The gallbladder and liver are best friends, and one directly affects the other. The liver produces bile, which helps you to digest fats, and the gallbladder stores those fats until they are required for digestion.
Guess what happens when you have too much or too little bile? Things like...
*Sludge
*Biliary colic
*Stones
*Acute pancreatitis
This can all happen for a number of reasons. Diet and alcohol consumption are two biggies, but let's dive into something a little less obvious (ladies you are really going to want to pay attention).
Hormones affect every single organ and function in our body, and boys you are included in this...I wouldn't want you to feel left out. Hormones like Melatonin (the sleep hormone), which helps to prevent gallstones by reducing cholesterol levels in the bile. Thyroxine, the thyroid hormone (T4 to be exact), when it is under functioning creates issues with bile and acid flow. Estrogen and Progesterone effect it when higher amounts of these hormones lead to slower emptying and increased cholesterol to bio ratio in the gland, which means way too much bile and more sludge.
But here is the kicker! The liver produces the bile. The bile helps to eliminate excess hormones, which in turn can create less sludge/issues. Can I tell you a secret ladies? Pregnancy, oral contraceptives and Hormone Replacement Therapy all increase estrogen, which in turn increases your risk of gallbladder disease/issues. Don't believe me? You should, because it is has been studied, documented, signed, sealed and delivered.
Cortisol, the stress hormone primarily produced by the adrenal glands, also create gallbladder issues by keeping you in fight or flight, and therefore making the liver overproduce glucose so that you can have the energy to outrun that tiger, or those lingering bills, and the boss that you can't stand.
So there you go folks! The liver gallbladder needs tended too, and if you are a premenopausal woman you REALLY need to pay attention. Men can have gallbladder issues too, like I said,, but much like their typical hormone fluctuations, they can be a bit more on the mild side. Ladies, our hormonal fluctuations are like riding the world's tallest roller coaster while trying to keep your bikini top on. They move quickly, make you feel out of control, and no matter how much you try to pull it together they can still fly off the handle.
So how do we tend to our gallbladder? First let's start by ditching alcohol. Yes, I said it. The liver has enough to do by dumping those excess hormones, and adding alcohol to the mix only makes its job harder. Ditch the processed, fried foods. Eat real food. Eat whole fruits and veggies. Load up on...
*Fatty Fish
*Flaxseeds
*Fiber rich foods
*Heart healthy nuts
*Avacados
Eat more frequent, smaller, healthier meals, so that the gallbladder is constantly flushing out those fats and cholesterols. Oh yes, and pay attention to your circadian rhythm by using blue light glasses after dark, going to bed at a decent time and rising at a suitable time. This will help with melatonin production. Consider taking bitter herbs and homeopathic remedies to support digestion.
Check out what liver/gallbladder congestion looks like on a Thermal image...it would be #1.
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