Gallbladder Cleanse: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide
Located just below the liver, the gallbladder plays an important role in the digestive system. Its main role is to store and recycle bile, which breaks down the fats in the food we eat. However, the gallbladder also communicates with other organs to perform key digestive functions such as waste elimination and enzyme production.
One of the best ways to promote optimal wellness is by making a gallbladder and liver flush part of your healthy lifestyle. Many adults over 40 have issues with cholesterol or follow a poor diet and, subsequently, suffer from gallbladder concerns. However, anyone can benefit from this simple detox for your liver and gallbladder, especially if you follow a diet that includes meat, dairy, and processed food.[1]
Short Breakdown of the Gallbladder Cleanse
- Preparation: Stock up on raw organic apple cider vinegar (ACV), Epsom salt, extra virgin olive oil, distilled water, and healthy, plant-based foods.
- Days 1 to 4: Add two tablespoons of ACV per one gallon of distilled water, for a total of three gallons. Drink this mix throughout the day. Follow a healthy diet with three small meals throughout the day, such as avocado, nuts, or fruit.
- Day 5, during the day: Eat the gallbladder cleanse soup or juice as described in the recipes below.
- Day 5, at night: Perform a flush by drinking one tablespoon of Epsom salt mixed with water. An hour and a half later, drink 3/4 cup of organic extra virgin olive oil.
- Day 6: Throughout the day, drink plenty of purified water with fresh lemon juice. Have fruit for breakfast, the rest of your gallbladder cleanse soup for lunch and a salad with a light protein for dinner.
What Does the Gallbladder Do?
The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ located on the right side of the body, underneath the liver. The gallbladder stores bile, a yellow-green fluid made by the liver that helps break down fats from food.
When you eat, the gallbladder releases bile through ducts into the upper part of the small intestine. This organ is an important partner with the liver in removing toxins from the body.
Causes & Symptoms of Gallstones
Most gallstones are formed from hardened cholesterol mixed with bile. If they get large enough, they can block the ducts and prevent bile from flowing out. This can irritate the gallbladder and affect its normal function.[2]
Some symptoms of gallstones include a yellowing of the skin (jaundice), fever with chills, indigestion, or gallbladder discomfort, which can be felt on the upper-right side of the abdomen and the right shoulder. Sometimes gallstones become so severe that they need to be surgically removed. Risk factors for gallstones can include:[3]
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Not enough high-density lipoproteins (HDL, or "good" cholesterol)
- Rapid weight loss
- Poor diet
- Crohn's disease
- Blood disorders
- Family history
Gallbladder Cleanse Protocol
A gallbladder cleanse is a safe, natural way to cleanse the gallbladder and improve both gallbladder and liver function. It's easy to perform at home, but you can easily perform this while working as long as you have time at home on your flush day.
The protocol for the five-day cleanse has two phases: eat a gallbladder cleanse diet over four days, followed by a flush on the fifth day.
The cleansing effect of the magnesium sulfate from the Epsom salt and the olive oil will help flush out your gallbladder. It will also stimulate your liver's detoxification abilities.
Ingredients
The key ingredients for your gallbladder cleanse are raw, organic apple cider vinegar, Epsom salt, extra virgin olive oil, distilled water, and healthy, plant-based foods.
Recommended Diet
Follow an organic, plant-based diet in the days leading up to the cleanse, and of course, during it. Allowed foods include vegetables, fruits, herbal teas, fresh fruit juice, nuts, and seeds. Make sure you are drinking purified water throughout the cleanse.
For an effective gallbladder cleanse, eliminate all dairy and meat products, as well as fatty, processed, and genetically modified (GMO) foods. Do not consume alcohol or tobacco, and avoid fried or spicy foods.
For an extra boost, you can enhance your ACV water with an herbal liver-support formula such as Liver Health.
Instructions
For at least one week before you begin, avoid any beauty and home products that might contain harmful chemicals.
Days 1 to 4
In the morning, mix two tablespoons of raw organic ACV with one gallon of distilled water, shake, and refrigerate. Eat three small meals and two snacks per day and drink the distilled water mix. Eat your food slowly and chew it thoroughly to encourage efficient digestion.
You can also add liver-detoxifying herbs like turmeric, milk thistle, and dandelion, or spices such as cinnamon to your diet.
Breakfast
Drink an eight-ounce glass of the ACV and water mix first thing in the morning. You can enjoy this with a small bowl of fresh fruit. Choose fruit with high water and fiber content such as:
- Watermelon
- Grapefruit
- Plums
- Papaya
- Kiwi
- Cherries
- Pears
- Apples
- Figs
Snacks
Select one type of nut or seed and enjoy a handful as a snack. Have it with 12 ounces of your ACV and water mix. The following are some of the best options:
- Sunflower seeds
- Brazil nuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Almonds
- Walnuts
Lunch
Around noon, eat the gallbladder cleanse soup or drink the cleanse juice. See the recipes below:
Gallbladder Cleanse Soup
- 1 cup organic broccoli
- 1 organic beet
- 2 organic carrots
- 2 bay leaves
- 10 organic garlic cloves
- 1/2 organic onion
- 1/4 organic lemon
- 1 tablespoon Himalayan crystal salt
Wash and finely chop the ingredients. Add them to a pot with 32 ounces of distilled or purified water, then bring to a boil. Reduce to low heat and let simmer for 30 minutes and enjoy.
Gallbladder Cleanse Juice
- 3 organic carrots (washed and peeled)
- 2 organic apples (washed and cut)
- 1 organic beet (washed and peeled)
- 6 organic kale leaves
- 1/2 organic lemon (washed and peeled)
- 1/2-inch ginger root
Use an extractor to get all the juice and enjoy.
Dinner
Select either an avocado seasoned with lemon and sea salt or a handful of walnuts for dinner. Alternatively, you may fast through the afternoon with just the ACV and water mix.
Day 5: The Flush
On day five, you will perform a gallbladder flush. This involves two steps done in the evening before you go to bed.
First, you will consume a mixture of one tablespoon of Epsom salt and eight ounces of warm, purified water around 7 p.m. Drink it quickly and ensure you are near a bathroom as you may experience liquid stool within 20 minutes.
You will follow this with six ounces of organic cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. You need to try to drink it all. If the taste is too much, try the following tips to make it more palatable:
- Refrigerate the oil for a few hours.
- Combine the oil with two tablespoons to one-half cup of freshly squeezed grapefruit, orange, or lemon juice in a jar and shake until mixed.
- Pour the juice into one cup and the oil in another. Alternate between drinking from the two with a straw.
Getting Ready for Bed
Immediately after you finish drinking the oil, lie down on your right side with your knees pulled up to your stomach. Stay in this position for 30 minutes, then stretch out and try to go to sleep. Any cramping you experience is a positive sign that your body is releasing toxins; walk around for 10 minutes to help it subside. Another common side effect of a gallbladder cleanse is nausea; this is a sign that you may need another cleanse. Allow yourself to vomit if needed.
The Day After
Immediately after waking up, take six capsules of Oxy-Powder®. This will help flush what's been released from your gallbladder in your bowel movement.
Eat fruit for breakfast, the remaining gallbladder cleanse soup for lunch and a healthy dinner of salad and a light protein. Drink distilled or purified water with fresh lemon throughout the day.
Benefits of a Gallbladder Cleanse
Purging your gallbladder helps it perform its normal functions. And, as an important partner to the liver, those functions — which include supporting the overall digestive process, bile production, and maintaining a healthy metabolism — are vital to your health and well-being. Below are the top benefits of performing a gallbladder cleanse.
Flushes Toxins
Releasing toxins helps remedy the unwanted symptoms they can cause, including affecting the flow of bile, discomfort, and gallbladder irritation.
Promotes Normal Gallbladder Function
A healthy gallbladder supports the immune system by helping the liver eliminate the toxins that affect your energy, appearance, and daily performance. By doing this cleanse, you support gallbladder function, as well as that of your liver.
Boosts Fat Digestion
Cleansing the gallbladder — a warehouse for bile — helps the body digest and absorb both fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the small intestine.
Promotes a Healthy Body Weight
A gallbladder cleanse may help promote a healthy body weight by encouraging normal function of the digestive system.
Flushing the gallbladder also makes it easier for the liver to perform as a maintainer of metabolism and producer of bile.
Encourages Overall Vitality
Clearing the pathway between the gallbladder and the liver allows the rest of the body to receive the nutrients that promote overall energy, health, and wellness.
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The Best Ways to Avoid Gallstones
One of the best ways to avoid gallstones is by following a diet that provides a satisfactory amount of healthy fats and high-fiber foods. Following a plant-based diet is associated with a decreased risk of developing gallstones, according to research.[1]
Avoid refined carbohydrates and consume less sugar. Seek ways to safely lose weight if you are overweight or obese, and maintain an optimal weight by eating healthy food and engaging in regular physical activity. Obesity is a known risk factor for developing gallstones.[4]
You can also try natural remedies for gallstones. These include nutritional plant-based supplements such as vitamin C, which some research has shown can reduce your risk of developing deposits.[1]
Precautions & Potential Side Effects
If you have any health concerns or take any medications, consult your healthcare professional before performing the gallbladder cleanse. Side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
Some people experience a "healing crisis" during their cleanse, which, because of the flow of toxins out of their body, can actually make them temporarily feel worse. Symptoms can include nausea, headaches, fatigue, and general malaise. Keep in mind that your body is detoxifying and you will soon feel better.
Points to Remember
The gallbladder is primarily a storage site for bile, which is a key ingredient in the digestive process that helps break down the fats in food. The gallbladder also plays an important role in communicating with other digestive organs.
Adults over 40, especially those who are overweight or have concerns with cholesterol, are particularly prone to developing gallstones and may benefit from doing a gallbladder cleanse. These unwanted deposits can block the bile from being released and lead to symptoms such as abdominal discomfort and irritation. However, a gallbladder cleanse is good for nearly everyone, regardless of the diet they follow since we are all exposed to many toxins in the environment.
We recommend incorporating our Liver Cleanse Program™ which you can also perform as part of a healthy lifestyle. This kit is a natural way to simultaneously support your gallbladder and liver.
The gallbladder cleanse involves four days of eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds while avoiding processed foods and meat, followed by a gallbladder flush. The flush involves consuming Epsom salt and water followed by organic olive oil to remove toxins from the body. Many people report feeling better than ever after completing a cleanse.
References (4)
- Gaby AR. Nutritional approaches to prevention and treatment of gallstones. Altern Med Rev. 2009 Sep;14(3):258-267.
- Gallstones. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Updated Nov 2017. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.
- Symptoms & Causes of Gallstones. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Updated Nov 2017. Accessed 22 Jan 2019.
- Njeze GE. Gallstones. Niger J Surg. 2013 Jul-Dec; 19(2): 49–55.
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.
Dr. Edward Group, DC
FOUNDER | HEALER | ADVOCATEDr. Group, DC is a healer and alternative health advocate, and an industry leader and innovator in the field of natural health who is dedicated to helping others. He is a registered doctor of chiropractic (DC), a naturopathic practitioner (NP), and proud alum of Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. Dr. Group, DC is the founder of Global Healing – a mission and vision he has shared through best-selling books and frequent media appearances. He aims to spread his message of positivity, hope, and wellness throughout the world.
