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

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, 07/26/16, Crock Pots, Organic White Sweet Potatoes and a Healthy, Gallbladder Friendly Breakfast

Gallbladder diet is much more than preparing and eating low fat gallbladder friendly foods.

Gallbladder diet.  Creating a multidimensional culinary experience is an important component of a gallbladder friendly diet.  Crackpots are a vital appliance component!

A well rounded gallbladder diet will also include portion control support, an inviting and clean kitchen as well as fantastic cooking aromas coming from the stove, oven or crockpot.

Too often our gallbladder friendly diet fails us because we tend only too food choices.

Failing to neglect enticing kitchen aromas and a easy to work in, convenient kitchen setup negates two thirds of the pleasure we find in our ultimate mealtime experience.

Crockpots

Crockpots are a gallbladder friendly easy way to add both convenience and the aroma of anticipation to our homes and kitchens.

Day before yesterday I soaked a half bag of black beans overnight.  Yesterday the beans were tripled rinsed and covered with water.  Two super large Vidalia onions were quartered and placed in the beans along with a heaping spoonful of vegetable bullion.  Crockpot covered and turned on high, the rest involved waiting with the promise of hearty, flavorful food.

That was easy.

All day long the cooking beans and onions filled the house with a savory scent.

If you let the beans cook overnight I would almost guarantee you that your family will be wanting them for breakfast.

Sometimes beans alone are hard to try and convince the kids to eat.  However, create an air of anticipation with the convenience and aroma of the almighty crockpot and the others will be drooingly ready for a well seasoned savory bowl.

Beans are not the only gallbladder friendly food one can cook in the crockpot.  Your imagination is the limit to tasty, low fat, complex carbohydrate based vegetable centered meals.

Its time we enlist our crockpots to stand with us in our fight against gallbladder inflammation.

Organic White Sweet Potatoes

Back in the early days of learning gallbladder friendly diet habits I relied heavily on regular potatoes.

Next I added the (for me) slightly more tasty sweet potatoes.

Don't get me wrong as any potato, though basically bland in taste would fill me up and chase away the nagging sense of unfulfilled hunger.

Potatoes add fiber and bulk too.  And there are many different gallbladder friendly ways to eat a potato; potatoes with ketchup, potatoes with soy sauce, potatoes with no fat yogurt, potatoes with salt and pepper and potatoes without butter or sour cream.

Yet a potato is a potato so I thought.

Until I discovered Organic White Sweet Potatoes from Public.  O.M.G!

Gallbladder diet.  Organic white sweet potatoes are a cross between white and sweet potatoes.

 Organic White Sweet Potatoes are the one type of potato I will always keep in my kitchen from now on.

Whether for a scrumptious snack or a stand alone hearty meal, these root vegetables combine the creamy texture of white potatoes with the savory flavor of sweet potatoes!

Gallbladder diet.  Baked (or for convenience sakes in microwave 12 minutes for two) these make a great meal.

I like mine with a dash of soy or teriyaki sauce.  Yum.

How can a food that tastes so good be so gallbladder friendly?  You've got to try them.

Gallbladder diet.  I add a touch of teriyaki or soy sauce to mine after cooking.

Remember, creating a well rounded culinary experience involving a clean, inviting kitchen, filled with alluring aromas can super-charge the taste and desirability of foods.

A successful gallbladder, friendly diet will take advantage of multidimensional food experiences to help keep us satisfied and on track to a long life free from inflamed digestive organs.

Crank up the crockpot!

Cheers.  Kevin #gallbladder life

Gallbladder Diet, 07/21/16, Gallbladder Friendly Creamy Ranch Dressing & Arugula Beet Chayote Portobello Roasted Red Pepper Salad w Baked Salmon

I am a big man. 6'3"+ and it takes a lot of hearty food to satisfy me.

After the last gallbladder attack in 2015 I was extremely concerned I'd not ever again enjoy a hearty meal.

Oh, this salad and creamy ranch dressing is so filling.  But not too filling.  I'm still satisfied an hour after eating tonight, yet not over-stuffed.

And the creamy ranch was so tasty.

Lately the meals have been one half vegan and the other half vegetarian or pescatarian.

Gallbladder diet.  Arugula, Chayote, Beet, Portobello, Roasted Red Pepper Salad

Tonight salad was vegan except for the small amount of baked salmon topping and the cup of non-fat yogurt used in the creamy ranch dressing recipe.

Gallbladder diet.  Wild non-farmed salmon with portobellos ready for the oven

First I baked the portobellos and wild caught salmon in the over at 350F for twenty minutes after marinating the shrooms in soy sauce for ten minutes. Feel free to add garlic powder, pepper, ginger or turmeric if you desire (I did).

Gallbladder diet.  Boil Chayote with their skins unit tender

While the salmon and portobellos are baking, place two whole chayote in a sauce pan and cover with water.  Add a dash of sea salt and bring to a boil.  Cover, turn to low-medium heat and allow the chayote to gently boil for fifteen minutes or so.  The chayote will be cooked when a fork or knife can easily be inserted all the way into the vegetable/fruit.

Gallbladder diet.  Slice chayote into wedge sections, cover and allow to cool in the refrigerator

 My first chayote squash came from a vine in Grandpa's Miami backyard.  As a young boy I loved to watch the chayote vines climb up the sprawling live oaks in Grandpa Morrow's landscape.

Chayote possesses a unique, earthy flavor and soft pear like texture when cooked.  Many like to eat chayote with butter.  Not me.  My gallbladder would erupt.  Chayote with salt and pepper is scrumptious tasting to me.

You should be able to find chayote in any large grocery store's vegetable section.  I purchased these two this week from Costco.

No need to peel chayote but I do remove the seed before slicing into wedges.  Chayote makes a great snack cooked and served hot or cooked, chilled and served with a gallbladder friendly dip (teriyaki or soy sauce works well).

Gallbladder diet.  Slice cooked beets into wedges and chill

While the chayote are cooking, wedge cut three of four cooked organic beets.  Again, I purchase mine from the produce section at Costco.  Beets are also available from most Farmer's Markets or grocery stores.  Place the beet wedges in a bowl and chill along with the chayote.

Gallbladder diet.  These roasted red peppers contain no fat except for the natural oils in the peppers

The delicious roasted red peppers came from Publix in a glass jar.  These particular peppers possessed a slight hint of fire from the roasting process, were sweet but not too sweet and were bottled with water.  Zero grams of total fat usually translates into a happy gallbladder for me.

Gallbladder diet.  Slicing the roasted red peppers for the salad

Slicing then placing the red peppers in the bowl of beet wedges, the salad toppings were chilled in the refrigerator.

Gallbladder diet.  Beet wedges and roasted red peppers

Beet wedges and roasted red pepper slices, chilled make a great happy gallbladder snack on their own.  Sometimes its hard to keep hungry fingers out of the bowl while the beets and peppers chill in the refrigerator.

Gallbladder diet.  Roasted portobellos ready for quartering

Quarter the roasted portobellos and set aside for use as a topping on the salad.

Gallbladder diet.  Salad is starting to come together

Wash then place the organic baby arugula leaves on the serving plate.  Arrange the wedges of chilled chayote, beets, sliced peppers and portobellos as desired over the arugula.

I added about one half cup of the baked salmon on top of all the garnishments for a super hearty and delicious evening meal.  The plate shown should be enough for two hungry adults to share.

Both the adults gallbladders should be very happy with this super low fat meal.

Creamy Yummy Ranch No-Fat Dressing

Gallbladder diet.  Ingredients for the super yummy creamy no-fat, gallbladder pleasing 'ranch' dressing

Back in time before my gallbladder revolted I loved creamy dressings, especially the kind that was full of artery-clogging oils, inflammatory high fructose corn sweetness and mysterious MSG.

For the first six months on my gallbladder diet I avoided creamy dressings.  In fact the only dressings I used were straight up balsamic vinegar or glaze, soy sauce or lemon/lime juice.

Eventually I tried fat free dressings made from corn or potato starch.  These starch dressings did not hurt my gallbladder but they tasted like blah barf times two.

Finally I figured out no-fat yogurt did not hurt my gallbladder either, though it did come in a plastic container.

After experimenting with several recipes I stumbled upon this fab creamy, tasty dressing mix and wow, it is so easy to make!

Gallbladder diet. Creamy ranch dressing is easy to make.  Herbs, spices, yogurt, lime juice and vegetable bullion.

Mix together one cup non-fat yogurt (I use Fage from Costco but any organic, non-fat yogurt would work fine), two tablespoons of lime juice (preferably key lime juice if available), fresh chopped herbs from your garden (basil and sage are shown here) and two heaping tablespoons of vegetable bullion.

Stir until consistency is creamy smooth.

Note: My vegetable bullion has a minuscule, almost negligible amount of oil but this has never bothered my gallbladder.

Gallbladder diet.  Fresh herbs from the garden, basil & sage

Gallbladder diet.  Finished no-fat, creamy, tasty 'ranch' gallbladder friendly dressing.

Chill dressing mixture and serve either on the side or over the salad.

Cheers!  Kevin #Gallbladder life is never boring.

Gallbladder Diet 07/19/16 Fresh Food & Storage in Glass Containers - No More Plastics

Plenty of irrefutable scientific evidence exists today showing certain chemicals, like Bisphenol-A (BPAs) act to promote inflammation in our bodies.

Gallbladder diet.  Glass container and a gallbladder friendly condiment 

My body, especially my gallbladder is already inflamed enough without me adding more environmental toxins to fuel the fire.

Yet not only can BPAs promote inflammation within our bodies in general, they specifically have been shown to cause inflammation in perinatal circumstances to the distal colon and liver and potentially in-turn the gallbladder.

Gallbladder diet.  Buy juices in glass jars.  Avoid plastics, especially BPAs

Even in adult populations studies show that BPA levels are directly related to an increase in inflammatory markers related to visceral obesity and insulin resistance.

Importantly, insulin resistance has been shown to be directly related to gallstone formation in many adults.

Gallbladder diet.  One of my favorite foods where I get omega 3s comes in glass containers

Plastics we use, cash register receipts we touch and prepared food containers all expose us potentially to BPAs.  And both directly and indirectly influence our propensity to form an inflamed gallbladder and increase the likelihood of forming more gallstones.

Gallbladder diet.  If it comes in glass and is fat free my gallbladder is happier

So in my search for the best gallbladder diet I am eliminating as much plastics as I can from coming into contact with food, including;

• buy only fresh produce from the local market and carry home in cloth or fabric sacks,
• pass on purchasing produce wrapped in plastic or on a styrofoam tray from the grocer,
• avoid buying frozen fruits, vegetables or fish wrapped in plastics,
• asking the butcher to wrap fresh fish in wax paper instead of plastics,
• boycott the plastic containers of my favorite organic and kosher condiments such as horseradish mustard and place them in my shopping cart only if they are in a glass container
• say goodbye to plastic wrap for use in the kitchen,
• avoid handling cash register receipts,
• use glass storage containers rather than plastic in the refrigerator,
• by organic juices sold in glass jars only
• and adopt an attitude of glass instead of plastics if at all possible.

The above may sound extreme.

Gallbladder Diet. Yes they have plastic lids but the container that touches the food is glass.

However humans have only been mass producing and using plastics for a generation or so.  We have no idea what the long term impacts these potential environmental toxins have on our future health.

Gallbladder diet.  Olive oil is especially important to purchase in glass containers

Unfortunately preliminary research is pointing to bad news with respect to plastics exposure and human health.  Cancers, birth defects, hormonal imbalances, cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory diseases have all been suggested to be linked possibly to BPAs and even the safer considered BPSs.

Now I know eliminating all plastics from my lifestyle is as impractical as my Project 100 Plan.

Gallbladder diet. Purchase fresh vegetables from the market, avoid plastic wrapped veggies

Yet nothing stands in my way from trying.  And I look upon the possibility of eliminating plastics from the house as an adventure and an offering of goodwill to my gallbladder.  

I am just learning about how intricately integrated our bodies are.  We can ingest, breathe, drink or touch some compound and that compound can affect the functioning of one to many of our organs, especially inflammatory substances.

So I'm going glass.  Bye bye plastics.

If this promotes the healthy functioning of my gallbladder for even a year over my lifespan it will be worth the effort.

Glass is classier than plastic too, in my opinion.

Mustard Based Condiments

I miss my ranch dressing that I would dip 'everything' on the supper table in.  Oily ranch dressing would today send my gallbladder writhing. Yet for many years ranch dressing was my favorite dip all.

Faced with a challenge though new doors and opportunities always seem to open out of nowhere.

Actually the opportunities were always there I was just lost somewhere on the ranch.

Gallbladder diet.  Fat free and in a glass container = happy & healthier gallbladder

Since I begun my gallbladder diet journey I've discovered an amazing array of fat free, organic and most without High Fructose Corn Sweetener, mustard spreads.  Some are too spicy yet most are simply delicious and kind to my gallbladder.

Gallbladder diet.  Mustard mixtures are healthier than many other creamy or ketchup based dressings and they are sold in glass jars.

Check out your grocer's cooler section near the chilled sauerkraut. Yum.

Gallbladder diet.  Mustard based condiments are available in many different flavors, again in glass containers

Finally, even mustard grows old after a while no matter what cool spice, herb, vegetable or fruit  ground seed is mixed with.

And so tomorrow I am going to write about my fat free (starchless) ranch dressing that is absolutely creamy and dreamy.

In the meantime I really do believe eliminating plastics from our food will pay long term benefits to our gallbladder, liver, intestines and digestive system.

As a post note, there is an amazing article about integrating eastern and western medicine with diet for optimal gallbladder heath here.  I am a novice understanding what eastern medicine can actually do.  I highly recommend reading this inspiration note written by Paula Owens found here.

Cheers!  Kevin. #gallbladder life

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 7/14/2016 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