Foods to Avoid When You Don't Have a Gallbladder

After you have your gallbladder removed, you may find you can't eat like you did before the surgery. You might have pain after eating. You might also have diarrhea soon after eating.

This happens because your digestive system doesn't work the same way it used to.

This article will discuss some of the specific foods and types of foods you should avoid and foods to eat after you have your gallbladder removed. It will also look at eating habits that may contribute to pain and discomfort after meals.

The Function of Bile

Your liver produces bile as an ordinary part of digestion. The gallbladder stores the bile produced by your liver. When you eat fat, your gallbladder releases bile to help you digest it.

Without your gallbladder, there is no longer a place to store bile. Instead, the bile drips from your liver continuously. This means there is less bile available to break down fats. The bile can also end up in the large intestine, which can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain.

This is why you need to be careful about the foods you eat after surgery. You may no longer be able to enjoy some of your favorite foods. On the plus side, gallbladder removal may help you form healthier eating habits.

Certain health conditions can cause ongoing digestive symptoms. This includes post-cholecystectomy syndrome. This is a condition associated with pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms after a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal surgery). 

It is important to speak with your doctor about your post-surgery symptoms. This will ensure you get a proper diagnosis and the right course of treatment. 

Fried Foods

Sweet Potato Fries

TheCrimsonMonkey / Getty Images

Fried foods are hard on most people's digestive systems. They are even worse when you don't have a gallbladder.

Fried foods contain a lot of fat. Since you are no longer storing bile in a gallbladder, it's much harder for your body to digest and process fat.

You do still need to eat fats. But since it's harder for your body to break them down, you will want to save your bile for fats that are good for you.

Foods you should avoid now that you no longer have a gallbladder include:

  • French fries
  • Fried chicken
  • Fried fish
  • Chicken-fried steak
  • Hash browns
  • Onion rings
  • All other deep-fried foods

Greasy Foods

Turkey Bacon

Jenna Greenwell / GettyImages

Avoid greasy foods for the same reason you avoid fried foods. Without a gallbladder, it's just too hard for your body to digest fats.

A food that makes your hands greasy or leaves oil on the plate is probably too greasy for you to eat. The grease in these foods will make its way to your digestive tract. Without a gallbladder, your body won't be able to process it comfortably.

Greasy foods you should avoid include:

  • Hamburgers
  • Bacon
  • Cheese pizza
  • Heavy or creamed gravies
  • Fatty cuts of meat

Vegetable Oils

Different types of olive oil
Nico Tondini / Getty Images

It is important to get healthy fats in your diet, but you'll need to consume them in small amounts after gallbladder removal. There are two types of healthy fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are both polyunsaturated fats. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids (meaning the body can't produce them and they have to come from the diet). They provide heart, eye, and brain health benefits.

Omega-6 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats also have heart health benefits.

Without your gallbladder, you'll need to choose fats carefully. When cooking with oil, use small amounts of those higher in monounsaturated fat and omega-3 fats (since your body can't make these) while occasionally using oils with omega-6 fats.

Oils that contain monounsaturated fat or omega-3 fatty acids include:

  • Olive oil
  • Canola oil
  • Peanut oil
  • Flaxseed oil

Oils that contain omega-6 fatty acids include:

  • Safflower oil
  • Sunflower oil
  • Corn oil
  • Soybean oil
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Walnuts
  • Pumpkin seeds

Convenience Foods

Potato chips
Krystian Nawrocki / Getty Images

Convenience foods aren't usually healthy. They often contain lots of sugar and refined grains. These ingredients can raise your risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Convenience foods also tend to be high in omega-6 fatty acids. This is because they are often made with soybean oil.

Avoid store-bought versions of the following:

  • Cakes
  • Cookies
  • Crackers
  • Potato chips
  • Tortilla chips
  • Other pre-packaged baked goods or snack food items

Liquids During Meals

Multi-generational family sitting around a dinner table

10'000 Hours / Getty Images

You may find it's easier to digest your food if you don't drink as much liquid before and during a meal.

This may be because too much liquid can dilute stomach acid and digestive enzymes. Without a gallbladder, you depend more on these substances to help you digest food.

Because water in the stomach is absorbed rapidly, though, it doesn't play a large role in acid and enzyme secretion. So drink water when you are thirsty.

Large, Heavy Meals

A full plate at Thanksgiving dinner

James Pauls / Getty Images

Large meals are harder to digest. Eating a large meal causes the stomach and intestines to have to work harder. This may make abdominal pain and diarrhea worse.

Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may help you avoid these uncomfortable symptoms.

Spicy Foods

Spicy foods that contain capsaicin (a component of chili pepper) can irritate the stomach and cause digestive issues. Consider avoiding foods that contain a large amount of:

  • Black pepper
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Chili powder
  • Curry
  • Tajin
  • Hot peppers (jalapeno, habanero, serrano)
  • Salsa (medium or hot)
  • Tabasco and other hot sauces

Other Potentially Troublesome Foods

Fried corn

Sino Images / Getty Images

Not everyone reacts to the same foods in the same way. Eliminating obvious problem foods may not be enough.

Certain foods can cause digestive upset for many people. This even includes those who still have a gallbladder.

You may need to try an elimination diet. On this kind of eating plan, you start by cutting out large groups of foods. Then, you gradually add foods back in. This helps you identify your problem foods.

Foods that cause problems for many people include:

  • Gluten-containing foods
  • High-FODMAP foods
  • Dairy products
  • Excessive alcohol
  • Excessive sugar
  • Corn
  • Soy

Foods to Eat After Gallbladder Surgery

Although there is no specific diet you should follow after having gallbladder surgery, low-fat foods are easier to digest and are less likely to cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea. Examples of foods that are nutritious and typically well tolerated include:

  • Nonfat and low-fat dairy products: milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese
  • Plant-based milk alternatives: soy and almond milk
  • High-fiber foods: beans and lentils, oats, whole wheat bread, brown rice, and quinoa
  • Fruits: berries, apples, pears, grapes, melon, and kiwi
  • Non-gassy vegetables: beets, carrots, cucumber, lettuce, green beans, potatoes, dark leafy greens, tomatoes, and zucchini
  • Lean protein: fish, poultry, tofu, eggs, and egg whites
  • Low-fat condiments: light margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressings, and cream cheese

Snacks can include any of the foods listed above, such as:

  • Fresh fruit
  • Hard-boiled egg
  • Yogurt topped with fruit
  • Cottage cheese with cucumber and tomatoes
  • 1/2 turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and light mayonnaise

Summary

Your gallbladder stores bile, which helps you digest food. Without a gallbladder, there are some foods you may no longer be able to eat comfortably.

Avoid fried and greasy foods, as well as cooking with too much oil. Convenience foods also tend to be high in fat, sugar, and refined grains. You may also find it helpful to drink less fluids while eating and to eat smaller meals. 

If none of these tips help prevent discomfort after eating, you may need to talk with your healthcare provider or registered dietitian for nutrition recommendations tailored to your needs. 

4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Shin Y, Choi D, Lee KG, Choi HS, Park Y. Association between dietary intake and postlaparoscopic cholecystectomic symptoms in patients with gallbladder disease. Korean J Intern Med. 2018;33(4):829-836. doi:10.3904/kjim.2016.223

  2. Arora D, Kaushik R, Kaur R, Sachdev A. Post-cholecystectomy syndrome: a new look at an old problem. J Minim Access Surg. 2018;14(3):202-207. doi:10.4103/jmas.JMAS_92_17

  3. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Types of fat.

  4. Harvard Medical School. No need to avoid healthy omega-6 fats.

Barbara Bolen, PhD

By Barbara Bolen, PhD
Barbara Bolen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. She has written multiple books focused on living with irritable bowel syndrome.