You need to make sure that your body is effectively flowing bile in and out of the gallbladder. Thus, you should consider doing a gallbladder cleanse every so often. This is simple to do! However, if you have a history of poor gallbladder health such as gallstones, it is best to consult a doctor. This will help rule out any possibility that you have more severe gallbladder issues going on. A large calcified gallstone can’t be flushed out during a gallbladder cleanse. Here, we will discuss tips on doing a gallbladder cleanse from a natural approach.
General Information About a Gallbladder Cleanse
A gallbladder cleanse or flush is a natural remedy for clearing the body of any possible gallstones. Typically, this involves consuming a combination of specific liquids and herbs over the course of several days. People often fast for the duration of the cleanse.
Performing a gallbladder cleanse helps break up any gallstones that are present and triggers the gallbladder to excrete them from the body. While gallbladder cleansing may result in some side effects during the process, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, it benefits the body, resulting in an increase of energy levels, and the restoration of wellbeing and vitality.
Because gallstones disrupt the liver’s performance, cleaning out the gallstones from your liver can help your body heal itself, adding healthy years to your life, and reversing the aging process. Many who do a gallbladder cleanse see significant changes in their health.
How to Perform a Natural Gallbladder Cleanse
For the two weeks prior to your cleanse, drink two cups of apple juice each day. This will help loosen up any gallstones so they pass easily. On the day of your cleanse, eat a normal lunch and then three hours later take 3 capsules of disodium phosphate with water. Repeat this step again after two hours.
For dinner, simply have a cup of grapefruit juice or some grapefruit. Before going to bed, consume half a cup of unrefined olive oil with either a small cup of grapefruit juice or blended with a half a cup of lemon juice.
Go to bed, lying on your right side with your knees bent up to your chest. When you wake up in the morning, take 3 capsules of disodium phosphate one hour before breakfast with a glass of water. This will complete what you need to do for the cleanse.
What to Expect During the Flush
Some people experience nausea while drinking the olive oil and citrus mixture. Some may also feel discomfort in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen because this is where the gallbladder is located.
Following the cleanse, you will experience frequent bowel movements, which is a natural result of the excess bile released following the flush. Some report that their bowel movements appear to be dark green pellets. This is the softened material that has been excreted from the gallbladder that did not calcify.
Five Natural Treatments for Gallstones
1. Maintain a Healthy Body Weight
Studies suggest that people who are overweight produce excess cholesterol in their liver. Not maintaining a healthy weight may also result in inflammation and swelling of the gallbladder, especially with excess fat around the waist that suggests underlying fat stored around the body’s organs.
The healthiest and most natural way to combat gallbladder stones is to maintain a healthy weight. Gaining and losing weight quickly over and over again can negatively impact your hormones, immune system, digestion, and metabolism. Weight cycling can increase your chance of developing gallstones, so if you need to lose weight, do it in a moderate and healthy way.
2. Avoid Rapid Weight Loss
While obesity is a larger risk factor for developing gallstones than weight loss, rapid weight loss may also lead to this health issue. Sudden weight loss can trigger electrolyte imbalances and deficiencies increase the odds of gallstones forming. Experts recommend a healthy rate of weight loss is between a half pound to two pounds per week. This slow and steady improvement won’t cause shock to the system.
3. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Your diet has a large impact on your liver and gallbladder health and helps to determine if you make and release cholesterol into bile correctly. Consuming anti-inflammatory foods will help to regulate your body’s use of cholesterol, which has several health benefits aside from lowering the risk of gallstones.
Eat high-fiber foods, such as vegetables, beans, seeds, fruit, nuts, legumes and grains. Avoid processed foods and those that are high in sugar, artificial ingredients, and vegetable oils. Rather than vegetable oil, cook with more health beneficial oils such as fish oil, olive oil, and coconut oil that are supportive of your gallbladder. Eat healthy fats in small portions throughout the day, so you don’t overconsume fat that will add stress on the organs.
Try to avoid the following foods as much as you can:
- refined sugar;
- hydrogenated oils;
- deli meat;
- alcohol;
- farm-raised animal products.
Pro Tip: you can make a great gallbladder cleanse juice by mixing beets, apples, and carrots into a blender or juicer.
4. Exercise
People who get sufficient physical activity have more protection from gallstones. This can also help you maintain your weight, which is important for cleansing the gallbladder.
5. Reconsider Birth Control Pills
Hormonal medications can increase the body’s storage of estrogen, which influences the production of cholesterol storage. Studies have shown that there is a statistically significant increase in the number of women who get gallbladder stones who also took oral contraceptives.
Doing a gallbladder flush is great for your overall health and can be done easily with ingredients that you likely already have at home. In between flushes, focus on the tips for a lifestyle that best promotes gallbladder health. If you have any other recipes for gallbladder flushes or you would like to share your own experience with doing a flush, please do so.
