Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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A brief history of me. My gall bladder was removed when I was 4 years old(I'm 32 now) in an emergency surgery because it ruptured without warning.

I've always been a very active person, but I've also always struggled with maintaining a healthy weight. I recently found cross fit and they encouraged me to give Paleo a try as a means to help me reach my weight and fitness goals.

However I am not sure how my success will be without a gall bladder. Specifically 1. I am concerned that eating the Paleo way with the increased amount of fat consumption will negatively affect me? 2. That I will not have the same positive experiences with the diet with regard to weight loss, leaning out, overall fitness improvement that other people do who have their gall bladder?

Any thoughts? Thanks for your input!

flag	asked Mar 1 2012 at 22:13 Boves 23●4

Thanks everyone for posting your comments and opinions, each was a helpful insight into gall bladder-less Paleo successes. – Boves Mar 5 2012 at 15:32

VB · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-01 22:22:49Z UTC

My gall bladder was removed as well, and I am doing fine on Paleo. By the way, most people I know who are gluten intolerant had their gall bladder removed.

Paleo will be perfect for you. I would recommend to stay away from dairy products (go with classic Paleo, not Primal) and go for lean cuts/poultry. No butter. Once you get used to eating like this (your body will need a short adjustment period) you will never want to go back to eating grains ever again.

Don't worry, you are going to do well!

Jay · Answer 2 · 2012-03-01 22:19:11Z UTC

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Coconut fat will be your friend as it is digestible without bile

answered Mar 1 2012 at 22:19

Jay
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I knew there was something I forgot about coconut oil. – kashperanto Mar 1 2012 at 23:28

Nance · Answer 3 · 2012-03-01 22:49:56Z UTC

I am gluten sensitive and as VB mentioned I am without my gallbladder.

I can't give just a yes/no answer because I have thrived for 10 months on this lifestyle BUT I find that if I eat a large, let's say 10 oz, portion of fatty beef plus buttered/marrowed veggies, etc., that I need to take a stomach acid supplement. Once in a while I happen to eat one of those extremely greasy meals where you practically need a bib to save your clothes, and then I take both stomach acid and bile salts.

99% of the time I eat more sensibly than that and I have no problems digesting/absorbing my food.

I did the "beeturia" test a few times. If I eat a large plate of beets and take nothing, I pee red then pink for at least 2 days. If I supplement stomach acid, there is no color change.

Tyler · Answer 4 · 2012-03-01 23:09:56Z UTC

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Robb Wolf has discussed this in his podcast a few times.

Episode 73 at [21:01], "Gall Bladder Removal & Fat": http://www.robbwolf.com/2011/03/29/the-paleo-solution-episode-73/

answered Mar 1 2012 at 23:09

Tyler
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damon · Answer 5 · 2012-03-11 17:51:47Z UTC

Had my gull bladder out when i was 27 - 33 now. Last year i started having increasing troubles digesting certain things - high fats, bacon and peanuts for example.

I went paleo for weight loss reasons two months ago. I can eat things now without any issues that would have messed me up for days before. I had to completely eliminate bacon last year - now i can eat a pound without issue (not that i do.) As another poster mentioned - yeah i was probably gluten intolerant - once that inflammation was taken care of - i had a lot more compliance with fats.

This may have no correlation with no gull bladder - because my normal girlfriend suffers as well - but when we combine almond meal, coconut oil and butter - for instance a paleo pancake breakfast - that seeems to be a little much fats for us and we get a little messed up. But i guess your body becomes more and more compliant.

My weight loss has been slow and steady - without 100% compliance - i do wonder if having no gull bladder effects weight loss wether in general or paleo. But regardless my improvement in digestive health has me as believer.

No Gall Bladder, Will I be Successful with the Paleo/Primal Diet?

5 Answers