Healthy Restaurant Food. Keeping Gallbladders and Aortas Happy!

Eating out can be so difficult to those of us with aorta and/or gallbladder issues.

Eating Healthy While Eating Out Can Be A Challenge! #Aorta #gallbladder

Restaurants tend to use the most inflammatory (i.e. cheapest) oils to cook in.

Oils rich in omega 6 fatty acids such as sunflower or canola oil can directly initiate inflammation of the gallbladder, pancreas and aorta.

No one wants an inflamed gallbladder (think horrible pain in the side and back).

No one want an inflamed aorta (think scary dissection).

And for some of us on many days any dietary oil, including good oils, may not be helpful.

So what do we do when eating out?  At times we will invariably find ourselves in a restaurant with family or friends.

Fortunately there are more ways than a cold salad to enjoy healthy restaurant food.

I almost always order steamed mixed vegetables with a side of rice (whole grain rice if they have it).

And you don't have to be in an Asian restaurant to order steamed mixed vegetables either.  Almost any restaurant will have frozen vegetables and a steamer.

Be sure to ask for the hot sauces and soy sauce to liven up the food combo and you have a healthier than most meal while eating out (though keep an eye on the sodium).

Avoiding inflammatory oils in restaurants needn't be hard.

Always remember the 'steamed' option and enjoy good food out, without the worry of pain or aortic inflammation!

Roasting Veggies for Daily Gallbladder and Aorta Health

Nothing better for the gallbladder than fresh roasted vegetables.

Gallbladder diet - good for aorta too - Roasted peppers!

Full of color and different tastes, vegetables can be baked without oil - or at a minimum just a very light brushing of a healthy oil, like unrefined cold pressed coconut oil.

Gallbladder & aorta diet.  Sliced, roasted crispy potatoes - no oil but lots of flavor 

Your gallbladder will be happy with the only natural fats choice.  Moreover, baked or roasted vegetables are full of fiber and assist your body in proper digestion.  The fiber assists your digestive system in facilitating digestion and moving fats through your body for proper use and then elimination.

Gallbladder & aorta diet - water sautéed spinach, corn and tomatoes with garlic

Roasted vegetables also contain important amounts of nutrients and phytochemicals.

Easy to prepare.  I wash and dice without peeling.

Importantly, if you are going to use oil when roasting your potatoes use only a very limited amount.  Even a moderate amount of oil can prevent potatoes from becoming crispy and instead will keep them 'soggy'. If you must use oil then lightly spray the roasting pan only.

Add salt, pepper and paprika to taste (I really like smoky paprika and of course garlic powder).

Sauté the spinach, corn and tomatoes in about three tablespoons of water over medium heat until bubbly.

Roast potatoes in the oven at 400F until crispy.  I occasionally will turn on the broiler briefly just before they are ready to remove from the oven to add that extra 'crisp'.

Peppers can be roasted the same way as potatoes but don't take near as long with respect to oven time.

Serve with tamari or your favorite dipping sauce (watch out for those with inflammatory oil or sugar ingredients).

Enjoy!  Our gallbladder and aorta will be happy!

Somedays I Just Need A Burger (Ask My Gallbladder and Aorta About it Firs!)

Sometimes I just have to have a burger.  But my gallbladder and torn aorta warn me about the fats!

Gallbladder and aorta diet.  Somedays I just have to have a burger.

So I've found the lowest fat veggie burgers and veggie chick patties in the grocery store.  I cook them in the skillet with just a light brushing of coconut oil or even lighter spray of olive oil.

Aorta and Gallbladder diet.  Hummus, veggie burger, steamed cabbage & cauliflower and bbq sauce.

And combine them with steamed cabbage, cauliflower, onions and mushrooms.

Gallbladder and aorta diet.  Veggie burger with steamed cabbage and cauliflower.

The fresh Italian bread type rolls (similar to Chicago rolls) can be found at our local Publix with no added oil.

Mustard too is free of gallbladder inflaming and artery clogging oils, and accentuates the burger flavor!

Baked corn chips and hummus finish out the meal and presto!

I've got a burger my appetite, my gallbladder and my aorta are all happy about.

Roasting Vegetables for Aortic and Digestive Health

Vegetables roasting in the oven always fill thetownhouse with the best of food aromas.

Gallbladder and Cardiovascular Diet - Healthy, Hearty Veggies a Roasting

The vegetables we roast are handpicked from our Lakes Park Farmers Market every Wednesday morning where we usually purchase enough onions, potatoes (various types), zucchini, squash, mushrooms, beets, broccoli, cauliflowers, cabbage, carrots, Brussel sprouts, ginger, eggplant (for baba ganoush) grapefruit, oranges, apples, papaya, mango and pineapple for the week.

Gallbladder and aorta diet - Sliced Brussel Sprouts ready for roasting

Gallbladder friendly Brussel Sprouts ready for eating!

Farmers Market fresh foods are so affordable too.  We can purchase what we need of the above for just a little over fifty dollars.

I like to slice my veggies nice and thin, place them on a tray lightly coated with coconut or avocado oil, add a little salt, pepper and paprika and bake until cooked to my taste (I like a little on the browned-caramelized side) at about 400F.

Somedays I'll finish the tray of roasted veggies with a light broiling touch.

Gallbladder & Aorta Diet - I like to add coconut oil and smoky paprika to the veggies before roasting.

Healthy, hearty and aorta/gallbladder friendly foods are as close as the farmer's market and home oven!

Chickpea & Rice Super-burgers for Gallbladder & Aorta Health

Sometimes I just want a really hearty, mouthwatering burger.  Or two.  Or three.

Gallbladder diet.  Baked Chickpea & Rice Burgers.  Healthy Yum!

But I have to say no to real hamburgers.  They just are not right for my cardiovascular system, aorta and especially not right for my touchy gallbladder.

So what do I do?

Salmon burgers make a good substitute but still taste like 'fish' burgers.  Which is good but maybe not what I am looking for all the time.  Some days I just want a 'real' burger.

The closest faux-burger burger I've made to the real thing burger is my chickpea (garbanzo bean) and rice burger.

They are super good.  And filling and don't crumble apart like many vegetarian burgers may do.

Gallbladder diet.  Foods good for aorta and gallbladder - Chickpea & Rice Burgers.  Healthy Yum!

These chickpea and rice super-burgers are easy to prepare and cook.  Super easy.  And they are packed full of nutrients, vitamins, protein and phytochemicals.

Chickpeas contain on average about 15 grams of protein per cup and there is about a half a cup in each large burger!  Chickpeas also provide manganese and folate for a strong healthy body.  Of course chickpeas are famous for their fiber content (I like to soak my chickpeas/garbanzo beans overnight to remove phytic acid, a substance which can bind zinc in our bodies).

Heres how to make them.

Cook two cups basmati rice and two cups chick peas.  Make sure both the rice and chickpeas are soft.

I like to steam a couple peppers (red, green, banana or poblano) and onions, then dice them quite fine in size.

Chop several cloves of garlic and a thumb size chunk of fresh ginger root.  Sometimes I'll add a little turmeric too.

Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl along with a cup of organic masa harina.  Mix well.

If you are a vegan then add salt and pepper to taste and form the mixture into large patties.

If you are a vegetarian looking for a little more protein and binder then add three egg whites, mix and form into large burger-size patties.

Gallbladder diet.  Foods good for aorta and gallbladder - Chickpea & Rice Burgers.  Healthy Yum!

Place on a lightly oiled baking tray and bake at 385 F until golden brown, turning the burgers occasionally.  Sometimes I'll broil them for a minute or so to allow the onions and peppers to 'crispy caramelize' just a bit.

Serve hot with home made salsa!

Yum.

Chickpea and rice burgers will leave you satisfied every time (and aorta-gallbladder healthy too).

Whole Foods Diet and Aorta-Gallbladder Health, Hearty Dinners

Hearty, healthy gallbladder and aorta meals can be quick and easy to prepare.

Whole foods diet for gallbladder and aorta! #Phytonutrients, minerals, vitamins, fiber, anti-inflammation

Tonight's meal filled me up with 'good for me' whole foods.  As all the foods were homemade from fresh ingredients the meal contained no 'processed foods' except for the organic tahini.

My gallbladder is no longer angry at me when I eat.

My hunger cravings are always satisfied.

I really wish I had started eating whole, non-processed foods (or slow foods as some may describe) when I was younger.

But today I know my cardiovascular system is holding its own, even with the enormous tear in my aorta's inner lining.  And I know my digestive system is working smoothly.  No more painful and debilitating 'hiccups' from my gallbladder or pancreas.

Tonights meal included: a homemade salad with spring greens, peppers, ginger, onions and more; homemade garbanzo bean hummus, split pea soup with new potatoes and onions; and homemade salsa.

#gallbladderlife #dissectionlife

Having a Hard Time Giving Up Chocolate on a Gallbladder Diet?

I love Chocolate!

Gallblascular diet.  Cocoa nibs are low in fat, contain only cocoa and are anti-inflammatory which is good for the aorta and digestive system.

My gallbladder screams when I eat a chocolate bar though, reminding me that all the rich fats and oils in the processed candy are not what my body needs.

I have however found other ways to satisfy my cocoa cravings without causing that horrible, intense gallbladder pain or inflaming my already torn descending aorta walls.

The basic principle behind these two chocolate delights is one of 'non-processed'.  Actually both the unsweetened cocoa powder and nibs are processed but only minimally processed.  And there is just on ingredient - cocoa, not a whole hoard of probably taste good but not healthy sugar, preservatives, flavorings and oils.

Though this is just one particular example of the fundamental philosophy behind the Gallblascular Diet, the premise is consistent with all food items.

I find it is generally OK, even healthy, to eat 'whole' foods.

Foods with less than two or three ingredients on their packaging or preferable foods with no packaging at all are best for our aorta and digestive system - and our entire body.

Gallblascular Diet.  Satisfy your chocolate urge without gallbladder pain or inflammation from candy bars by using unsweetened cocoa.

I was so surprised and pleases about nine months into my Gallblascular Diet when I realized unsweetened cocoa powder and cocoa nibs were safe to eat.  No pain from the gallbladder, no inflammatory arterial damage to my cardiovascular system.

Gallblascular diet.  Unsweetened cocoa powder contains only cocoa and is actually low in fat and carbs.

In fact the flavanols in cocoa are reportedly quite healthy for us humans.

Try dissolving a spoonful or two in warm non-fat milk or if you are a vegan like me in almond or cashew milk.  If you can't tolerate the 'milks' then hot water works well too.

For a quick snack a small handful of cocoa nibs always quickly satisfies the chocolate urge.

Gallblascular diet.  Cocoa nibs are low in fat, contain only cocoa and are  anti-inflammatory which is good for the aorta and digestive system.

Remember, whole non-processed foods are what the Gallblascular Diet is all about.  Read the ingredients. If the package contains  lots of chemicals, preservatives, flavors, sugars, oils and other ingredients it probably is not good for you, your aorta or your gallbladder/pancreas.

Veggie Roast - Healthy for Heart & Digestion #Gallbladder #Aorta

Wednesday's healthy meal is a colorful veggie roast.

Healing Gallbladder & Aorta. Fresh veggies hand picked and washed

The farmers market provides an awesome opportunity to gather vegetables and fruits for the upcoming week.

I am always amazed with the brilliant colors mother nature chooses for food art found on the tree, vine and in the noisy marketplace.

My gallbladder and aorta both benefit from all the phytochemical abundant in fresh food.

Healing Gallbladder & Aorta. Chopped, diced and ready for the pan.

My spirit rejoices too in the pleasures of slow foods; the selecting, the washing, the preparation, the cooking and of course then the devouring.

This veggie roast is simple yet hearty, easy to make but delicious.

First, select your veggies.  Second, slice, dice or chop.  Third place the veggies on a very lightly oiled tray or in a glass baking dish (I use coconut oil but avocado and EVOO works well too!)

Healing Gallbladder & Aorta.  Veggie roast in the oven!

Finally, bake about 350F for forty five minutes or so until the veggies are just right.  I like mine a little caramelized so sometimes I may bake about 400F.

Healing Gallbladder & Aorta. Yum Yum Sizzling yum.

Your healthy veggie bake will satisfy any level of hunger, provide you with important nutrients and fiber and keep your gallbladder and cardiovascular system healthy and happy.

Adjust veggies as necessary to accommodate individual tolerances.

Gallbladder diet. Watch Out for Super Tricky Gallbladder Friendly Foods With This!

Watch out for gallbladder friendly foods with sugar in them!

Gallbladder diet.  Make sure Matcha contains no sugar.

I've been so guilty and over the weekend realized just how wrong I've been about sweet treats!

So today is day three of the "I Quit Sugar" lifestyle change for gallbladder health.

My very last post highlighted a Starbucks drink I was guzzling that actually was loaded with sugar!  According to the Starbucks nutrition webpage a green tea latte can have up to 30g sugar!

Gallbladder diet.  Organic green tea is the only ingredient in Teavana matcha.  My gallbladder is much happier.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) women should limit their sugar intake to less than 24 grams per day while men should limit their sugar intake to less than 36 grams per day.

That means one Starbucks green tea latte can have more sugar in the drink than the AHA recommends women ingest in an entire day!

Oh oh.  I've been headed in the wrong direction.  But you know, I think it was ok for a while because the many recipes I posted here with sugar as an ingredient really helped me cope with making the dietary transition to gallbladder friendly foods.

My restored confidence that I can eat heartily without incurring a gallbladder attack is important.

But now its time to move on.  So "I Quit Sugar".

There is a really good book on the topic with the same name available in most public libraries, in Barnes and Noble bookstores and on the web through Amazon in both Kindle edition and paperback.

Gallbladder diet.  Sarah Wilson's 'I Quit Sugar' is a great book that ultimately will help with gallbladder issues.

Sarah Wilson's book really inspired me.  Her blog is an excellent resource for information on sugar and the human body and for sugar free recipes.

However the real reason I am quitting sugar is that through gallbladder friendly recipe research I have come across more and more medical evidence that sugar is truly NOT gallbladder friendly.

One study in particular ranked refined sugars right up there along with fats as a primary culprit responsible for gallstone formation.

While sugar may not trigger an immediate gallbladder contraction of pain, sugar can encourage gallstone formation and even cause existing stones to grow larger in size.

Ugh.

So I am quitting sugar.  Today is Day 3 of my new lifestyle and from here on out most posted recipes will be low sugar content to no sugar content.  Good for our hearts too.  Some may include Stevia as I still like my sweets.

So what about my Starbucks Iced Matcha Water?

One maxim I've learned in life that truly helps me is "its OK to disappoint as long as one is not disappointing ones self" or clearly put, "who can I disappoint today?"

Starbucks probably is not disappointed with my decision to ditch their matcha drinks after so glowingly talking them up last week.  However I've found a new, healthier love.

Matcha powder without sugar from Teavana!

I've heard Starbucks uses the same in their matcha drinks only theirs is mixed with sugar.

And I love Matcha powder from Teavana in hot water over ice with cold water.

Consider keeping your green tea latte habit going for gallbladder support but switch to unsweetened matcha (or add Stevia).  I like mine in water but one could also use non-fat milk and Teavana matcha too.

Gallbladder diet.  If Iced Matcha Water is too 'watery' for you, consider using fat-free milk and Teavana matcha.

Long term we may form fewer stones and reduce the number of big stones growing in our finicky little grief causing organ.

So bye-bye sugar, bye-bye belly and bye-bye future gallbladder problems.

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder life. Saved From Surgery by Starbucks Speciality Drink.

Crushed is a word not fitting to express disappointment in giving up Starbucks speciality drinks after my gallbladder attacks began.

Gallbladder diet.  Iced Green Matcha is my fav new gallbladder friendly Starbucks Speciality Drink

Green tea latte, iced coconut mocha, caramel macchiato, cappuccino make my soul sing with ecstasy and my tongue dance with joy.

So crushed like the ice in a Starbucks smoothie was I.  And I tried smoothies for a while but they never lived up to the speciality tea and coffee drinks.  However the smoothie bananas are high in potassium (two points for health).

But then someone (my university student daughter) told me of Iced Matcha Water.  Of course Iced Matcha Water is not on the Starbucks menu and some barristers won't be sure how to make Iced Matcha Water.

Remind them it is the same price as a speciality tea and ask for five or six scoops (I like six) Starbucks Matcha powder shaken in water and poured over ice.  Tall is good.  Grande is nice and Venti will wake you up and turn your otherwise slow day into eye-opening bliss.

Gallbladder diet. Iced Matcha Water contains no fat.  Green tea has been shown to be good for the gallbladder.

Caffeine as found in green tea can lower the chance of women experiencing a gallbladder attack by up to twenty five percent according to Dr. Andrew Weil.

And livestrong.com tells us because of polyphenols and caffeine content, green tea improves bile flow and is one of the best substances for alleviating gallbladder pain.

The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends drinking green tea for gallbladder issues due to high amounts of anti-oxidants in the drink.  Penn State's Hershey Medical Center recommends green tea for gallbladder issues too!

Finally, there are many resource pages recommending green tea as support for gallbladder health.  Do your research!

My gallbladder loves Starbucks Iced Matcha Water.  So does my mouth, tongue and brain.

I've never found matcha powder tasting anywhere close to Starbucks brand.  The drink is not too sweet -  yet Iced Matcha Water is exotic enough to satisfy my longing for a speciality drink I can't duplicate in my home blender.

Slowly but surely I'm learning about a gallbladder life full of choices and options, never dull and boring but limited only by boundaries of creativity and imagination.

Next time you are in the mood for a gallbladder friendly Starbucks speciality drink (and there are plenty of others too) try an Iced Matcha Water from your neighborhood Starbucks.

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Lime Juice & Key Lime Pastry Tarts May Dissolve Gallstones!

Lime juice can help break up and dissolve gallstones according to the Integrative Health resource site.

Gallbladder diet.  Lime juice in Key Lime Pastry Tarts may dissolve gallstones.

Integrative Health offers not only an excellent blog on gallbladder health but gives important insight on how to treat and successfully heal gallbladder issues through diet, lifestyle, exercise and other integrative behavioral factors.

One of my favorite lime juice recipes are Gallbladder Friendly Key Lime Pastry Tarts!

The Key Lime Pastry Tart recipe is so simple and quick, yet rich and full in flavor while not creating gallbladder inflammation.  And easy to eat too!

So here is the awesome recipe.

Gallbladder Friendly Key Lime Pastry Tarts

The secret to this marvelous desert is three fold. First, the phyllo (filo) dough must be fat free or the most contain right at or less than 1 gram total fat per serving.  Second, use key lime juice if you can obtain from your local grocer.  Third, the serving size is 'just right' - not so much where the leftovers (if any) would go freezer burnish in the ice chest.

Gallbladder diet.  Organic lime juice will do if key lime juice is not available.

Phyllo dough is usually available in no to low fat varieties all the way up to heavily larded with thick vegetable oils and lots of bad fats.  Flee from the big total fat varieties or you will pay dearly with an angry gallbladder!

Gallbladder diet.  Use low fat brands for gallbladder friendly recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup key lime juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon dried and ground stevia (optional depending on just how TaRt you like your tarts!)
• two small containers of fat free whipped topping
• 1 small package of phyllo dough (low fat to no fat)
• 4 small baking bowls

Defrost one roll of phyllo dough.

Gallbladder diet.  Phyllo dough comes in low-no fat types as well as high fat.  Avoid high fat brands.

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a mixing bowl combine the whipped topping and lime juice.  Stir rapidly with a fork until smooth and creamy.

Gallbladder diet.  Mix lime juice and whipped topping.

Add in ground cloves and stevia, stirring.

Next mix in the ground cinnamon.

Place four or five layers of phyllo dough in the ungreased (duh) baking dishes, forming 'mini-pie crusts' with the dough by gently pressing into the form of the bowl with your fingers.  Don't worry if the phyllo dough breaks - just add another layer over the dough crack.  The more layers you add the more 'flaky' the cooked crust will be.

Gallbladder diet.  Layer in four or five sheets of phyllo dough, forming into the bowl with fingers.

Add a dusting of cinnamon powder to the inside of the phyllo dough crust.

Gallbladder diet.  Dust inside of crusts with cinnamon.

Place the phyllo dough filled baking bowls in the oven and bake until golden brown.  Remove from oven and allow to cool.  This should take approximately 15-20 minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Key Lime Pastry Tart crusts baking.

Once the 'pastry tart crusts' are cool to touch, fill each bowl with the blended whipped topping-lime juice-spices mixture.

Gallbladder diet.  Bake Key Lime Pastry Tarts until golden brown, or about fifteen minutes.

Place on a rack in the freezer until the filling is firm (these are really good once they sit overnight!).

Gallbladder diet.  Once crusts are cooled, crusts should be filled with whipped filling mixture!  Then cool in freezer!

Serve for a very refreshing dessert with powerful gallbladder healing potential!

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Crab Cakes Are Oh So Gallbladder Friendly

The more I learn about cooking and ingredients for Gallbladder life, the more I delicious and fun recipes I find.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly Crab Cakes with Zero Fat.

Crab cakes for the Gallbladder is one recipe sure to please your palate all the while keeping your little bile sac happy.

And those of us with sharp little stones in our GB are intent on keeping that tempermental little organ happy.

The secret ingredients in these crab cakes are celery, apple, ginger and turmeric; and of course - delicious crab.  Carrots, celery, ginger and apples "encourage liver detoxification, alkalise and cleanse the system and provide vitamin C (and fiber) to move the bowel"  and do wonders for the gallbladder according to AskaNaturopath.com

Gallbladder Happy Crab Cakes (low to no fat)

• Two 8 oz cups of jumbo lump crab meat
• 1 large onion finely diced
• 4 stalks celery finely diced
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup Panco bread crumbs (fat free)
• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon chopped or ground ginger (preferably fresh)
• 1 large green apple finely chopped
• 1 cup egg whites
• paprika for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Gallbladder diet.  Onions are an essential recipe for gallbladder diets.

Peel and finely chop one large onion.

Gallbladder diet.  Fresh and finely diced onions are a must ingredient for crab cakes!

Wash and finely chop four stalks organic celery.

Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a fork.

Add parchment paper to cooking sheet.

Using your hand scoop out a small handful of the crabmeat-vegetables blend and pat into a small patty, placing on the parchment paper.  Continue until all the crabmeat blend is formed into patties and placed on the parchment paper lined cooking sheet.

Gallbladder diet.  Crab cakes ready for baking in the oven!

Dust each patty with paprika.

Place in the oven and bake until the crab cakes are golden brown and crispy on the outside but moist on the inside.

Serve with cocktail sauce.

Gallbladder diet.  Yummy golden brown giant lump crab cakes will please your taste buds and gallbladder too!

Enjoy!  They won't last long.

Cheers and happy gallbladder dieting!

Kevin  #gallbladderlife.

Gallbladder Super Food, Pickled Beets

Beets are another of my gallbladder superfoods.  They are on my emergency, go-to list of reliable, tried and true remedies when the unexpected gallbladder attack strikes.

Gallbladder diet.  Another gallbladder superfood for emergency pain relief - beets!

 Beets taste good too.  And are filling and full of important vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, such as fiber Vitamin C and magnesium.

According to some authorities, beets - along with apples and ginger - promote formation of good bile acids.  Raw shredded beets on a salad or as a stand alone snack are a great way to take advantage of this gallbladder superfood.

Gallbladder diet.  Yummy beets are not only tasty but provide emergency relief for gallbladder pain.

And beets are rich in a compound called betaine.  Betaine has been shown to stimulate bile production in the liver and promote gallbladder health.

Moreover, beets also contain lutein.  Lutein may protect against macular degeneration in addition to supporting the liver and gallbladder.

I like my beets raw and pickled.  Cooking does remove some of the important compounds from beet root so shredding and eating beets raw is best with respect to obtaining optimal health benefits from the vegetable.

Gallbladder diet.  Pickled beets and beet juice may provide excellent support for the gallbladder and liver.

Beet benefits are also available in supplement form from most health food stores.

Finally, when you hurt from gallbladder pain, drink a cup of beet juice says the 'Real Body Cleansing' website.

Add beets to your diet.

You will be keeping your gallbladder and liver happy!

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder Diet. Gallbladder Friendly Watermelon Makes Cardiovascular, Gallbladder and Liver Healthy Snack.

Keeping a watermelon in your refrigerator provides both gallbladder and cardiovascular super support.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly watermelon makes for an excellent breakfast, mid-day snack or evening dessert!

Sometimes the simple foods and snacks are the ones we often overlook.

Watermelon has been shown to provide tremendous support for the gallbladder!  Some websites purport watermelon rind can actually assist in dissolving gallstones.

Watermelon is reported to contain significant amounts of potassium and acts as a diuretic, cleansing toxins and sludge buildup from your body.

Of course watermelon contains no significant amounts of fats or oils, something that my post-gallbladder attack body demands of the foods I ingest.

Additionally, the Florida State University has conducted research showing watermelon actually lowers blood pressure.

Lower blood pressure is important for gallbladder health because hypertension can lead to a significant decrease in blood flow to the liver and gallbladder, injuring these two organs.  An injured gallbladder is an unhappy gallbladder.  Ugh.

Finally, watermelon is tasty, especially if one is chilled in the refrigerator, sweet and ripe, ready for eating.

Yet many times I used to walk right past melons in the market, ignoring these healthy fruits, heading instead to the chip aisle.  Not anymore.  My gallbladder diet includes frequent watermelon purchases.

I keep them iced and ready for a refreshing breakfast, mid day snack or suppertime dessert.

Consider adding super healthy for your heart and gallbladder watermelon to your weekly gallbladder friendly diet.

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife.

Gallbladder diet. Gallbladder Friendly Blueberry Baked Shrimp with Tempura Broccoli

Hearty was what I dreaded missing when my M.D. instructed me to go on a two week clear liquid diet after my third bad attack.  Those two weeks were miserable.

But time passes on and now I am learning about hearty gallbladder friendly meals!

A gallbladder friendly diet does not have to be bland and boring whatsoever.

Today's hearty meal is Gallberry Friendly Blueberry Baked Shrimp with Tempura Broccoli.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly tempura broccoli and blueberry baked shrimp.

Goodbye tempura I thought after my first gallbladder attack.  Not anymore.

In fact, this recipe will leave your tempura crispy and tasty, even after the food has cooled or sat in the refrigerator overnight.  One of the downsides of fried tempura is that it becomes soggy after sitting and cooling.  Not this recipe!

Gallberry Friendly Blueberry Baked Shrimp with Tempura Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 2 heads organic broccoli
• 1 pound wild caught large shrimp
• 1/2 cup flour for dusting broccoli (optional)
• 1 cup no-fat Panco bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup egg-whites
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• dash turmeric
• dash ginger
• 1 cup organic blueberries

Lightly boil and peel shrimp.  Preheat oven to 350F.

Gallbladder diet.  Shrimp is low-no fat and can be purchased already deveined and peeled.

Wash and slice broccoli into eatable size florets, place on a plate.

Gallbladder diet.  Using organic vegetables helps keep gallbladder irritating pesticides out of your body.

Dust the broccoli and shrimp with 1/4 cup flour each by placing flour in a plastic bag then dropping broccoli into the bag.  Repeat for shrimp in a separate bag.  Shake well.  NOTE:  The flour creates a thicker base for the Panco bread crumbs and egg whites to adhere to.  If you like a thick tempura coating use flour.  If you like a lightly breaded tempura style then skip this step and instead coat the broccoli or shrimp with egg whites and Panco bread crumbs only.

Gallbladder diet.  Cut and washed broccoli florets ready for coating then baking.

Add 1/2 of the egg whites to each bag and shake once more.

Add 1/2 cup of no-fat Panco bread crumbs to each bag and shake gently, making sure each floret or shrimp is well coated.

Gallbladder diet.  Broccoli coated in tempura mix ready for the baking tray.

Place Panco coated broccoli on a cooking rack and into the oven.  Do the same for the coated shrimp. Dust with garlic powder, black pepper and turmeric.  Add other spices like ginger if you like.

Cooking time is approximately twenty minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Coated shrimp ready in the oven.

After the shrimp has cooked for fifteen minutes, remove from oven and spread blueberries across top of shrimp.  Return to oven and allow to cook for another five minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Add blueberries to partially baked shrimp then return to the oven until tempura is golden brown.

Serve broccoli with teriyaki or other dipping sauce (no fat).  Serve shrimp with a horseradish based cocktail sauce (no fat).

This meal is so filling.  The broccoli is really filling, full of nutrients, soluble fiber and vitamins.

Blueberry baked shrimp will melt in your mouth.  OMG.

Gallbladder friendly meals do not have to be boring!

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladderlife