How to manage diet for calculous cholecystitis

Patients with calculous cholecystitis should follow dietary principles such as low-fat intake, regular meals, choosing easily digestible foods, controlling cholesterol consumption, and ensuring adequate hydration. If abdominal pain or nausea persists frequently after dietary adjustments, or if symptoms such as fever or jaundice occur, prompt medical consultation at a hepatobiliary surgery department is recommended.

1. Low-fat diet: Strictly control fat intake by avoiding fatty meats, fried foods, and animal offal. Use cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, and stewing, minimize frying or pan-searing, and reduce high-fat condiments like butter and cream to decrease the digestive burden on the gallbladder.

2. Regular meals: Maintain three regular daily meals with consistent timing and portion sizes. Avoid overeating or prolonged fasting. Eating moderate amounts at each meal promotes regular gallbladder contraction and emptying, helping prevent bile stasis that can lead to new stone formation or irritation of existing stones.

3. Choose easily digestible foods: Prioritize soft, easily digested foods such as porridge, noodles, steamed eggs, and well-cooked vegetables. Avoid coarse, hard, spicy, or irritating foods to reduce stimulation of the gallbladder and gastrointestinal tract and lower the risk of discomfort.

4. Control cholesterol intake: Limit high-cholesterol foods such as animal brains, egg yolks (egg whites may be consumed in moderation), and crab roe. Daily cholesterol intake should be kept under 300 milligrams to prevent further deposition of cholesterol in the gallbladder, which could worsen stone conditions.

5. Ensure adequate fluid intake: Drink 1500–2000 mL of warm water daily. Sufficient hydration helps dilute bile, promotes bile excretion, reduces bile viscosity, lowers the risk of stone formation or growth, and supports overall metabolism.

For daily care, ensure food ingredients are fresh and hygienic; avoid spoiled or contaminated foods. Control salt and sugar use during cooking. Light walking after meals may aid digestion. Monitor body weight regularly to prevent obesity, and gradually adjust the diet according to individual tolerance.