For a day our liver produces about 500 ml of bile. Bile is needed by our body in order to help it digest and suck in fats and fat-soluble acids. Only in the presence of bile, fats are emulsified, after which the walls of the intestine are able to suck them. If the secretion of bile in the intestine does not coincide with the intake of food, or if bile is not sufficiently released, fats are not digested. This leads to the fact that they are processed by bacteria that live in our gastrointestinal tract. The result is pain in the abdomen, weight loss, increased gas formation and upset of the stool.
Thus, bile has antibacterial properties, preventing the appearance of putrefactive and fermenting processes in the intestine. In addition, bile removes excess cholesterol from our body.
If the intake of bile in the intestines is disrupted for a long time, a deficiency of fat-soluble acids appears in the body. Here are his symptoms:
- Chicken blindness (lack of vitamin A).
- Propensity to bleeding (lack of vitamin K).
- Broken bones (lack of vitamin D).
All cholagogue funds are divided into two groups. The first include those that enhance the formation of bile by the liver (the so-called choleretic drugs), the second group includes drugs that help to remove bile from the gallbladder into the intestine (they are called cholekinetic). Some of the cholagogue products have both effects - that is, they enhance both the production of bile and its release.
Cholagogue products on our table
In addition to the preparations of choleretic action, there are products that can help outflow of bile. Very good choleretic products are vegetable fats. In the daily diet should include 80-90 grams of fat, with 40% of them must be plant, for example:
- olive oil;
- peanut butter;
- avocado oil;
- corn oil;
- sunflower oil.
These oils are best used in raw form, filling them with salads.
What other foods are choleretic?
The list of cholagogue products can begin with fruits, vegetables (especially leafy), citrus fruits and other products containing vitamin C. All of them, in addition, prevent the formation of stones in the gallbladder. The ideal amount is six or seven servings per day:
- dill;
- celery;
- rhubarb;
- spinach;
- carrot;
- tomatoes;
- cabbage;
- bran (oatmeal, corn);
- cereals from whole grains.
Which foods are considered the best choleretic?
It is believed that the strongest choleretic products are:
- cranberries;
- fresh cabbage juice;
- black radish juice;
- grape juice;
- beet juice.
In addition to choleretic products, there are cholagogue grasses. Drink them should be 3-4 times a day for 20-30 minutes before meals, for two or three weeks. The amount of reception at a time is indicated on the package. We list some of them:
- dog-rose fruit;
- a sheet of peppermint;
- root of barberry;
- flowers immortelle sandy.
However, the use of cholagogue grass is permissible only if there are no stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts - otherwise it can trigger an attack of hepatic colic.
It must be borne in mind that there are so-called "dumb stones" that do not manifest themselves in any way. Therefore in this case it is impossible to be guided simply by the absence of pain - a medical examination is necessary.
In addition to products and herbs that have choleretic action, the body needs a sufficient amount of fluid for normal bile secretion - otherwise, bile may thicken, which will also lead to its stagnation. The recommended amount is 1.5 liters per day. Preferably, it is a decoction of wild rose or unsweetened juices (always in a warm form!).
However, the outflow of bile can improve not only choleretic products, but also the rhythm of human nutrition. To help the gallbladder function normally, one should eat frequently and in small portions.
With what choleretic products should you be careful?
Smoked meat, as well as fatty and fried foods contribute to reducing the gallbladder most. For this reason, with the disease of the bile ducts after the intake of such food, pain occurs - usually in the right hypochondrium and epigastric region. In addition to pain, a person can feel bitterness in the mouth, bloating, excessive secretion of gases, nausea. All these symptoms are also associated with the consumption of fatty or smoked food. For this reason, only absolutely healthy people can use it.
Cholagogue products for obesity
In people with obesity, the processes of formation and secretion of bile are violated. The reason for this is a violation in the exchange of cholesterol, which for obesity are the most typical.
In addition, in full people, the gallbladder is compressed by a fat pad, and this also interferes with its contractile and motor functions. As a result of all this, stagnation of bile is formed - and, as a consequence, the formation of stones. Statistics show that obese people are affected by cholelithiasis 2-3 times more often than lean ones. However, choleretic products will bring in such cases not very significant benefit, if a person does not previously reduce the weight of his body.