There is no guaranteed way to
prevent gallstones, but there are many things you can do to lower your
risk. By maintaining a healthy weight, you may be
able to prevent gallstones and other gallbladder problems from
occurring.
Obesity is a dominant
factor in a person's health and increases the risk of stone formation. If you are overweight or obese, the best
thing you can do for your health and to prevent gallstones is to lose weight.
Preventing
Gallstones: Control Your Weight
[INSERT A LINK TO WEIGHT
LOSS SUPPLEMENTAL THAT THE DOCTOR RECOMMENDS]
However, avoid rapid weight loss such
as occurs with crash diets, as that can actually trigger gallstones. Weight
loss should be slow and steady — focus on losing a pound or two per week until
you reach your goal.
In addition, weight
cycling — frequent weight loss followed by weight gain — can also cause
gallstones, so do your best to keep your weight off once you lose it. Ursodiol (Actigall), usually used to dissolve gallstones,
may be prescribed for people who need to lose weight rapidly, in order to
prevent the formation of gallstones. Similarly, orlistat (Xenical), which is used to treat obesity, may help prevent gallstones
during weight loss by reducing bile acids, which can contribute to gallstone
formation.
Preventing
Gallstones: Eat Healthfully and Exercise
Diet [I SUGGEST WE LINK
HERE TO AN ARTICLE ON A SPECIFIC DOCTOR RECOMMENDED DIET- PERHAPS EVEN INCLUDE
A FEW RECIPES OR RECIPE LINKS]
and exercise play an important role in gallbladder disease. But to prevent
gallstones, you don't have to subsist on fruits and veggies alone. Here is a
rundown on the good and the bad when it comes to diet, exercise, and
gallstones:
Fat - Fat tends to get a bad rap, but not all
fat is bad. Monounsaturated fats, found in olive oil and canola oil, and
omega-3 fatty acids, found in avocados, canola, flaxseed, and fish oil, may
lower the risk of developing gallstones. Fish oil may be especially beneficial
to people with high levels of triglycerides, as it helps the gallbladder empty.
But stay away from saturated fats found in fatty meats, butter, and other
animal products, as these fats can increase your likelihood of gallstones and
high cholesterol, among other health risks. If you do eat animal products,
choose low-fat alternatives — lean chicken instead of red meat, skim milk and
low-fat yogurt instead of whole milk. Try one of the many healthy butter
alternatives (make sure it does not contain trans fats or saturated fats).
Fiber -
Found in
whole-grain breads, cereals, and vegetables, fiber in your diet can help you
lose weight and may prevent gallstones.
Fruits and veggies - There are lots of reasons to eat these wonder foods, and
here's one more: Consuming lots of fruits and vegetables may prevent
gallstones.
Nuts - Peanuts and tree nuts, such as almonds
and walnuts, may prevent gallstones. Plus snacking on almonds is a healthy way
to ease hunger and help you lose weight.
Sugar - Too much sugar in your diet may cause
gallstones, so stay away from sweets, and choose low-sugar food alternatives
when possible.
Carbs - Because carbohydrates are converted
into sugar in the body, diets filled with pasta, white bread, and other
carbohydrate-rich foods may increase your risk of gallstones.
Alcohol and coffee - You don't have to give up your morning
cup of Joe or evening cocktail to prevent gallstones. Studies suggest that
moderate consumption of alcohol and coffee may actually prevent gallstones.
Exercise - Getting regular exercise can help you
keep your weight down, which may prevent gallstones. Thirty minutes, five times
a week is all that is needed to make a difference.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs - Some drugs used to lower blood
cholesterol, such as gemfibrozil (Lopid) and fenofibrate (Tricor), can put you
at higher risk of developing gallstones. That's because these medications
increase the amount of cholesterol released in bile — which can lead to
gallstone formation — at the same time that they lower blood cholesterol. If
you are taking one of these drugs, talk to your doctor about switching to
another type of cholesterol-lowering medication, since not all cholesterol
drugs have this effect.
Hormone therapy - Hormone replacement therapy can
increase a woman's risk of developing gallstones since estrogen causes the body
to make more cholesterol. If you are taking hormone therapy or are on high-dose
birth control pills, talk to your doctor about your risk of gallstones, and ask
if there are other hormone medications that may be better for you.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gallstones/basics/prevention/con-20020461
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/gallbladder/4-ways-to-prevent-gallstones.aspxHow Can I Prevent Gallstones?
A sensible diet is the best way to prevent gallstones. Avoid crash diets or a very low intake of calories (less than 800 calories daily). Seek out good sources of fiber -- raw fruits and vegetables, cooked dried beans and peas, whole-grain cereals and bran, for example -- and avoid eating too much fat. A high-fiber, low-fat diet helps keep bile cholesterol in liquid form. However, don't cut out fats abruptly or eliminate them altogether, as too little fat can also result in gallstone formation.
Recent studies have shown that moderate consumption of olive oil (about 2 tablespoons a day) may actually lower your chances of developing gallstones. An ingredient in olive oil evidently helps reducecholesterol levels in the blood and gallbladder. Researchers have found that the incidence of gallstones is relatively low among people who live in areas where olive oil consumption is high.
Studies suggest that lecithin -- a natural substance used as a thickener in ice cream, mayonnaise, and other foods -- may help prevent gallstones by keeping cholesterol from solidifying in the gallbladder. Lecithin is found in a number of foods, including soybeans, oatmeal, eggs, milk, peanuts, cabbage, and chocolate. Even though most people get plenty of lecithin in their normal diet, supplements are available in tablet or liquid form at health food shops and drugstores. Take 500 milligrams to 1,000 milligrams daily, or follow the instructions on the label.
WARNING: Over time, large amounts of choline, a chemical in lecithin, could lead to liver problems or other complications. Check with your doctor or nutritionist before taking lecithin supplements.
Source: http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-gallstones-prevention
Here are some useful tips for preventing gallstones with everyday foods:
1) Juice fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The gallbladder is designed to work in conjunction with the liver to digest food and eliminate toxins. But when one or both of these vital organs gets clogged up due to poor nutrition or toxic buildup, cholesterol can crystallize with calcium to form gallstones. At this point, it becomes much more difficult to break these stones down and prevent them from further complicating your health.
Juicing fresh, alkalizing fruits and vegetables, however, can help quell inflammation and enzymatically detoxify both your liver and gallbladder on a regular basis. Raw, unfiltered apple juice, which is rich in pectin, will help soften and disintegrate any existing gallstones, as well as prevent new ones from forming. Lemons, celery, tomatoes, and beets are also excellent additions to any daily juicing regimen.
If you suffer from existing gallbladder pain, the following juicing recipe may be helpful in eliminating that pain, and any gallstones you might already have:
http://www.gallbladderattack.com/beetrecipe.shtml#beetrecipe
2) Make sure you are eating enough healthy fats. Though some experts encourage gallbladder patients to avoid fats altogether, especially when they have already had gallbladder surgery, certain fats are actually helpful in warding off potential and existing gallstones. Olive oil is often included in many gallbladder detoxification regimens, for instance, and healthy saturated fats from coconut oil and grass-fed animal products actually help synergize the assimilation of important nutrients from other foods that are responsible for maintaining a clean liver and gallbladder.
Just be sure to avoid toxic fats such as soybean and canola oil, which come from a class of fats that are a primary cause of disease-causing inflammation. Chronic inflammation, as we have covered before, is responsible for causing high cholesterol, as vegetable-based and hydrogenated oils are dangerously high in omega-6 fatty acids compared to omega-3 fatty acids. By taking more omega-3-rich fish oils and eating only animal fats that come from hormone-free, pasture-based animals, you can help naturally lower your cholesterol and take a significant toxic burden off your vital organs (http://www.naturalnews.com).
3) Supplement with either sunflower or non-GMO soy lecithin. One of the easiest and quickest ways to dissolve gallstones is to supplement with lecithin derived from either sunflower or non-GMO (genetically-modified organism) soy. As it turns out, lecithin, a fatty substance made of choline and inositol, is a primary component of cell membranes, and requires high amounts of bile to digest. When it enters the liver after ingestion, lecithin is dissolved into this bile, and in the process hardened gallstones are also dissolved.
"A low lecithin concentration in the bile may be a causative factor for many individuals with gallstones," writes Michael T. Murray, N.D., in his book Textbook of Natural Medicine, 2nd Edition, Volume 2. "Studies have shown that taking as little as 100 mg (milligrams) of lecithin three times per day will increase the concentration of lecithin in the bile, while larger doses (up to 10 g) produce even greater increases."
4) Supplement with apple cider vinegar, malic acid. This unique home remedy is hailed by many as a safe, surefire way to eliminate gallstones without the need for surgery or drug interventions. Mixing apple cider vinegar (ACV) with malic acid -- apples and freshly-pressed apple juice are naturally rich in malic acid and other important softening substances, so this is another option -- and drinking it as part of a gallbladder flush is highly recommended for gallbladder health.
The book Apple Cider Vinegar - Miracle Health System, which is published by the reputable ACV brand Bragg, contains a section on how to successfully complete a two-day gallbladder flush using ACV and apple juice. You can learn more about this helpful technique, and read excerpts from the book, by visiting:
http://bragg.com/books/acv_excerpt.html
5) Add some extra turmeric to your meals. Studies have shown that turmeric, a spice composed mainly of curcumin, is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food that helps maintain a healthy gallbladder. As it turns out, turmeric helps improve the solubility of bile, which means the body has a much easier time breaking down substances that would otherwise form into gallstones.
Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., suggests supplementing three times daily with at least 300 mg of curcumin in order to improve bile composition. He also suggests eating foods high in calcium, taking extra vitamin C (you can also take camu camu berry or acerola cherry powder for natural vitamin C), and limiting intake of refined sugar in order to prevent and treat gallstones (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02972/Gallstones.html).
Sources for this article include:
http://www.mcvitamins.com/gallbladder.htm
http://www.naturalnews.com/035297_gallstones_gallbladder_remedies.html
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038571_gallstones_prevention_foods.html#ixzz3WMQQpnnr
1) Juice fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The gallbladder is designed to work in conjunction with the liver to digest food and eliminate toxins. But when one or both of these vital organs gets clogged up due to poor nutrition or toxic buildup, cholesterol can crystallize with calcium to form gallstones. At this point, it becomes much more difficult to break these stones down and prevent them from further complicating your health.
Juicing fresh, alkalizing fruits and vegetables, however, can help quell inflammation and enzymatically detoxify both your liver and gallbladder on a regular basis. Raw, unfiltered apple juice, which is rich in pectin, will help soften and disintegrate any existing gallstones, as well as prevent new ones from forming. Lemons, celery, tomatoes, and beets are also excellent additions to any daily juicing regimen.
If you suffer from existing gallbladder pain, the following juicing recipe may be helpful in eliminating that pain, and any gallstones you might already have:
http://www.gallbladderattack.com/beetrecipe.shtml#beetrecipe
2) Make sure you are eating enough healthy fats. Though some experts encourage gallbladder patients to avoid fats altogether, especially when they have already had gallbladder surgery, certain fats are actually helpful in warding off potential and existing gallstones. Olive oil is often included in many gallbladder detoxification regimens, for instance, and healthy saturated fats from coconut oil and grass-fed animal products actually help synergize the assimilation of important nutrients from other foods that are responsible for maintaining a clean liver and gallbladder.
Just be sure to avoid toxic fats such as soybean and canola oil, which come from a class of fats that are a primary cause of disease-causing inflammation. Chronic inflammation, as we have covered before, is responsible for causing high cholesterol, as vegetable-based and hydrogenated oils are dangerously high in omega-6 fatty acids compared to omega-3 fatty acids. By taking more omega-3-rich fish oils and eating only animal fats that come from hormone-free, pasture-based animals, you can help naturally lower your cholesterol and take a significant toxic burden off your vital organs (http://www.naturalnews.com).
3) Supplement with either sunflower or non-GMO soy lecithin. One of the easiest and quickest ways to dissolve gallstones is to supplement with lecithin derived from either sunflower or non-GMO (genetically-modified organism) soy. As it turns out, lecithin, a fatty substance made of choline and inositol, is a primary component of cell membranes, and requires high amounts of bile to digest. When it enters the liver after ingestion, lecithin is dissolved into this bile, and in the process hardened gallstones are also dissolved.
"A low lecithin concentration in the bile may be a causative factor for many individuals with gallstones," writes Michael T. Murray, N.D., in his book Textbook of Natural Medicine, 2nd Edition, Volume 2. "Studies have shown that taking as little as 100 mg (milligrams) of lecithin three times per day will increase the concentration of lecithin in the bile, while larger doses (up to 10 g) produce even greater increases."
4) Supplement with apple cider vinegar, malic acid. This unique home remedy is hailed by many as a safe, surefire way to eliminate gallstones without the need for surgery or drug interventions. Mixing apple cider vinegar (ACV) with malic acid -- apples and freshly-pressed apple juice are naturally rich in malic acid and other important softening substances, so this is another option -- and drinking it as part of a gallbladder flush is highly recommended for gallbladder health.
The book Apple Cider Vinegar - Miracle Health System, which is published by the reputable ACV brand Bragg, contains a section on how to successfully complete a two-day gallbladder flush using ACV and apple juice. You can learn more about this helpful technique, and read excerpts from the book, by visiting:
http://bragg.com/books/acv_excerpt.html
5) Add some extra turmeric to your meals. Studies have shown that turmeric, a spice composed mainly of curcumin, is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food that helps maintain a healthy gallbladder. As it turns out, turmeric helps improve the solubility of bile, which means the body has a much easier time breaking down substances that would otherwise form into gallstones.
Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., suggests supplementing three times daily with at least 300 mg of curcumin in order to improve bile composition. He also suggests eating foods high in calcium, taking extra vitamin C (you can also take camu camu berry or acerola cherry powder for natural vitamin C), and limiting intake of refined sugar in order to prevent and treat gallstones (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02972/Gallstones.html).
Sources for this article include:
http://www.mcvitamins.com/gallbladder.htm
http://www.naturalnews.com/035297_gallstones_gallbladder_remedies.html
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038571_gallstones_prevention_foods.html#ixzz3WMQQpnnr
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/038571_gallstones_prevention_foods.html
Video and article Gallstones occur more frequently in people at two opposite ends of the weight spectrum — those who are overweight or obese, and those who fast or lose a lot of weight quickly. In addition, research published in the journal Gut in 2005 suggests that high intake of carbohydrate, a fluctuating glycaemic load and glycaemic index increase the risk of symptomatic gall stone disease in men. Therefore, it is important to adopt a healthy diet and stick to regular meal times.
Source: http://www.livescience.com/34726-gallstones-symptoms-treatment.html
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