Gallbladder Cleanse Recipe Apple Cider Vinegar

How to Do a Gallbladder Cleanse

While not supported by any scientific evidence, a gallbladder cleanse may be helpful for removing gallstones from your body or preventing them from forming, according to the Mayo Clinic. Here's a look at how to do a gallbladder cleanse — remember to check with your doctor before attempting a cleanse.

Olive Oil Cleanse

A two-day fast, or longer, during which you consume olive oil, herbs and fruit juice is a regimen people sometimes use for cleansing their gallbladders, states the Mayo Clinic. Another similar cleanse involves fasting for 12 hours, and in the evening, drinking olive oil and lemon juice every 15 minutes over a period of two hours. Rather than fasting for 12 hours, you can drink apple and vegetable juice during the day and then drink a total amount of eight ounces of olive oil, along with lemon juice starting in the evening, according to Healthline.

Risks of a Cleanse

The purpose of this type of alternative gallbladder cleanse, which is also sometimes referred to as a liver flush, is to promote the release of gallstones. These can potentially exit your body through your stool. Olive oil functions as a laxative, which some people who are interested in this alternative therapy believe can break up the stones so that they can release. However, nausea, diarrhea and pain in the abdomen are common side effects that some people who undertake a gallbladder cleanse may experience, reports the Mayo Clinic.

Dietary Choices

To keep your gallbladder healthy, include foods in your diet to help reduce the risk of gallstones and inflammation. Eat plenty of plant-based proteins, such as lentils, tofu, nuts and low-fat dairy products, advises Healthline. Choose healthy recipes for a diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, and eat these nutrient-dense foods regularly to help cleanse and strengthen your gallbladder. Processed foods, white bread and pasta, along with high-fat foods, are things to avoid on a healthy gallbladder diet, according to Healthline.

Enemas

In conjunction with an olive oil and lemon juice cleanse, an enema that contains warm water can stimulate bowel movements. This alternative gallbladder cleansing method, however, may simply be a folk remedy, states Healthline.

Other Treatments

Check with your doctor before undergoing a gallbladder cleanse. Bile salt tablets or sound wave therapy have also been shown to treat gallstones, states the Mayo Clinic. The medication ursodeoxycholic acid can help to dissolve gallstones, but it can take six months to a year for stones to completely dissolve and they're likely to return, according to Healthline.