Hernias & Gallstones

Principles of Healthy Diet

Generally, healthy diet is recommended for people with gallstones or patient after gallbladder surgery. There is not need to stay on tricked, low fat diet. However, frequently people with gallstones find reduction in symptoms and pain after avoiding fried and fatty foods.

Also, you may find that eating small meals with healthy snacks in between is better than 3 large meals a day.

We always suggest a balanced, varied diet incorporating the main food groups and only avoiding foods that you feel make your symptoms worse.

A balanced diet consists of

• Plenty of fruit and vegetables – aim to have at least five portion each day.
• Regular starchy carbohydrates – examples of these include bread, rice, cereals, pasta, potatoes, chapattis and plantain. Choose wholegrain varieties when possible.
• 2-3 portions of milk and dairy products per day. Choose low-fat dairy products such as skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and low fat cheese.
• Meat, fish, eggs and alternatives such as beans and pulses at every meal.  Choose low-fat products such as lean meats, poultry and fish without batter
• Limited saturated fat that is found in animal products, such as butter, ghee, cheese, fatty meat, cakes, biscuits and pastries. Replace these with unsaturated fats found in vegetable oils, such as sunflower, rapeseed and olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds.
• Foods that are high in fibre; including beans, pulses, fruit and vegetables, oats, and wholewheat products, such as bread, pasta and rice.
• Drink plenty of fluid - at least two litres daily including water, no added sugar squash and small amounts of fruit juice.

If you have been advised by a dietitian to follow any other dietary modifications then please consult with them before making further changes to your diet.