Gallbladder Pain & Oranges

If you suspect that oranges are triggering gallbladder pain, you may be accurate in your assessment. As with any medical condition, you need to make an appointment with your doctor or gastroenterologist to determine if oranges are triggering gallbladder pain. Ronald Hoffman, MD, a national author, lecturer and health spokesperson, states that oranges are a common food trigger for a gallbladder attack. Your doctor will determine the most effective treatment for your condition.

Gallbladder Pain

Gallbladder pain is the result of gall sludge, gallstones or inflammation in the gallbladder. Your gallbladder is a sac that stores extra bile in the eventyou eat high-fat foods that require a lot of bile. Bile is a yellow substance that’s used during digestion to break down fats so they can be absorbed into your blood stream. Gallbladder sludge is microscopic gallstones that typically go unnoticed. Gallstones are pebble-like clusters that can get stuck in the opening of the gallbladder, causing severe pain. Your doctor may use ultrasound technology to determine the cause of your pain.

Trigger Foods

Oranges may trigger gallbladder pain related to a food-allergy mechanism, according to Dr. Hoffman. Other common trigger foods include:

• nuts
  
• beans
  
• eggs
  
• pork
  
• poultry
  
• milk
  
• coffee
  
• onions
  
• corn

MedlinePlus states that eating foods that are high in fat will increase your chances of developing gallbladder pain if you have gallbladder disease 1. Avoid fried foods, such as

• ice cream
  
• custard
  
• butter

If you notice that oranges consistently trigger gallbladder pain, stop eating oranges or any foods that contain orange by-products, such as orange juice or orange oil.

Treatment

Gallbladder disease in a mild form may be treated with dietary changes 1. More severe gallbladder disease that involves gallstones may be treated with prescribed medications that can help dissolve gallstones over a few years. If your gallbladder becomes inflamed or infected, you may need to have it surgically removed.

Heartburn Confusion

It’s possible that you’re confusing heartburn with gallbladder pain. Heartburn is a common occurrence after eating highly acidic foods, such as oranges. The pain and discomfort from heartburn may occur in the general region where you would develop gallbladder pain -- in the center of your breast bone. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid enters your esophagus, causing irritation to the lining of your throat and upper chest, according to FamilyDoctor.org.