Gallbladder diet. Oatmeal, Black Cherries, No Fat Yogurt and Wild Blueberries, The Heartiest Breakfast

After an hour of gentle yoga in the early morning my muscles are screaming for nourishment.

Gallbladder diet. Oatmeal, Black Cherries, No Fat Yogurt and Wild Blueberries, The Heartiest Breakfast

Pre-gallbladder attack era I would have been scrambling four eggs and frying a half pack of bacon, not to mention the toast, butter and jelly.

That era seems so long ago now.  But back then any mention of oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast and I would have smirked.

Today oatmeal and yogurt are some of my gallbladder friendly staples, packed with flavor and nutrients.

One half cup of non-fat yogurt contains approximately 12-15 grams of protein while the same amount of oatmeal contains approximately 6-9 grams protein and lots of fiber.

After a bowl of oatmeal, black cherries, blueberries and nonfat yogurt I am very satisfied.

So tasty too.

Oatmeal, Black Cherries, No Fat Yogurt and Wild Blueberries

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup nonfat yogurt
• 1/2 cup oatmeal 
• 1/2 cup wild organic blueberries
• 1/2 cup black cherries frozen
• a big appetite

Scoop out one half cup nonfat yogurt into your favorite breakfast bowl.

Gallbladder diet. Start with one half cup nonfat yogurt.

In a separate cup measure out one half cup oatmeal and add billing water, let sit until the water is adsorbed into the oats.

Gallbladder diet.  Add in one half cup organic wild blueberries.

Add the oatmeal to your breakfast bowl and yogurt.

Gallbladder diet.  Then add oatmeal and black cherries.

Add 1/2 cup organic wild blueberries and 1/2 cup frozen black cherries.

Enjoy the heartiest breakfast!

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder diet. Acai and Apple Cider Vinegar, Papaya and Smoked Salmon Heartiness

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) was one of the first gallbladder attack and gallstone cures I read about.

Gallbladder diet.  I mix ACV with water or Acai juice with a 1:8 or 2:8 ratio.

First I doubted, waiting six months before adding ACV to my diet.

You see, I am a skeptic, especially with respect to 'home remedies'.

Now I am a believer in ACV, not only for the capabilities of ACV to potentially emulsify or dissolve and help remove gallbladder sludge, but also for the healthy positive effect of slowing insulin spikes after eating.

I drink my ACV twice daily, once in the morning and once in evening.

Gallbladder diet.  ACV drinks are slightly acidic, so be sure to brush your teeth afterwards.

Most ACV centered websites recommend one or two ounces of a non-filtered organic ACV, one filled with the probiotic rich particulate 'mother' mixed into a drink.

Gallbladder diet.  Apple Cider Vinegar is a must have for any gallbladder diet.  Always choose organic.

Acai juice is one of my favorite mixers.  Water does just fine too.  Blend the ACV to water or mixer juice at a 1:8 or 2:8 ACV:water ratio.

Sometimes I'll stir in a tablespoon of ACV into my morning ginger tea while participating in  stretching and yoga exercises.

ACV will be my go to relief drink also, along with plenty of water if ever I have another gallstone attack.

Papaya and Smoked Salmon Lunch.

There is something healthy sounding about an all orange-pinkish lunch.

Gallbladder diet.  Papaya and smoked salmon make a hearty, scrumptious meal.

Cold, sweet papaya and thin sliced smoke salmon go great together, creating a sweet and salty taste sensation that is irresistible to my taste buds.

I cut the papaya the night before and chill in the refrigerator for the next day.

As a side note, papayas are full of seeds.  It is fun to toss the seeds into the garden bed after cutting the papaya and watch them sprout.  Papaya trees usually produce massive amounts of fruit each year. If you live in a colder climate, try growing them indoors.

Gallbladder diet.  Sprouting papaya seeds

Gallbladder diet.  Papaya tree outside our patio.

Papayas are also an excellent source of Vitamins A, B's, and C, as well as fiber and folate according to many health sources.

Costco is my favorite place to purchase smoked salmon.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly smoked salmon should contain zero nitrites!

Always look for smoked salmon with the lowest total fat content.  Salmon contains a good amount of omega 3 fatty acids and will help you maintain the proper good to bad cholesterol/lipid ratio.

Just as important as the total fat content is finding smoked salmon with no added sodium nitrites.  Nitrites have been shown through research to possible cause or encourage some types of cancers.  The Costco brand I purchase contains no nitrites according to the label.

Gallbladder diets can be hearty and delicious!

There are so many non-processed fresh foods low in fat and rich in nutrients that you can combine to create a new and exciting, gallbladder friendly meal each day!

Cheers!  Kevin   #gallbladder life

Gallbladder diet, Crunchy Crispy Onion Rings so Gallbladder Friendly!

Oh how I'd missed onion rings since those horrible 2015 gallbladder attacks.

Gallbladder diet.  Crunchy crispy baked onion rings so gallbladder friendly and tasty too!

Before the attacks, given the choice I'd choose onion rings over french fries anyway anytime.

I love all types of onion rings; warm, golden and crispy or juicy, lip smacking moist onion rings.  I've even been known to pick the crunchy onion rings off the top of a green bean casserole!

So when my gallbladder went awry with spasms and inflammation one of the foods I missed most over the past year has been...you guessed it... onion rings.

But now I am a happy camper once more.  I've got this awesome, easy and delicious recipe for some of the best onion rings you have ever tasted.  And they are gallbladder friendly!

Not only are these onion rings gallbladder friendly, but they are healthy too - delivering a good bit of protein with the egg whites ingredient.

Greasy onion rings are never as good cold as they are hot but these baked onions rings are, in my opinion, just as tasty cold as they are fresh out of the oven.

Golden Crunchy Crispy Baked Onion Rings

I purchased my onions from Costco in a five pound sack.  The Vanillas were huge and so sweet, firm bodied and perfect for ring stock.

Gallbladder diet.  Costco's large Vadalia onions make scrumptious onion rings.

Ingredients:

• three very large, from onions
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour (optional)
• 2 cups panco no-fat Asian bread crumbs
• salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon dried garlic powder 
• 1/2 cup egg whites

Preheat the oven to 380F (190C).

Rinse and peel the three large onions, slice into sections approximately finger width thick; separate and place on a plate.

Gallbladder diet.  I like to slice onions about finger thick for gallbladder friendly onion rings.

In a small bowl mix the panco bread crumbs, salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Taste a little to make sure the salt content is to the level you desire.

Gallbladder diet.  These Panko Bread crumbs contain zero fat.

Place flour in a separate bowl for dusting the raw onions prior to battering.  

Gallbladder diet.  Mix bread crumbs, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a separate bowl.

Pour egg whites into another bowl.

Gallbladder diet.  Costco egg whites are full of protein with zero fat and zero cholesterol.

Set baking rack on a large cookie sheet.

Gallbladder diet.  Place baking rack on large cookie sheet for onion rings.

Lightly dip/dust each onion in the flour.  Dip flour covered onion in the egg whites and then sprinkle/dust with the panco-salt-pepper-garlic powder mix while holding the onion over a paper towel to collect the excess/ fall off.  Note:  I've tried dipping the egg white covered onion directly into the panco mix but this process moistens the panco mix quickly rendering it too moist to adhere to the onion ring properly.  You could also lay the egg white covered rings on a plate and coat them with the panco breading mix.

Gallbladder diet.  Battered onion rings ready for the oven.

Place all battered covered onion rings on the baking sheet.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly onion rings ready to bake.

Bake until golden brown and crunchy.  Watch closely.  When they are cooked they are ready to remove.  Do not let the bread crumbs burn.  I usually set the timer for twenty minutes.

Gallbladder diet.  Gallbladder friendly yummy onion rings.

First tray I made I couldn't stop eating these awesome onion rings.  Your family will love them.

See!  Gallbladder diets can be awesome too!  These onion rings are full of protein from the egg whites (no fat and no cholesterol).

Cheers!  Kevin  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder Diet, 07/27/16, Cookbook that Inspired my Gallbladder Diet

Sometimes there is a spark of inspiration leading you to achieve great things.

Gallbladder diet.  Although written for healthy hearts, this cookbook forms a great basis for gallbladder health also.

For me this cookbook started a food revolution in my life, one that has saved me from further #gallbladder pain and so far surgery.

This cookbook is comprehensive and lays all the nutritional facts out on each page for each recipe making it so easy to quickly decide whether or not the food may be gallbladder friendly.  For me a quick glance at the total fat content is all revealing.

Gallbladder diet.  I've changed some ingredients and practices to make recipes more gallbladder friendly.

Although the cookbook's recipes were compiled for good heart health they also perfectly serve to form the basis for a gallbladder friendly diet.

Gallbladder diet.  There are so many recipes one would have a hard time going hungry!

The American Heart Association's Cookbook offers an amazing array of scrumptious recipes most of which are low fat, and high in protein or complex carbohydrates.

Gallbladder diet.  Healthy cooking supports not only gallbladders but other body organs too!

I absolutely love the nutrition chart associated with each recipe.  Right away I can spot total fat content and decide whether or not the particular recipe may be gallbladder friendly.

Gallbladder diet.  How many times have I missed good coleslaw!  Here's a gallbladder friendly recipe!

Let me be clear - the book serves as an inspiration for a good gallbladder diet.  There are however some ingredients and cooking practices I've modified in my gallbladder diet, such as replacing cooking spray with poaching or water sautéing.

Seriously consider ordering the 8th edition of the American Heart Association's Cookbook here.

Gallbladder friendly diets don't have to be boring.

I am loving my kitchen, the food I prepare and eat even more now than ever before.  Note to Gallbladder; I'm not thanking you here for causing me to seek out a more healthy diet.  But I am glad I've discovered how to eat healthy all the while avoiding those horrible inflamed gallbladder sessions.

Cheers!  Kevin.  #gallbladderlife

Gallbladder Diet 07/19/16 Bye Bye Coffee Hello Ginger Tea

Dark rich coffee has been one of my best friends all my life.  The strong, almost bitter aroma has greeted mornings and the sunrise with me for decades.

Gallbladder Diet.  Substituting ginger for coffee in my morning drink has delivered health benefits.

Moreover, I used to rely on the black slurry as a crutch  to carry me throughout the entire day.  Coffee was my go-to safe haven.

Not anymore.

Although there are plenty of very good studies showing just how beneficial and healthy one or two cups of coffee actually are, I've still quit.  In fact some websites purport the premise that caffeinated coffee actually lessens the chance of gallstones and a gallbladder attack.

I've stil quit.  Its been about a year now.  I quit drinking coffee after my last gallbladder attack.

Despite the research suggesting that coffee may not cause gallbladder attacks, the drink is an irritant.  Just ask your bladder.

The U.S. Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health published a paper indicating "coffee induces cholecystokinin release and gallbladder contraction".  Caffeine certainly may cause gallbladder contractions.

With a sac full of stones and past problems with gallbladder inflammation do I really want my gallbladder contracting unnecessarily and unpredictably?

If you can drink coffee without any negative gallbladder issues that is awesome.  I miss the drink badly from time to time.

However, foregoing coffee has provided me with many other benefits besides not causing my gallbladder to go squeezie on me.

My teeth are much whiter now.  Not that they are pearl white, but they sure are much brighter than when coffee stained.

Secondly my heart arrhythmias have decreased in intensity and frequency.

Thirdly my prostate is happier and urination frequency certainly has decreased.

Quitting wasn't really so bad.  It was more of a mental challenge than breaking a physical addition.  Morning routine is important to me though so I did substitute decaf for the high octane at first.

But one day I ran out of decaf.  The jar of organic powdered ginger sat on the counter right in front of me.  I shook several dashes of the golden powder into my water filled mug and placed in the microwave for 92 seconds.

Today hot ginger tea in the morning is my favorite drink - no bitter after taste and no acidic stomach.

And so quick and easy to make even when morning eyes are still foggy and unfocused.

The health benefits of ginger tea are described across the internet as significant, restorative and universal!

The aforementioned U.S. Library of Medicine too has a study indicating ginger does not stimulate the gallbladder to contract.  For me this is very good.  No unexpected squeezies.

I can have a hot drink in the morning without the worries of my organs becoming irritated or stimulated through caffeine use.

Easy Make Morning Ginger Tea

Fill mug with filtered water.

Shake in three of four 'shakes' of dried, powdered ginger (preferably organic).

Gallbladder Diet.  Shake in three or four good 'shakes' of powdered ginger.

Place in the microwave for desired water temperature (alternatively heat filtered water on the stove in a teapot).

Gallbladder Diet.  I heat my water for 90-100 seconds.

Carefully remove mug from microwave and stir with spoon.

Gallbladder Diet  The ritual of a warm drink in the morning is important to me.

Enjoy a stimulating and refreshing hot morning drink.

Your breath will smell so much nicer throughout the day.  And hopefully your gallbladder won't be doing the caffeine squeeze.

Cheers!  Kevin

Gallbladder Diet 07/16/2016 When The Doctor Doesn't Believe Us & Chick Pea Poach

"I think I have gallstones and an unhappy gallbladder, Doc" I said.

Gallbladder Diet, In combination with my low fat diet I also take Ursodiol and this med has REALLY HELPED!

"Why is that?" he asked.

"Because my eyes have been yellow, I've had a hard time breathing and my right side just under my ribs hurts so bad," I said pointing to my lower right side.

"Let me feel, lay back" the doctor instructed.

I lay back on the examine table, unbuttoned my shirt and waited for his cold fingers to press into my side.

"Does that hurt?" doc asked.

"No" I replied.

"Sit up, Kevin" he said.  "What have you eaten in the last couple days?"

My memory is pretty bad after two open heart surgeries. "I think the last thing I ate was a lobster mac and cheese plate at the farmers market."

That should have been a dead give away and doc should have known then my hunch about gallbladder inflammation was correct.  I too, should have known never to eat a big cheesy plate of lobster and macaroni with cheese, especially from a tray that had been sitting in a farmers market booth most of the morning.

"I think you have food poisoning" he shook his head.

"Food poisoning, Doc?"

"Yes, food poisoning.  I do not think it is your gallbladder."

I sighed.  I knew he was wrong.  But how do you tell a doctor they are wrong?  I mean after all that college and medical school and years of practice, how could they be wrong?

"I want you to do a clear liquid diet and take this antibiotic prescription for ten days.  You should be ok then" Doc nodded again, scribbled out a script and closed my chart. "Come see me again if you aren't better in a couple weeks."

"OK, thanks, Doc" I slid down from the examination table and shook the Doctor's hand, stuck the script in my shirt pocket and walked out to the desk where the receptionist collects money.

One week later I was back in the doctor's office, doubling over with pain.

I'd taken the antibiotic faithfully and it did seem to help a little.

But the sopaipillas dipped in butter the day before sent me reeling once more.

"I'm going to have you see a surgeon.  I think you have gallstones and you might should just go ahead and have your gallbladder removed," Doc said.

The feeling of helplessness is almost indescribable.  So is the emotion of rage where one wants to shout, "I told you this a week ago!"

"What do I eat in the meantime, Doc?"

"Clear liquids," he replied.

The earliest the surgeon could see me was two weeks out.  The clear liquid diet was hard but I did not experience a reoccurring attack.

When the day arrived to see the surgeon I arrived early to his office, filled out the paperwork and sat silently, playing Words with Friends on the iPhone.

"Mr. Songer?" the nurse called out.

I walked into the exam room after being weighed, poked and prodded.  The surgeon was focused and non-personable.

"So you are on Warfarin, have a dissected aorta, went through a four month recovery on IV from endocarditis, are challenged by Marfan Syndrome and need your gallbladder removed?    This is a complicated issue.  What happens if you get another infection or your liver is nicked during surgery and you bleed out?  Furthermore, your artificial valve makes you a candidate for a stroke," he said coldly.

"Why am I here?" I thought.

"I'm going to refer you to a gastroenterologist to see why your bilirubin is high, also." the surgeon said.

"Thanks Doc," I said and hurried out of the office after paying the receptionist and placing the GI doctor appointment slip in my pocket.

The GI doctor's appointment was two weeks out.  Those two weeks I spent researching every alternative gallbladder treatment therapy available.  I scoured the internet, books and discussion groups.

A few of the terms that repeatedly began to emerge included;

• low fat diet
• non-spicy
• lots of water
• high fiber
• gall bladder flush
• lemon or lime juice
• Ursodiol (Actigal)
• acupuncture
• walking, and
• meditation

I quickly scratched through the gallbladder flush for personal reasons when I found out I had to ingest large quantities of olive oil.  Oils and fats were what brought on horrible attacks.  No way would I drink a half cup or so of olive oil.  Maybe the flushes really do work.  I'm too chicken to try though.

Low fat to no fat foods seemed to be ok for me to eat after I had slowed the intense inflammatory pain with the clear liquid diet for a month.  Clear liquids included water, apple juice, no fat chicken broth, vegetable broth and other 'clear liquids'.

Once the pain subsided I slowly started introducing fruit and vegetable juices back into my diet.

One month later the scale read twelve pounds lighter and I'd seen the GI specialist.

The GI doctor first was insistent on surgery.  When I mentioned Ursodiol he shook his head and said, "once you stop taking Ursodiol the stones will return.  Surgery is best.  But if you really want to avoid surgery then we can try Ursodiol in combination with a low fat diet."

"Doc, I am ready to try Ursodiol.  I've done my research on the medication and the literature speaks very positively about the potential for dissolving stones."

"Ok" he replied and I left with a script for the bile salt.  I was shocked at how expensive Ursodiol was.  The big membership clubs and chain stores offered a one month supply for about three hundred dollars.  Fortunately GoodRX app for my phone found a local pharmacy where I could purchase Ursodiol for sixty dollars.

The first time I took Ursodiol I was flabbergasted at how quickly I could feel my intestines rumbling.  So glad I was home at the time.  When I did use the restroom I passed a strange layer of non-water soluble sludge.  Right away I felt different.  I felt better, relieved but wary.

Ursodiol works by replacing more toxic bile salts in the liver and gallbladder and flushing the toxic salty sludge out of the gallbladder and into your intestine for discharge.

With the combination of daily Ursodiol medication and a low fat diet I began to go weeks at a time without pain.  As time passed I began introducing low fat foods one at a time back onto my plate, focusing on the higher protein content veggies and fish.

From time to time slight fleeting pain still hits me in the right side, under my lower rib cage.  But this level of uncomfortableness is brief, lasting only a few seconds and is entirely tolerable compared to the full blown attacks back of 2015.

The real test of how effective Ursodiol and my low fat, non-processed food diet will be in September when I have a follow up ultrasound test run on my gallbladder.  We shall see if the stones and sludge are dissolving.

In the meantime I am beginning to feel like I can truly eat again.

My world view of food though has drastically changed.  Yesterday when I walked through the Bell Tower Mall's food court to have my hair cut at the Mall's barbershop the throngs of people chowing down on rancid smelling greasy fast food truly amazed me.

I had absolutely no desire or cravings for any of the food court offerings.  Two years ago I'd been salivating.

As a side note a diet of non-processed, low fat foods has allowed me to break a weight loss barrier.  I've always wanted to 'get back' to my high school weight of 155 pounds but I seemed to get stuck around 200 pounds.  With the gallbladder diet I am down to the low 150's now and my knees, feet and cardiovascular system feel so much better.  My blood pressure has leveled off near 110/60.

The take away to this long blah, blah blog is simple.   Listen to your body and tell your doctors what you hear.

If your doctors don't listen to you, be persistent.

I've had to be persistent with all my cardiologists who don't see many Marfan or connective tissue patients.

If the treatment they prescribe is too invasive or not working, do your own research.  Be your best advocate.

I am taking Ursodiol now, not because my doctors thought it would be a good idea - they were stuck on surgical removal.

Ursodiol and the gallbladder diet are now one of my hopes because I researched and persistently insisted.

Be your own best gallbladder advocate!

Chick Pea Poach

Finally, here is a pic of chick pea poach.  Chopped sweet onions are steamed sautéed along garlic, greens from the patio garden, mushrooms and garbanzo beans until the  mixture is thick and hearty.  Season with salt, pepper, celery seed and a dash of turmeric.

Gallbladder diet, chick pea poach - protein, complex carbs and full of flavor

Eating for your gall bladder can be healthy and delicious!

Cheers! Kevin

Gallbladder Diet 7/15/2016, What About Snacks and Chick Pea, Rice, Spinach Soup and Talk Of Nuts

OK I'm hungry.  Not hungry enough for a meal, but still hungry.  I want a snack.

Gallbladder Diet, Keep GB Friendly, Healthy Snacks Closeby

Ideally once your gallbladder is stable, little meals or snacks throughout the day help you stay in shape and all importantly keep the gallbladder happy.

Snacks should also be healthy, for the most part.

Gallbladder Diet, Always Read Packaged Food Ingredients

One of the very worst times for hunger is when I'm in the van, away from home, with only convenience store food or Starbucks snacks close by at hand.

Feeling your blood sugar crash invites panic and desperation.

Panic and desperation invite giving in to all sorts of bad for your health, inflammation promoting, calorie loading cheap junk food.

Moon Pies used to be one of my favorites.  Of course today, with my gallbladder full of sludge and stones I'd come no closer to eating a Moon Pie than I would swimming with a Great White shark.

Gallbladder Diet, Seaweed May Be An Excellent Gallbladder Friendly Snack

Black coffee was another favorite 'snack' of mine.  Sometimes I'd use those sweet flavored creamers but usually just plain old black coffee would take the edge off hunger and satisfy my cravings for snacks.

In one sense, I should thank my gallbladder for not putting up with me eating Moon Pies or drinking acidic black coffee all day long.  I know my arteries and intestines sure are happier now that I don't eat and imbibe as much oily, fatty 'junk'.

Most of the time l try and remember to pack a few gallbladder friendly easy-eats when going out, foods like;

• Dried figs (Costco has a great brand most of the year and they are organic)
• Kombu sea vegetable (similar to Nori seaweed but thicker and chewier)
• Celery and carrot sticks, fresh cut
• Nori seaweed (important to keep Nori sealed in a bag because it will absorb moisture), and
• Dehydrated apples, mango or papaya with limited or no sugar.

I've tried fat free turkey jerky.  Since I eat mostly vegan I'm not inclined to choose the turkey jerky much but it is a good source off protein.

Gallbladder Diet, Sea Vegetable Is Gallbladder Friendly For Me (Watch the Sodium)

Gallbladder Diet, Ingredients Show Zero Oils

Around the house I keep a jar of marinated mushrooms from Costco.

Gallbladder Diet, Marinated Mushrooms Make the Friendly List for My Gallbladder

Gallbladder Diet, Marinated Mushrooms Contain Zero Oil in This Jar

These tasty, somewhat chewy mushrooms have no oils or fats, except for those found naturally in the fungi.  They are not sweet nor too salty and though they are marinated in vinegar, the taste is quite mild yet very flavorful.

Gallbladder Diet, Figs Are Excellent Source of Energy and Satisfy Hunger

I used to be a big tree nut, seed and rhizome 'nut' fan.  Today, with my overactive gallbladder I can not eat nuts to any degree without risking an attack from the oils and fats most nuts are rich with and full of.

Not eating handfuls of pre-shelled nuts is a good thing too from an overall health perspective and weight control effort also.  Nuts are very high in fats and oils.  Fats and oils typically contain nine calories per gram. Thats a lot of fat energy.

Calculated out, if one eats a cup of salty roasted cashews then they are ingesting over 60 grams of total fat, enough for three days at my current gallbladder diet level. At least three days.

Though some people may be able to handle 60 grams of daily fat intake, remember this is just a snack.  Moreover, the omega 6 to omega 3 ratio in the cup of cashews is about 50:1.

Too much omega 6's promote inflammation according to many studies and inflammation in our bodies is exactly the opposite where we want to be if we are already challenged by gallbladder inflammation.

I'm not knocking nuts.

Nuts are excellent sources of energy for humans and all types of animals.  

My new gallbladder life dictates a different view of nuts though.  

Living by the no nut policy is best in my opinion.  However if one must have nuts then I recommend the 'if the nuts are shelled then don't eat them' policy.

Avoid packaged or canned pre-shelled  peanuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, almonds or any other nuts.  Eat only those nuts you shell at the time you are hungry and looking for a snack.

Cracking a nut will slow you down.  Slow is better for the gallbladder and for your weight.  Picking out the shell pieces takes time.  Look for mindfulness and focus on breathing while preparing your nut snack.

Finally, if all else fails and you find yourself at the Seven Eleven, starving with blood sugar crashing avoid the yummy looking, fat laden packages of inflammatory junk and buy yourself instead a V8 juice or other vegetable juice.

No V8?  Convenience stores usually carry it but in the event they don't then purchase a water and a banana from the pile usually found on the check out counter.  No banana?  Go with the water.  It will make you feel better quickly.

Gallbladder life is a new reality.

People who've never experienced the sharp pain of an attack, or the nausea or difficulty in breathing have no idea what living with an inflamed gallbladder and stones is like.

But we deal with the challenges and move on.

Having healthy, gallbladder-friendly snacks at hand always helps.

Cheers, Kevin.

Gallbladder Diet 7/14/2016 Cauliflower Crust No Fat Veggie Medley Pizza, Eating Out & Yesterday's Key Lime Pie

First a word on gallbladder journaling.  Start a daily journal of the food experiences you have.

Keep your entries on your phone, in a small diary or on your desktop - it doesn't matter where.  What matters most importantly is the fact you keep a record of the foods you can and can't eat.

Each person's gallbladder reacts differently to foods.  And over time your own personal experiences will also change as your body changes.

Your daily gallbladder journal should have four columns; date, description of meal, bad food experiences, and good food experiences.

Over time patterns will present themselves.  Over time you will recognize trends.

Begin your gallbladder journal today.

Cauliflower Crust Veggie Medley Pizza

Note: If you react to broccoli you may react to cauliflower.  I do not react to cauliflower so says my journal and my gallbladder.  No fat means no added fat.  Chick peas and veggies do contain small amounts of good fats and my gallbladder can handle that.  Check your journal.

Cook an organic cauliflower head on the stove, in the oven or microwave.  Cut florets into small pieces and let cool to touch.

#Gallbladder Diet Cauliflower Pizza Crust, Mixing Cooked & 'Squeezed' Cauliflower Rice and Spices

Place handful florets in a cheesecloth or porous rag and squeeze out liquid.  I like to twist and squeeze.

Place cauliflower 'rice' (your cut and squeezed florets will look a little like rice) into mixing bowl and add herbs and spices of choice.  I use powdered garlic, celery seed, black pepper, salt, rosemary and sage.

If you like more protein and are not trying eat #vegan then add whites from two eggs and/or 1 cup fat-free cheddar cheese.

Mix well, place  and spread (roll out) crust dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Gallbladder Diet, Cauliflower Rice Baked Crust with Onion added

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 or until crispy.

Allow crust to cool then add veggie medley toppings.  Today I added garbanzo beans, peas, carrots, chopped beans, onions and corn.

Gallbladder Diet, No Fat Pizza, Adding Toppings 

Cook for 20-30 minutes and cool.  Serve as you would any pizza.

Options include a fat free pizza sauce and low fat parmesan cheese (I do not do cheese unless it is no-fat then very little).

Gallbladder Diet, No Fat Pizza, Yum

I actually find this recipe to be quite hearty, filling and gallbladder friendly.  Of course you can vary the toppings depending on your journal.

Yesterday's Key Lime Pie

After sitting in the freezer all night the fat-free key lime pie sliced very easily and with the lime zest flavors now saturating the filling, the pie was a wonderfully cold tart treat on a hot Fort Myers day.

#Gallbladder Diet No Fat Key Lime Pie - Delicious

Eating Out

One of my biggest dilemmas is what to eat when we go out.

Gallbladder Diet, I'd Order This Before The Gallbladder Revolted, #Neveragain

Usually I'll order broiled fish, a salad with no olives cheese or dressing, rice or beans.

Honestly the restaurant fare for those of us living #Gallbladder life is sketchy at best.  The wait staff seems puzzled if I request no oil or sin aceite.  I always check the plate with my finger to make sure it is not too oily and am never truly comfortable until I've eaten with the establishment several times and had zero gallbladder bad experience journal entries.  Beware China buffets and MSG.  My gallbladder screams when I go into an Asian buffet establishment.

Veggie fajitas are a safe standard to order at most restaurants, usually with rice and beans.  Ask for all cheese, creams and toppings to be on the side.  That way you can pick and choose.

Gallbladder Diet, Veggie Medley Fajita with No Oil Is My Eating Out Go To Fare

Beer tastes good with fajitas but beer for me ends up in my bad experience journal column no matter how many times I try.

Gallbladder Diet, Always Ask for Toppings To Be On The Side So You Can Pick & Choose

So I stick with water and lime or lemon.  The citrus tends to counteract any oils that slip in on the food.

Gallbladder Diet, Fish is Another Go To Fare (Broiled)

I really thought I would be sacrificing quality of life on a vegan/vegetarian/pescatarian/no-low fat diet but hey, today's veggie mix pizza, key lime pie and veggie medley fajita really filled me up.  I mean I am super satisfied without feeling obnoxiously over stuffed like I would have had I eaten a Guys hamburger with fries.

Oh and to top it all off there was a scrumptious Green Glow wheatgrass smoothie (wheatgrass, apple and banana) for dessert.

Gallbladder Diet, Green Glow Smoothie (Wheatgrass, bananas & apple juice)

Start your gallbladder journaling adventure today!

In six months you will be amazed with the patterns that become obvious.  Your journal will give you confidence, remove most of the fear of trying foods and best of all help keep you pain free.

Cheers!  Kevin #Gallbladder life