum of about ten grams (two teaspoons) of good fat per meal (ninety calories
worth) to stimulate the gallbladder to release bile. However, if fat consumption causes nausea, abdominal pain, right-
sided discomfort, diarrhea or pain around the shoulder blades, it’s time to seek medical care.
3. STOMACH ACID: It is the pH of the stomach contents that triggers the message to the gallbladder to contract and
release bile, so low stomach acid is a set-up for low bile flow. Avoid antacid drugs but recognize that low stomach
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acid is very common after prolonged stress or stressful events and as a feature of aging. A person whose doctor does
not know how to check stomach acid carefully should find a knowledgeable functional, integrative or naturopathic
doctor.
4. DIETARY AND OTHER RISK FACTORS: Cut down on sugar, processed foods, fried foods, vegetable oils and trans fats
as well as drugs and stress.
5. PROTEIN INTAKE: Protein is critical, but consuming much more than one needs or can digest causes multiple prob-
lems. Unfortunately, guides for protein intake are all over the map and require tailoring to the individual. For example,
one guide for adults recommends dividing one’s “ideal body weight” by fifteen to ascertain the number of ounces of
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protein needed in a day. Some medical guidelines recommend multiplying one’s weight (in pounds) by 0.36 to get
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grams of protein per day. (A more specific protein calculator is available on my website, vitalitymedicine.org.)
6. WEIGHT: Avoid fad and yo-yo dieting or rapid weight loss (and regain). Slow and steady weight loss (if needed) helps
the most.
7. SALT: Don’t skip the salt. We need salt (chloride) to make stomach acid. Sea salt is the ideal type of salt to consume.
8. “LIVER TONIC” FOODS: It is helpful to increase one’s intake of beets, beet greens, artichokes, burdock, fennel,
parsley, cilantro, salad dressings containing lemon juice or vinegar, high-fiber foods and fermented foods. Vegetable
fiber helps bind and pull “toxic” bile out rather than having it recycle back to the liver.
9. BOWELS: Treat constipation seriously. A healthy person should have one to three bowel movements a day.
10. HYDRATION: It is important to hydrate well. “Sticky” blood and thick bile do not work well.

SUMMER 2018 Wise Traditions 29