Over 20 million people have gallbladder issues, and while it might seem as if this would be completely unrelated to thyroid health, there is a link between an unhealthy gallbladder and thyroid conditions. Although having a gallbladder condition won’t necessarily lead to a thyroid condition, or vice versa, having a gallbladder problem can exacerbate one’s thyroid symptoms. In addition, for someone who is looking to restore their health back to normal through a natural thyroid treatment protocol, having gallbladder problems can affect one’s recovery.
The primary reason for this is because having a properly functioning gallbladder is essential for proper digestion, which is important in the recovery process. But what about those people who have had their gallbladder removed? I’ll cover this shortly, as when someone has had their gallbladder removed then there are things they will need to do to help them better digest the fats and oils they eat.
Speaking of digestion, in the past I wrote a post on how fixing digestive issues is important for anyone looking to receive optimal results when following a natural thyroid treatment protocol. The gallbladder is of course important to digestion, as it plays a huge role with regards to the flow of bile, and bile emulsifies the fats and oils which you have eaten, making it easier to be digested.
Problems with the gallbladder can lead to thick and sluggish bile due to the inability to emulsify these fats. These undigested fats and oils will interfere with the absorption of other nutrients. So when someone is following a natural thyroid treatment protocol, if they also have a gallbladder issue that is preventing the fats they eat from being absorbed properly, this in turn can affect the recovery process. The reason for this is because part of a natural thyroid treatment protocol involves eating well and taking quality nutritional supplements and herbs. While eating well and taking supplements alone won’t restore someone’s health back to normal, these factors are important to the recovery process. And a malfunctioning gallbladder will make it more difficult to digest the foods and supplements you take when following such a protocol.
How To Determine If You Have A Gallbladder Problem
Some people already know they have a gallbladder issue. Some of the common symptoms of gallbladder problems include bloating, gas, and stomach pain, with these symptoms being more common after eating. Many of these people have already seen a medical doctor for this, and some have been told they may eventually need gallbladder surgery. This is especially true if they have recurring episodes of gallstones.
On the other hand, many people aren’t aware that they have a gallbladder problem. While some people have obvious symptoms, many dismiss these symptoms as being “normal”. Most people’s digestive systems are so screwed up that we mistakenly assume having constant gas, nausea, and/or indigestion is the norm. Sometimes they’ll even dismiss any pain they’re having, whether it be stomach pain, or pain between the shoulder blades, which are both possible symptoms for gallbladder issues. For anyone who has a thyroid condition looking to give natural treatment methods a try, it is imperative to first determine if they have an existing gallbladder problem. Usually this can be done by closely looking at their case history, which should help to reveal the symptoms they are experiencing which may be related to their gallbladder issues.
How To Correct A Gallbladder Problem
As for how to address a gallbladder problem, most medical doctors won’t do anything to actually fix the cause of the problem. This is a big reason why many of these people will eventually receive surgery to remove gallstones, or the gallbladder itself. Besides these surgeries being profitable for these doctors, most doctors will continue to recommend surgery to their patients simply because they don’t know what else to do. Some medical doctors will give their patients advice on how to prevent an existing gallbladder condition from becoming worse. But unfortunately, most won’t do anything to help cure such a condition, as surgery is their solution to most severe gallbladder issues.
It’s important to know what can potentially cause a gallbladder condition to develop. By having this information, you can do what is necessary to prevent such a problem from occurring if you don’t currently have a gallbladder issue, or correct it if you do have a such a disorder. Eating poorly over a prolonged period of time can definitely lead to gallbladder problems. So changing your diet is definitely an important factor.
Another common cause of gallbladder issues is estrogen dominance. As I mentioned in a previous post, this is a hormonal imbalance involving estrogen and progesterone. Usually it is caused by a deficiency in progesterone. Because of this, supplementing with natural progesterone can actually help to correct many gallbladder problems, as by correcting the estrogen dominance you are fixing the underlying cause. However, most of the time natural progesterone isn’t necessary to correct estrogen dominance, as usually a purification program will correct this. In any case, one needs to obtain a male or female hormone panel to determine if estrogen dominance is the cause of their gallbladder issue, as well as their thyroid condition.
So the good news is that many of the same lifestyle changes which are required when following a natural thyroid treatment protocol will also help to restore the function of your gallbladder. Although following such a protocol can be a challenge, it is definitely a better option than surgery.
Can A Gallbladder Cleanse Help?
A gallbladder cleanse can definitely help some people who already have gallstones. However, with my patients I will usually first put them on a purification program, as this frequently will correct the problem, and will help them overall with their health. If this isn’t effective, then I will recommend a gallbladder cleanse. So a gallbladder cleanse is usually reserved for more severe conditions.
What If You Have Had Your Gallbladder Removed?
Some people are under the impression that having their gallbladder removed will correct the digestive problems they were having before receiving the surgery. This is not the case, as while this might help correct a problem someone has with recurring gallstones, removing one’s gallbladder won’t do anything for the underlying cause of the problem. I’ve mentioned numerous times in different articles that with most thyroid conditions, the malfunctioning thyroid gland usually isn’t the cause of the problem, and therefore, directly treating the thyroid gland won’t restore someone’s health back to normal. Well, the same concept applies with a gallbladder problem, as removing the gallbladder isn’t going to fix the cause of the problem, and therefore is not the solution to achieving optimal health.
With that being said, someone who has already had their gallbladder removed will still need to have the original cause addressed, and then will need some ongoing support. So for example, if estrogen dominance was the problem that led to the gallbladder being surgically removed, this hormonal imbalance needs to be addressed, which in turn is likely causing or contributing to the thyroid problem as well. In this example, once the hormonal imbalance is corrected, the person will need ongoing support to help aid in the breakdown of fats and oils, which will be compromised without a gallbladder.
In summary, having an untreated gallbladder problem can prevent someone who is following a natural thyroid treatment protocol from restoring their health back to normal. Since many people are unaware that they have a gallbladder problem, the first thing one needs to do is to get this problem diagnosed. The next step would be to find the cause of the problem, and the final steps would involve correcting the gallbladder issue, which many times will also help with the thyroid condition.
Source: http://www.naturalendocrinesolutions.com/articles/how-gallbladder-problems-can-affect-thyroid-health/
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