The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located under your liver. It’s about 3-4 inches long and 2 inches wide. Its main job is to store and concentrate bile, a liquid from the liver that helps digest fats. The gallbladder sends bile into your digestive system through small tubes called bile ducts.
The gallbladder can cause trouble if something, such as hardened bile, blocks the bile ducts. Rarely, cancer can develop in the gallbladder or in the ducts.
To keep your gallbladder as healthy as possible, the National Institute of Health suggests the following:
- Eat More Fiber: Foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, and whole grains are great for your gallbladder.
- Cut Down on Refined Carbs: Try to eat less white rice, sugar, and products made with white flour.
- Choose Healthy Fats: Include fish and olive oil in your diet, but stay away from fried foods, greasy fast food, and saturated fats.
Manage Your Weight: Work with your doctor to lose weight safely or maintain a healthy weight. Losing weight too quickly can lead to gallstones. In the United States, over 20 million people, mostly women, suffer from gallbladder issues. Fortunately, humans can live without a gallbladder. Removal of the gallbladder is a common surgery. Non-surgical treatments, such as those designed to break up or dissolve stones, are rarely used.
Research is ongoing. The National Cancer Institute reports that at least 20 clinical trials are currently underway for the treatment of gallbladder cancer.
Keep your gallbladder healthy by enjoying a healthy diet, working toward a weight goal, and seeing your doctor regularly for check-ups.
For more health information about the gallbladder and other topics, visit the National Institute of Health at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/. For more information about gallbladder cancer research, go to https://www.aacr.org/patients-carevivers/awareness-months/gallbladder-cancer-and-bile-duct-cancer-awareness