Gall Bladder Issues? Consider Bile!

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 Bile: The Underweighted Element

One issue that we commonly see with the clients in our office is the inability to or difficulty in digesting fat. To us that suggest the possibility for a number of things, however one place we may start is in considering the quality and quantity of bile.

What is bile?

Bile is the end product in the metabolism of cholesterol. It is a liquid made up of water, acids, cholesterol, lecithin, potassium, sodium, and chloride. Bile is made in the liver, stored in the gallbladder and transferred to the intestines (via the pancreas) for digestion. The function of bile is to emulsify and digest fat. The conjugation of bile requires two crucial amino acids: taurine and glycine.

How is this relevant for me?

Sufficient bile not only allows for fats to be properly digested, but it also sets the stage for the proper breakdown of hormones, and assists in the excretion of toxins and toxicants. Because bile acts in so many of the bodies performances the symptoms stretch far and wide: fat soluble vitamin deficiency, impaired detox abilities, hormone imbalance, etc…. Some symptoms include:

  • Inability to lose weight
  • Weight gain or loss
  • Bloating, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, imbalance of gut bacteria
  • Inability to digest fats
  • Jaundice, itching, dark brown urine
  • Light colored stools
  • Headaches
  • Sleep problems
  • Sciatic pain
  • Tinnitus

What to do when problems arise?

The symptoms listed above could indicate issues with bile quantity, quality, production or flow.  Many times, lack of bile may be due to low stomach acid. low cholesterol levels, liver congestion or a poor diet.  At D-Signed nutrition we target the root cause of the symptoms with the appropriate changes in diet, lifestyle and supplements.

If bile salt insufficiency is suspected try including some foods for toning such as: beetroot, dandelion, artichokes, arugula, radicchio and lemons. Think- the bitter the better!  We also want to make sure you have enough stomach acid to digest foods and enough enzymes to break down fats.  We can also consider supplementing with OxBile supplements and substrates to help produce more bile.

Consider: are you eating enough choline and taurine in your diet? These are two critical amino acids necessary for bile production. Choline is especially bioavailable in eggs and liver. Taurine is often found in most meat and dairy products, as well as seaweed and krill. Sometimes supplementation is helpful to ensure quality and sufficiency in dosing.  We have ways of testing if you are low in either one of these nutrients.

Naturally these are just a few of the suggestions we have. Call today to find out how we can help you find your ultimate health.

 

References

Ann Louise Giddleman. The Brilliant Bile Cure. 2016. Retrieved from: http://annlouise.com/2016/03/08/the-brilliant-bile-cure/

Hoffman, Alan. The Continuing Importance of Bile Acids in Liver and Intestinal Disease. Arch Intern Med.1999;159(22):2647-2658. doi:10.1001/archinte.159.22.2647

Sagar, Nidhi M., et al. “The interplay of the gut microbiome, bile acids, and volatile organic compounds.” Gastroenterology research and practice 2015 (2015).