Tips for avoiding gallstones – Part 3

Gallstones are small stones made from cholesterol, bile pigment and calcium salts, usually as a mixture that forms in the gall bladder.

The gall bladder is a small sac that holds bile, a digestive juice produced by the liver that is used in the breakdown of dietary fats. The gall bladder extracts water from its store of bile until the liquid becomes highly concentrated. The presence of fatty foods triggers the gall bladder to squeeze its bile concentrate into the small intestine.

Gallstones are a common disorder of the digestive system, and affect around 15 per cent of people aged 50 years and over. They are more common in women that men and are also more prevalent in overweight people, those that have experienced rapid weight loss, women on estrogen therapy such as hormone replacement therapy and the contraceptive pill, and people with a family history of gallstones.

Some circumstances which may lead to the formation of gallstones include the crystallization of excess cholesterol in bile and the failure of the gall bladder to fully empty.

In most cases, gallstones do not cause any problems. However, prompt treatment may be necessary if stones block ducts and cause complications such as infections or inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

Generally gallstones go unnoticed, but in more sever cases symptoms may include:

Generally severe and infrequent pain in the abdomen and back.

Increase in abdominal pain after consuming fatty food.

Jaundice.

Fever and pain, if the gall bladder of bile duct becomes blocked and infected.

There are three main types of gallstones:

Mixed stones the most common type. They are comprised of cholesterol and salts. Mixed stones tend to develop in batches

Cholesterol stones comprised mainly of cholesterol, a fat-like substance that is crucial to may metabolic processes. Cholesterol stones can grow to significant sizes, large enough to block bile ducts.

Pigment stones bile is greenish-brown in color, cue to particular pigments. Gallstone made from bile pigment are typically small but numerous.

There does not seem to be any single cause of gallstones. In some people, the live produces too much cholesterol. This can result in the formation of cholesterol crystals in bile which grow into stones. In other people, gallstones form because of changes in other components of bile or because the gallbladder fails to empty normally.

To avoid the formation of gallstones avoid fatty foods such as fried foods, full cream dairy foods, chocolates, rich cakes and desserts, biscuits, slices and snack foods.

Use olive oil instead of butter in your cooking and salad dressings. Avoid deep frying foods.

If you are over weight, avoid crash dieting and opt for a nutritional balanced diet. Losing weight too rapidly can increase the risk of gallstones.

Gallstones have been linked to young people who consume vast amounts of sugar. A low-sugar, high fiber diet is more conducive to help reduce the stone-forming potential of bile.

Aim for 3-4 serves each day of fresh fruits and vegetables. Include 4-6 serves of wholegrain cereals in your daily diet. Gallstones are also less common in vegetarians.

Reduce cholesterol rich food in your diet. Cholesterol is found in animal products such as red meat, dairy products and eggs.

Eat regular small meals. This assists in avoiding overloading the digestive system and allows the body more time to digest any fats.

Try to drink 6 to 8 glasses of fresh water daily to flush toxins and aid the natural elimination processes of the body.

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