Low Fat Diet

A low Fat Diet is recommended in the treatment of gallbladder disease in which dietary fat may cause painful gallbladder contraction during the secretion of bile. It is also recommended in the treatment of pancreatic or biliary tract disease in which fat malabsorption and steatorrhea may occur, secondary to reduced lipase secretion.

General Instructions:

The recommended dietary intake of fat for the treatment of gallbladder and biliary tract disease has never been scientifically determined. However, it appears that most patients tolerate 40-50 grams of fat/day. Total fat intake may be specified in the diet prescription. Unless otherwise specified, fat intake is limited to 40-50 grams/day, as tolerated by the patient.

For patients who have severe fat malabsorption or who cannot obtain adequate kilocalories on 50 grams of fat/day, supplementation with medium chain triglycerides (MCT) is highly recommended. MCT oil does not require bile for emulsification or lipase for enzymatic digestion.

Intolerance of certain strongly flavored vegetables, legumes, melons and berries occurs in many patients with gallbladder disease; the reason for this is not known. Typically, most persons with gallbladder disease are overweight and should be given a kilocalorie restricted diet. Although the chief component of gallstones is cholesterol, dietary restriction of cholesterol is probably not very effective in the prevention of gallstone formation.

Fat digestion appears to be unimpaired following a cholecystectomy. Patients who have undergone cholecystectomies should be able to follow a diet of normal composition soon after surgery without any digestive difficulties.

The Low Fat Diet is planned to meet the Recommended Daily Dietary Allowance for all nutrients.

Foods Included	Foods Omitted
Beverages Carbonated Beverages, if tolerated Cocoa made with skim milk Coffee: regular/decaffeinated Fruit base drinks: Kool-aid, Lemonade, Tang	Beverages All others made with chocolate, cream or whole milk
Breads and Cereals Bread: white, whole wheat, pumpernickel French or Italian Cereals: any Crackers: Graham, Melba toast, saltines Macaroni Matzoth Noodles Rice Rolls	Breads and Cereals Baked goods: containing whole milk, egg yolks, nuts, containing more than 2 g fat/serving Corn Chips Crackers: all others Doughnuts Fried Breads or dough Muffins Pancakes Pastries Potato Chips Quick Breads Sweet Rolls Waffles
Desserts Cake: angel food Fruit ices and whips Gelatin Cookies: meringue Popsicles Puddings: made with skim milk Sherbet	Desserts Cakes: all others Cookies: all others Desserts: made with chocolate, cream, whole milk or egg yolks Ice cream Pies
Eggs - One(1) egg/day Hard cooked, soft cooked Poached or scrambled	Eggs Fried Eggs
Fats-Limit to 3/day Avocado : 1/8 Butter: 1 teaspoon Cream: 2 tablespoons or 1 ounce Cream Cheese: 1 tablespoon Half and Half: 2 tablespoons or 1 ounce Margarine: 1 teaspoon Mayonnaise: 1 teaspoon Non-dairy creamer: 4 tablespoons or 2 ounces Nuts: 4-5 Olives: 5 small Peanut butter: 1 tablespoon Salad dressing: 1 tablespoon Shortening: 1 teaspoon Sour cream: 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil: 1 teaspoon	Fats All in amounts greater than allowed Visible fat in meat
Fruits All as tolerated: except limited amounts of avocado	Fruits Avocado: see fat allowance
Meats, Poultry, Fish and Cheese Limit to total of six (6) ounces/day Baked, broiled, roasted Fat trimmed, lean:     Beef     Ham     Lamb     Liver     Pork     Poultry: without skin     Veal Fish and shellfish: fresh, frozen or canned in water Skim or low fat cheeses:     Cottage cheese     Ricotta     Farmer's     Mozzarella     Sapsago	Meats, Poultry, Fish and Cheese Bacon Beef short ribs Cheese: made with whole milk Fish: canned in oil Frankfurters Fried or fatty meats Liver: chicken Luncheon meat Salt pork Sardines Sausages
Milk Buttermilk: made with skim milk Milk, plain, chocolate: skim Eggnog: skim Yogurt: made with skim milk	Milk Chocolate milk made with whole milk, Eggnog made with whole milk, Milkshakes made with whole mile Whole milk
Soups Bouillon Clear Broth Clear consommé Cream soups made with skim milk Fat free vegetable soup	Soups Cream soups: prepared with whole milk or added fat
Vegetables Any prepared without whole milk or added fat	Vegetables Creamed or Fried vegetables
Miscellaneous Candy: gumdrops or hard Catsup Herbs Honey Jelly Lemon Marshmallows Mustards Pickles Relish Salt Spices Vinegar	Miscellaneous Coconut Gravies Meat sauces