low fat diet (gallstones)

[mercifulTehlu]

Having tended towards full-fat and lowish carb eating habits over the past few years, it looks like I have gallstones and will need to stick to a low-fat diet to avoid further bouts of extreme pain, at least until I have a definite diagnosis and possibly surgery.

I'm so used to not avoiding fat that I can't think of what to eat now! Is anyone else still eating low fat? If so, what are your tasty, healthy meals. I absolutely want to avoid artificially reduced-fat, high-sugar stuff. Grateful for any inspiration!

[SummersSomewhere]

I am eating low fat and have the same health position (seeing surgeon on Monday).

Easy switches are things like skimmed milk or 1% fat; fish instead of red meat, remove skin from chicken etc. Spray oil. Balsamic for salad dressing. Hairbo, turkish delight or jelly tots rather than cake, chocolate or ice cream!

Doctor told me the risk of an attack was lowered by low fat but size of meal also a factor. I took this to mean overall total of fat consumed in each meal/snack had to be manageable by the gall bladder she also suggested splitting meals with a break between halves can help :/ So no bingeing, I guess. I keep my meals smaller than I used to.

I find that if items are mostly under 5% but all individual meal components under 10% fat has helped in recent weeks, combined with fruit, veg or salad then the fat % stays low. I also cut out eggs and bread which can lead towards constipation and seem to increase [my] chances of an attack. This is me though due to timings of the attacks I have had. One doctor did say giving eggs used to be the test for gall stones 30 years ago but no other doctor I've asked has heard that. Keeping well hydrated seems to help too.

Having said all that I am not confident I can control it long term with diet and am sadly expecting to be referred for surgery I think.

After 2 ambulance trips to A&E due to the severity of the pain I am terrified of triggering an attack and have become a little frightened of food.

I was dieting/on a health kick before the attacks started and I have become a much more conscientious follower of my food plan because there are now possible immediate/overnight painful consequences from triggering an attack.

Good luck

[SummersSomewhere]

Haha didn't answer your question
Stirfry veg and noodles
Baked white fish with lemon and herbs
Roast dinners without the gravy or yorkshires
Salads with home made cloleslaw or carrotslaw with low fat yogurt
Soups (the lower fat ones - usually vegetable based not cream of unfortunately)
Cooking with steak mince rather than just minced beef
Prawn Risotto - current favourite

[HackAttack]

I've literally just had my gallbladder out today as a low fat diet failed to anything (I was on one when it started!). I'd say surgery all the way, once it's flared up it's just going to keep on happening. The surgery really wasn't that bad x

[mercifulTehlu]

Thanks folks! I've only had one attack, but dear lord... The pain was unbelievable. I've been referred for a scan, so we'll see. Unfortunate that it's happened just before Christmas - not exactly the time for low fat and small meals!

[AlwaysBeYourself]

I eat paleo/lowish carb but I don't agree with all the adding of fat that low carb diets seem to say is the answer to everything. I only eat fat if it comes with food as in avocado, roast chicken etc. If you look on the web it is also believed that low fat diets can trigger gall bladder problems.
If low fat is the way you decide is right for you though here are some ideas

beans jacket potato pepper
beans on toast
wraps filled with chicken cooked with paprika, honey,spring onions and peppers. Use low fat yoghurt in wraps with fresh coriander and kidney beans

homemade soups and stews

filled rolls
lean chicken breasts in foil with garlic lemon and herbs served with new potatos and salad/veg

roasts with low fat gravy and veg

rice dishes

salads with honey, lemon and balsalmic dressing lean meats

stuffed peppers with mince peppers rice herbs onions etc

baked fish in foil with white wine, mash potato veg

rice pudding with skimmed milk
jelly
meringue with mixed berry coulis and fruit
low fat cakes
baked peaches, apples etc with low fat custard


There are so many things you can eat to be honest. Low fat doesn't mean eating crap just eating more fruit and veg and lean meat.

[Totallypearshaped]

Eat real food, like vegetables and fish. Don't have any apples, they can trigger an attack.

Don't buy low fat crap, it's full of high fructose syrup, and is very bad for blood sugar.
Just don't eat fatty foods.

Make soup with vegetables and stock. Eat lean meats. Go easy on dressings (make you own with a glug of oiive oil and lemon juice).
Eat five small meals a day.

And have surgery as soon as you can it's really the only solution.

I went camping a week after my laproscopic gall bladder surgery. 'Twas a doddle.
Don't let them open you up. Get a laproscopic surgeon.

[mercifulTehlu]

Thanks so much! It's tricky - my doctor and most medical websites say low fat. Then some people say very low fat is bad for you as you need the good fats. And then some people say that other, totally un-fatty foods (like apples, as you mentioned) can trigger it. Which I totally don't understand, as I thought the whole point of bile and the gallbladder was to help digest fat!

I eat quite a lot of apples, and have eaten several over the past few days with no problem - maybe the triggers vary from person to person?

Did any of you find spicy food or alcohol a problem?

Anyway, I will wait for my scan and see. I wonder if they are likely to recommend surgery straight away if I don't have any further attacks by the time they scan me? I will absolutely go for the surgery if they do though. One attack was enough for me...

[mercifulTehlu]

AlwaysBeYourself - some great food ideas there. I prefer to eat lowish carb and was a bit disheartened at the idea that I'd have to pile on the carbs, but of course you're right that it doesn't have to be the case. The only trouble is that, in the absence of fat, the only things that feel like a treat are sugary things. I will try to limit them though! I'm off to the supermarket tomorrow and will stock up on lean neat and fish, fruit and veg and a few low-fat treats.

[AlwaysBeYourself]

Interestingly too much fat is implicated in gallbladder pain. I know if I eat too much myself I get upper stomach cramps. I don't eat dairy or much added fat though now

[mercifulTehlu]

Well I'm doing ok at eating low fat - haven't had any more attacks anyway. Plus I feel like I've lost weight, which is a bonus!

[AlwaysBeYourself]

Glad to hear your doing ok. I used to cook lots of casseroles, chillie, rice and pasta dishes all fat freeish and lost weight too. Low fat doesn't mean eating processed rubbishy, it means eating naturally without adding extra processed fats.

[AlwaysBeYourself]

Sorry on new phone and it changes words

[RainbowDashed]

I'm currently on a low fat diet for gallstones, trying to avoid surgery as I haven't had a serious attack and am hoping to avoid.

I eat:

Stir fried veg cooked in a small amount of olive oil mixed with soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, sesame seeds - with noodles or rice. Also with chicken or turkey sometimes.

Bolognese made with low fat mince. I cook the onions and the mince at the same time thereby avoiding having to add any oil to cook the onions. I also add a few finely diced carrots to "healthy" it up a bit.

Chilli con carne as above

Beans on wholemeal toast (no butter) (I can get away with a small sprinkle of cheese on top)

Jacket spud with beans or chilli and again a very small sprinkle of cheese (no butter)

Salad with tuna / chicken / ham - drizzled with a small amount of olive oil and some white wine vinegar, salt and pepper

Pork chops / steaks (lean only) with loads of veg

gammon steak

porridge with skimmed milk and maybe a small drizzle of syrup if I fancy something sweet

pasta with onion, garlic, chicken & sweetcorn drizzled with a small amount of olive oil

Some oven chips are quite low in fat but if you're keeping a lid on carbs then obv not ideal

Fruit with low fat yogurt and maybe a small amount of meringue, I can almost pretend that's Eton mess

I also eat some "non food" like mug shots (pasta) and noodle pots (not Pot Noodle but a lower fat alternative) - easy work lunches or a mid afternoon small meal/snack.

I try to stick to wholemeal pasta, rice and bread - basically high in protein and fibre as well as low fat. It does all get a bit samey after a while though. I am very overweight though so am sticking with it now for more than just gallbladder reasons - tbh it has been the kick I needed to sort my weight out.

I also find that 4 / 5 small meals easier to tolerate than three normal meals. So a typical day might be: 9am porridge, 12pm salad with tuna, 4pm non food mug shot pasta type thing, 7.30 pm stir fry, 10pm fruit with low fat yogurt.

[AlwaysBeYourself]

Make your own oven chips by cutting up potato wedges and brushing with the tiniest amount of oil . I didn't use any oil at all in my food . Lots of herbs and spices though . Favourite sauce is Tom mushroom onion and garlic with red wine cooked in fry pan and used as pasta sauce or on steak or chicken . Can also use as a pizza topping and add toppings of choice . I like balsamic vinegar honey and fresh herbs as salad dressing, no oil .
Lunches : pitta with salad and chicken in sweet chilli sauce or wraps. Salad with chopped ham and pianapple, homemade soup and roll , pasta salad tuna and sweet corn .
It really doesn't have to be same year. Eat everything you love just don't add extra fat . I eat paleo but I don't eat extra fat or dairy so it's similar

[AlwaysBeYourself]

My bolognaise uses mince, onions, mushrooms, celery, carrots, garlic, fresh herbs and red wine. I cook in a huge pan with red wine and tinned toms for about five hours when it is soft and lovely. Cool it and bag it and freeze it.

[AlwaysBeYourself]

"Samey " grrrr new phone

[goinggrey1978]

lowest fat mince you can get, say 5%, make chilli con carne and bolgnase, caseroles and stews, fajitas, piri piri chicken, try to limit cheese, cream and creamy dinners, dairy products are high in fat, potatoes are also a tigger food for gallstones, i had my gall bladder out years ago but also have colitis and find that cooking from scratch works, happy cooking!!

[SummersSomewhere]

Probably best not listen to my advice I had my emergency gallbladder op 5 days after I posted last ! no idea what I'd eaten to cause it but it was horrendous.
Glad it's over and still feeling very suspicious of food a week later. Best wishes to those of you waiting for the op.

[AlwaysBeYourself]

mercifulTehlu how are you doing? You still losing weight at all?
Summers hope you soon feel better around food ;)