Gallstones Diet

Gallbladder is a small sac-like organ that has a very essential role to play in the smooth functioning of the body systems. The gallbladder stores bile that is a liquid substance, which helps in breaking down the fat. The bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It is carried to the small intestine through bile duct where it performs its function of food digestion. The bile constitutes bile salt, bilirubin, fats, protein, cholesterol and water. If the bilirubin, bile salt or cholesterol content is in more than required quantity in liquid bile, then it solidifies to form gallstone or cholelithiasis. Hence, the bile duct can be blocked due to development of gallstones and this obstruction causes severe pain in the abdomen. There are two types of gallstones- cholesterol stones that are formed due to hardening of cholesterol and pigment stones that are formed due to hardening of bilirubin. Studies have shown that cholesterol stones are formed when the cholesterol content or bilirubin in the bile is more than normal, there is a shortage of bile salt or when the gallbladder fails to empty. When the gallstones formed in the gallbladder obstruct the ducts that carry bile from the gallbladder, it causes inflammation and pain which are the most common gallstone symptoms. There are two options for curing the gallbladder disease symptoms. One is the surgery for gallstones removal and other is to follow a healthy gallstones diet to avoid complications. In this article, we will be discussing the diet for gallstones and understanding how gallstones and diet are inter-related. Here, we give you an overview of the gallstones prevention diet.

Gallstone and Diet
Clinical studies conducted on gallstones have proved that diet has a direct impact on the formation of gallstones. The risks of gallstones are increased due to over weight. This is because the production of bile salt is reduced which becomes insufficient to break down fat and cholesterol. The excess of cholesterol and fat lessens the chances of emptying gallbladder and thus leads to gallstone formation. Hence, a diet rich in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber adds to the risk of gallstones. So, gallstones and low fat diet are related to each other and to reduce the probability of gallstone attack, a low fat diet should be strictly followed. As per the gallstones low fat diet, the items containing less than five grams of fat in a serving size of hundred grams is advisable for consumption. The intake of pectin and cellulose rich food like crisp fruits and vegetables should be increased because it reduces the rate of gallstones formation. Research conducted on gallstones shows that cases of gallstones are 13% less in people following a vegetarian diet. The most important thing is to drink lots of water because it helps in flushing out toxins from the body that are formed due to normal metabolic process or decomposition of food in small intestine. On an average, five to six glass of water are a must for the smooth functioning of bile production and for flushing out the excess of cholesterol from the body. By following the gallstones diet religiously the pain and inflammation caused due to gallstones will be alleviated.

Gallstone and Pregnancy
During pregnancy the digestion process becomes slower due to secretion of other hormones and this results in emptying of gallbladder at a slower rate. Thus, the chances of gallstone formation during pregnancy increase. If gallstone symptoms are observed during pregnancy, the patient is advised to go on an ultra low fat and bland diet for gallstones. The gallstones pregnancy diet should be strictly followed to avoid gallbladder surgery and another attack of gallstone.

Diet Advice for Gallstones
Need help chalking out a diet for gallstones? Keep reading, for what follows is a gallstones diet sheet, that will help you plan your diet.

Foods to Consume	Foods to Avoid
Beets Cucumber Green beans Sweet potato Avocado Garlic and onion Ripened tomato lemons Organic juices Grapes juice Apple juice Berries juice Papaya juice Pears juice Vegetable juices Beet juice Cucumber juice Swiss chard juice Celery juice Carrot juice Dandelion green juice	Eggs Pork Onion Milk Coffee Oranges Corn Beans Nuts Trans fats Margarine Fried food Saturated fats Red meat Dairy products Spicy food Chocolate Colas and all sodas Artificial sweeteners All legumes Gluten containing grains

Apart from the above mentioned foods to avoid gallstone, the intake of some other foods should also be restricted:

• Avoid ice-cream, black tea, alcohol, turnips, cabbage and cauliflower.
• Refined carbohydrates in the form of processed foods, desserts and baked food items should also be avoided because bile is saturated more with cholesterol.
• Stop the intake of saturated fats and instead of consuming cakes and ice-creams containing high fat and sugar, go for angel food cake and non-fat yogurt.

There are many gallstones diet recipes like beet recipe, green soup recipe and flax seed tea recipe that would provide relief from the gallbladder pain. Other than the gallstone home remedy one should strictly follow a gallstones diet because it has a direct impact on the formation of gallstones as well as on their flushing. A proper balanced gallstones diet will reduce the chances of gallbladder diseases. Post gallstone removal diet is also recommended to be followed so as to avoid further attacks of gallstone. Even after removal, gallstone surgery diet should be followed for speedy recovery. I hope this explanation of gallstones diet was useful. Stay healthy.