Gallbladder cleanse: What Are The Main Functions Of A Gallbladder?
The gallbladder has an important role to play in a healthy digestive system. It is a small, 8 x 4 cm pear-shaped organ, located just below the liver. Its role is to store the bile and waste products manufactured by the liver, as well as to concentrate the bile and release it in precise, controlled volumes when needed for digestion of the food we eat. The bile travels from the liver, through special channels known as bile ducts.
During digestion, when the food mixture leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine, certain hormones trigger the release of bile, a greenish-brown liquid, from the gallbladder to assist with emulsifying, (breaking down) of fats. The gallbladder receives the signal to change the concentration of various bile chemicals depending on the food contents, and to contract so that it can release the appropriate volume.
When fats are emulsified, they can be absorbed and used by our bodies. Large fat globules are not usable without bile to break their contents into tiny, dispersed particles. Bile fluid also contains ingredients which help to make fat soluble vitamins water-soluble and able to enter our bloodstream through the intestinal walls.
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis refers to the inflammation, swelling and pain of the gallbladder due to gallstone formation, a tumor or other bile duct blockages. While symptoms of gallbladder inflammation can become quite severe and are known as, “gallbladder attacks”, many people live with gallstones and are completely unaware of it. They are often asymptomatic and will only begin to cause pain or inflammation when a stone moves into bile duct, causing pressure and blockage. Gallstones are formed of hard, crystalized deposits of cholesterol and bile pigments. Cholesterol gallstones are the most common, accounting for roughly 80% of stones and are a greenish color. Pigment gallstones, made from bilirubin are small and dark.
Diet & Lifestyle
Various dietary and lifestyle factors can contribute to gallstone formation and gallbladder inflammation. A diet high in fat as well as obesity are known to raise the risk. Low fiber, high calorie and carbohydrate diets may also contribute to poor gallbladder function. Females are more likely to develop gallstones than men, and for both, being aged over 40 is unfortunately, a risk factor. There are correlations with post-partum women and higher gallstone occurrences and women who are taking oral contraceptive pills or who are pregnant will also elevate their risk due to hormone increases.
Gallstone Disease
The symptoms of gallstone disease may include pain in the upper right abdomen and shoulder after meals. Gas, bloating and abdominal discomfort are also common. When a stone blocks a bile duct, the gallbladder attack may last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours and is quite painful. There are less invasive treatments to dealing with gallbladder attacks than thru the commonly recommended, cholecystectomy, (gallbladder removal surgery) that are non invasive and quite effective.
Gallbladder Issues
Digestion is possible without the gallbladder but in many cases, if the underlying health issues are not resolved, pain and digestive upset may continue after surgery. A variety of digestive aids and lifestyle changes such as avoiding high calorie, high fat diets and certain foods restrictions are advised to help get the gallbladder into optimal shape. When the gallbladder is removed, the liver will release a steady, weak stream of bile into the small intestine making efficient fat digestion and vitamin absorption difficult. Most people will eventually return to a full, regular diet after cholecystectomy, however, gradually reintroducing foods over a period of a few months and perhaps eliminating certain high fat or spicy foods will be necessary for long-term comfort.
This is why internal hygiene is so important. When toxins accumulate, they prevent the body from performing crucial metabolic processes. This is especially true for the liver – your body’s own filter. When the liver is congested, it causes toxicity to be exported across the body. Wherever toxins accumulate, an ailment develops there.
A Gallbladder Cleanse
A gallbladder cleanse or commonly referred to as a gallbladder flush, is a means of detoxifying the gallbladder and liver by taking apple juice, lemon juice and olive oil for a period of a week. The results are nothing less than spectacular, as some individuals can often eliminate hundreds of gallstones from the liver and gallbladder. Gallbladder flushes purge the gallbladder but will not help to dissolve gallstones.
A second form of gallbladder cleanse is the Pulverexx Protocol. It dissolves cholesterol gallstones and calcified gallstones. It takes a month to complete and eliminates gallbladder attacks and pain within hours.
