Bile is one of the most important components of the digestive process. Only with her participation the body can process fats, absorb fat-soluble vitamins. But it happens that it is produced in the body insufficiently. In this case, choleretic foods will help. They not only stimulate its production, but also eliminate stagnation. If you eat such foods regularly, the digestion process will always be right.
The role of bile in digestion
The normal digestion process depends on many factors. For processing and assimilation of each of the components of food certain enzymes are necessary. Especially important in the digestion process is bile. This liquid is saturated with substances that process fats and fatty acids, contribute to their absorption and absorption through the intestinal wall. In addition, bile has antiseptic properties, helps to remove harmful substances from the body, and prevents the development of putrefactive processes.
For a day, the liver in special ducts produces about 500 ml of bile. But this process does not always coincide with food intake. In this case, as well as if very little bile is produced, the complete absorption of fats is impaired. This can lead to weight gain, deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins, impaired intestinal microflora.
When to take action
With a lack of bile during digestion in the intestine, the processes of decay and fermentation begin. A certain set of symptoms may indicate that bile stagnation has formed in the body or an insufficient amount is produced. Their appearance should prompt a person to introduce choleretic foods into the diet.
When do you need to take measures to eliminate stagnation of bile? It is usually recommended to be wary of:
- the appearance of pain in the liver and stomach;
- frequent nausea, vomiting;
- upset stool;
- increased gas formation, the appearance of flatulence;
- the appearance of night blindness;
- increased fragility of bones;
- yellowing of the skin, the appearance of itching;
- bleeding disorders and frequent bleeding.
What helps with stagnation of bile
If a person produces little bile, his digestive process is disturbed. Most often, this is observed in people who follow an unhealthy diet with a lot of fats and white bread. According to statistics, bile congestion is most often observed in obese people. They are advised to take measures to reduce weight.
With stagnation of bile, doctors prescribe special medications: "Allahol", "Odeston", "Tsikvalon". There are many products based on herbal ingredients: Holosas, Sibektan, Hofitol. In addition, to improve the outflow of bile it is useful to engage in physical therapy. After all, a sedentary lifestyle is one of the main reasons for its stagnation. It is also important to follow a special diet.
Cholagogue food: list
In addition to medications, bile congestion helps food. Therefore, in mild cases, you can simply change the diet by introducing choleretic products into it. They can increase the production of bile or improve its outflow. Therefore, all such products improve the digestion process, support the liver and have a mild laxative effect. With their regular use, you can lose weight.
But in case of serious diseases of the liver and gall bladder, it is necessary to consult a doctor before changing the diet. He also has a list of choleretic foods. There are a lot of them, some of them are familiar to everyone and are used often, while others will be exotic for some. The most common choleretic foods include:
- olive oil;
- avocado;
- the grape juice;
- citrus;
- carrots and beets;
- cabbage;
- lingonberry;
- Tomatoes
- chicory;
- oat bran;
- quail eggs;
- spinach, dill;
- honey;
- cinnamon, turmeric, ginger.
Vegetable oils
It is vegetable oils that best stimulate the opening of the biliary tract and the contraction of the gallbladder. The fatty acids contained in them improve metabolic processes. To improve digestion and choleretic properties of food, it is recommended to add vegetable oils to it. It is advisable to consume 40-80 ml per day. Olive oil is best, but sunflower, flaxseed and corn also have a similar effect. They have a positive effect on digestion and liver function.
Oils must be unrefined and not subject to heat treatment. It is especially harmful to fry food in vegetable oil, after which it becomes hazardous to health. To stimulate the cleansing of the liver and biliary tract, it is recommended to eat a spoonful of linseed or olive oil in the morning half an hour before breakfast.
Cholagogue foods containing vegetable oils also include nuts and seeds. Peanuts and sunflowers are especially useful. Many vegetable fats contain avocados. It has unsaturated fats that help break down cholesterol.
Vegetables and fruits
This is the largest group of choleretic foods with stagnation of bile. The most effective in this regard are citrus fruits. It is useful in the morning to drink a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice - this helps to eliminate stagnation of bile. Apples, prunes, bananas, and strawberries also effectively stimulate its production. Salads of fresh vegetables - carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers - contain a lot of fiber, therefore they improve digestive processes and stimulate the production of bile. Carrot juice is useful because it relieves cramps, soothes and improves appetite. And tomato juice prevents the formation of stones. Sour fruits are also useful because they prevent the formation of stones in the gallbladder. It is advisable to introduce different products from this group into each meal.
Spice
With stagnation of bile, it is undesirable to eat sharp foods, but some natural spices, on the contrary, have a choleretic effect. First of all, these are popular herbs: dill, parsley, cilantro, spinach. They are recommended to be included in the diet daily. Ginger, cinnamon and turmeric are useful for digestion and bile production. They can be added to any dishes. Fresh ginger root is used to make tea. Ginger contains many vitamins and minerals that stimulate the outflow of bile. It is good to add cinnamon to tea or sweet dishes. And turmeric, because of its pungent taste, is widely used in the preparation of sauces. Dill is also very useful, which has a diuretic, choleretic and antispasmodic effect.
Beverages
A variety of drinks are used to stimulate the outflow of bile. You need to drink fluids a day as much as possible, because its lack leads to thickening and stagnation of bile. It can be teas, decoctions of herbs, juices. Especially useful are grape juice, lingonberries, cabbage, beets. It is useful in the morning and before bedtime to drink water with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. And half an hour before each meal, it is recommended to drink a glass of clean water without gas.
It is also recommended to take decoctions of herbs. But first you need to consult a doctor. The following beverages have choleretic properties:
- a decoction of immortelle flowers - take 2 times a day for half a glass 30 minutes before eating;
- if the immortelle is mixed in equal parts with St. John's wort, then the broth is taken an hour after each meal;
- with stagnation of bile, a decoction of knotweed, repeshka and immortelle is effective;
- the infusion of dandelion roots is drunk half a glass before a meal;
- mint tea eliminates flatulence;
- rosehip broth is effective in case of bile congestion, it improves digestion and normalizes the liver.
Nutrition rules
Stagnation of bile or its insufficient production is a pathology that will not go away by itself. Be sure to take special medications or change the diet to eliminate it. The diet for stagnation of bile is compiled by a doctor, since it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of a person’s condition, the nature and causes of the pathology.
First of all, you need to find out what foods you need to exclude from the diet or severely limit their use. These are those that contribute to stagnation of bile, its thickening. These are animal fats, especially pork and mutton, rich broths, smoked meats, canned food, spicy and salty foods. It is necessary to limit the amount of fiber in the diet - brown bread, millet. Cocoa, chocolate, coffee, white flour products, legumes, mushrooms, carbonated drinks, spicy vegetables (garlic, radish, radish) are also harmful.
Food with stagnation of bile must be organized in accordance with the rules:
- for normal functioning of the biliary tract, food should be warm;
- you need to eat in small portions, but often - up to 5-6 times a day;
- food needs to be boiled, baked or steamed;
- It is recommended to eat vegetarian soups, dairy products, cereals daily;
- drink at least 1.5-2 liters of water every day.
A proper diet and a healthy lifestyle will help normalize the digestive process.