If you have had your gall bladder removed (cholecystectomy) you can continue to eat a normal healthy diet. This is because you don't need a gall bladder to digest food. Your liver will continue to produce enough bile for digestion.

Complications are rare after having your gall bladder removed, and usually there are no long-term effects. However, you may notice that your have more frequent bowel movements, and that your stools are less solid. This can be treated with anti-diarrheal medication.

Very rarely you may experience chronic diarrhea. If this problem persists speak with your doctor. To help ease your diarrhea reduce the amount of dairy products, fats, and spicy foods you eat. Also try to eat more fiber as this may help relieve your symptoms.

Once your gall bladder has been removed you may also begin to have occasional indigestion or bloating. This can be more noticable after eating fatty foods, such as fast foods or processed foods (such as ready meals).

Dietary changes

As already mentioned, after having your gall bladder removed you can continue to eat a normal healthy diet. However it's important not to overeat.

There are particular foods that are good to help with your digestion, such as:

• Vegetables like beetroots, cucumbers and green beans.
• Avocados, which are a particularly good way to get 'good fats' into your diet.
• Garlic and onions, as they help with liver cleansing.
• Lemons - lemon juice in the morning with hot water helps to clean your liver.
• Fruits like grapes, apples, and pears.
• Oily fish such as mackerel, which are a great source of omega 3 oils.

Foods to reduce, or avoid, are:

• diary products, such as eggs and milk,
• fried foods,
• red meats, and
• coffee.

Know your fats

Another aspect of your diet that is particularly important to consider, if you've had your gall bladder removed, is to understand the difference between 'good fats' and 'harmful fats'.

We all need fats in our diet. Many of our hormones are made with fat. Fats also help our bodies absorb vitamins and nutrients.

Good fats , such as monounsaturated fats, are lower in LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and increase the amount of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) in your blood. Food such as nuts and olive oils are high in monounsaturated fats.

Harmful fats , such as saturated fats raise your blood cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol. Saturated fats are commonly found in red meats, cookies, and dairy products.

Trans fats are another harmful fat. They are a man-made fat, as they are developed by a process called hydrogenation. This means a liquid oil is turned into a solid fat. Trans fats are often found in processed foods (such as ready meals).

It's important to eat a healthy balanced diet will help your liver to digest fats properly.

Alcohol

You can continue to drink alcohol once your gall bladder has been removed. However, if you begin to experience diarrhea over a prolonged period of time, alcohol may be the cause.

Always drink alcohol in moderation. Adult men should drink no more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day, and that adult women no more than 2-3 units of alcohol a day. If you begin to have unusual symptoms, such as regularly feeling bloated, talk to your doctor for advice.