Contrary to the belief held by most in modern medicine, the gallbladder is a necessary organ that serves purpose during the digestion process. The bile that the gallbladder holds is vital to fat digestion. Without it, people often experience diarrhea or all sorts of digestive issues after eating a fatty meal. A lack of bile production or expulsion can be due to a wide variety of things. Nutrient deficiencies, stress, chronic infections, and even excessive insulin can distress to the gallbladder. Whatever the case may be, chronic gallbladder issues often lead to pain in right side of the abdomen right under the ribs. Medical management for this can include removal of the gallbladder if symptoms progress enough. If symptoms are more chronic in nature, gallbladder issues very often result in constipation. Stick around to learn why your gallbladder might be why you’re struggling with constipation.
What Does Bile Do?
Without bile, fat digestion would be impossible. Bile contains substances that emulsify and digest fat. Without it, fat would just move throughout the digestive tract and then be excreted in the stool. The other function of the bile is to act as a lubricant for the digestive tract. Think of the bile as being similar to butter. If you try to spread ice cold butter onto some toast, it doesn’t quite spread easily. If the butter is warmed up to room temperature or even warmer, it spreads easily and can coat the entire surface of the toast. When bile is thicker and not spreadable, it can’t help stool in the digestive tract move along well, leading to constipation.
Drivers of Gallbladder Dysfunction
Bile is a sludge that is made up of bile salts, cholesterol, and bilirubin. Each of these is necessary for healthy and productive bile. When gallbladder distress happens, it is typically due to some sort of bile issue. Sluggish bile, stones that limit bile flow, or lack of bile production are common issues. These things can all occur when there are deficiencies of nutrients necessary for production. Components of bile salts can run low due to heightened immune function due to infection or inflammation. Glycine, choline, and vitamin A commonly run low due to this, leading to sluggish bile.
People typically wouldn’t think of cholesterol as being a good thing, but it is found in every cell membrane in our bodies. It’s a necessary component of bile as well as in hormone production. When people are low on cholesterol, it is most often due to vegetarian/vegan lifestyles or avoidance of animal fats. High amounts of insulin or stress hormones can also cause sluggish bile, which is why blood sugar regulation is so important.
Help Your Gallbladder to Fix Your Constipation
If you have chronic issues with constipation, the best thing that you can do is figure out what is going on with your gallbladder. It may not seem like it isn’t all that important, but when it isn’t working right, it can cause a lot of discomfort. Managing blood sugar (click here for my blood sugar article) and eating plenty of animal fats is a good start towards a healthier gallbladder. Constipation and gallbladder problems can be tricky sometimes by yourself, so I recommend seeking professional care if at all possible.
