As a nutritional and natural therapist the question of how important is the gallbladder, crops up over and over again. Along the way, I’ve heard too many people, who have suffered from unhealthy gallbladders, being advised, “you can live quite happily without this organ” and “you don’t need your gallbladder”.
If you are one of the many who suffer with your gallbladder, or have done so in the past, below are some facts that you need to be aware of before you make the decision to have your gallbladder removed.
The Body Can Re-Generate
The body (and that includes all of the major organs) is a self-regenerating organism and, given the correct nutrients and environment, will heal given time. There are numerous safe and effective natural therapies, with no side effects, that you can undertake, along with certain supplements, which will help to regenerate your gallbladder and, just as importantly, to keep it healthy.
Where Is The Gallbladder Located?
The gallbladder is an integral part of the correct and efficient workings of the body when it functions in tandem with the other vital organs.
It’s a little sack that hangs just beneath your liver and is about the size of a small potato. There is a tube that comes from the liver and the gallbladder hangs off this tube.
What Does It Do?
The key is what this little sack holds – the bile and fluid which help to absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
It also:-
- regulates cholesterol
- helps balance hormones
- helps to lubricate the colon.
It is incorrect, therefore, to say that the liver can take over from the gallbladder as this is not the whole story. The gallbladder receives bile from the liver and concentrates it by twenty times so that, when the bile is released, it can break down fats efficiently. Therefore, if the liver is left to break down the fats consumed, it will not be done effectively and efficiently.
Gallstones!
If the problem with the gallbladder is gallstones, this would indicate there is insufficient bile. If the gallbladder is removed (often the recommended treatment for stones), then it’s obvious there will be even less bile for the break-down of fats, causing a knock-on, negative effect with your health.
Cholesterol Imbalance
The next problem will be an imbalance of cholesterol – vital for the building of hormones, (especially the stress hormones), which are secreted from the adrenal glands. Cholesterol is also important for the brain and nerves and every cell in the body utilises it. Cholesterol also needs breaking-down which is one of the functions of bile.
Bile also helps to break-down and eliminate toxins from your body as well as lubricating the colon, so you may end up with constipation.
It is, therefore, vital that you are given an INFORMED CHOICE as to all the treatments available so that you can make the right decision for ‘you’ before going to the extreme of removing, what is, a vital organ.
Best Wishes
Debbie
