Can you eat bananas without a gallbladder
This brief guide will address the query, “can you eat bananas without a gallbladder?” and some tips for a correct diet without a gallbladder.
Can you eat bananas without a gallbladder?
Yes, you can eat bananas without a gallbladder. The gallbladder is so important to our digestive system, it helps digest fat, and bananas are mostly sugar, so digesting it without your gallbladder is not compromising your health.
But it is important for you to know more about how your gallbladder works and more about the composition of bananas in order for you to understand this query better.
How does my gallbladder work?
The gallbladder is a 4-inch-long, oval-shaped organ connected to the liver. It concentrates bile from the liver and releases it into the small intestine to help break down food, mostly the fat in food.
Why could my gallbladder be removed?
If a gallbladder becomes infected or develops stones, it may need to be removed. This procedure is known as cholecystectomy.
Without the gallbladder, bile flows freely into the small intestine, where it can’t break down food as effectively as it did if the gallbladder is still in the body.
While you can live without your gallbladder, you must make some changes to your diet, in order to enjoy good health.
What changes do I need to make to my diet when my gallbladder is removed?
The most important change is to avoid fatty food, eating these after having your gallbladder removed won’t cause serious health problems, but it can lead to a lot of painful gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
Also it is essential to limit the intake of dairy, fatty meats, caffeine, spicy foods, and alcohol.
Will I be able to eat fat again after my gallbladder is removed?
Yes, you´ll be able to eat fat again, even if your gallbladder has been removed. Fat is essential for supporting cell growth, processing nutrients, protecting organs, and producing hormones, so cutting the total intake of fat is not healthy either.
You can eat healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, seeds, and some nuts. This will significantly lower your risk of bile acid diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
You need to let your body get used to not having a gallbladder, so, after the surgery, your diet without fats should be strict.
Months later you can eat these healthy fats we mentioned little by little, and other months later, you can try eating more fats, but this needs to be done gradually and you need to evaluate how you are feeling when eating fat again without your gallbladder.
Depending on how you feel, you will decide and know how much fat you will be able to eat, in order to avoid feeling bad of having symptoms like bloating or diarrhea.
What is the composition of bananas?
Bananas are tropical fruit and sugars are what is mostly found in them and many other fruits.
Let’s see the composition in 100g of raw banana.
| Compound | Amount |
| Water | 74.9 g |
| Energy | 89 kcal |
| Protein | 1.09 g |
| Total Lipid | 1.3 g |
| Carbohydrate | 22.8 g |
| Ash (inorganic compounds) | 0.82 g |
So, as you can see, the two compounds that are mostly on the banana are water and carbohydrates, or as they are colloquially called; sugars.
But, the amount of carbohydrates on the banana considers different types of sugars and fiber.
On 100g of raw banana we can find these types of carbohydrates:
- Fiber, total dietary 2.6 g
- Sugars, total 12.2 g, which can be divided into
- Sucrose 2.39 g
- Glucose 4.98 g
- Fructose 4.85 g
- Maltose 0.01 g
- Starch 5.38 g
So, as we mentioned before, when you eat a banana, you are eating more carbohydrates and water.
But that is not what we can only find in bananas, we can also find the inorganic compounds which are called micronutrients, which are also essential to our diet.
In fact, these are called “micronutrients” because they need to be in smaller amounts, in milligrams, compared to proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, which are in grams, that is why these last three are called macronutrients.
So, some micronutrients we can find on bananas that have benefits to our health are:
- Potassium 358 mg
- Magnesium 27 mg
- Phosphorous 22 mg
- Vitamin C 8.7 g
We can also find in bananas Calcium, Iron, Sodium Zinc, Manganese, Fluoride, and some others like vitamins, but these are in less than 1 mg.
Are bananas good for my health if my gallbladder was removed?
Yes, bananas are good for your health if your gallbladder is removed. Remember, bananas have nearly zero fats, so eating them won´t stress your digestive system.
In addition, eating fruits and also vegetables will add to your diet fiber which can help prevent diarrhea. If you find that citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit are too acidic, stick with apples, bananas, avocado, and berries.
If you want to know more benefits of bananas for your health please read this article.
Other FAQs about Bananas that you may be interested in.
What do you call a bunch of bananas?
Should bananas be refrigerated
Conclusion
In this brief guide we have discussed the query, “can you eat bananas without a gallbladder?” and some tips for a correct diet without a gallbladder.
