Gallstone Diet And Gall Stone TreatmentGallstones are not real stones but are formed in the gallbladder due to the hardening of the liquid present in the gallbladder. They have a pebble-like shape. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped, saclike organ that is located in the right upper abdomen below the liver. Bile is produced in the liver but stored in the gallbladder and helps in the digestion of food. This bile contains fats, water, bile proteins, cholesterol, bile salts, and bilirubin as a waste byproduct of the process.
The bile salts break and process the fats. When the food comes down for digestion, the gallbladder transports the bile to the small intestine through the bile duct when demanded and helps in the process of digestion.
There are two types of gallstones:
- Cholesterol stones
- Pigment stones
About 80 per cent of gallstones are Cholesterol stones. They are formed due to the hardening of extra cholesterol and are yellow in color. While Pigment stones are caused due to bilirubin accumulation and are small sized and dark in color. The Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand or may be as large as a golf ball size. Several tiny and gallstones may also reside in the gallbladder simultaneously at a time.
Facts About gallstones. Gallstones affect the flow of bile from the hepatic, cystic or common bile ducts. If the gallstone moves from the gallbladder and blocks any of the ducts, it may cause serious damage to the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and small intestine. This may also result in the inflammation of the duct, and if the stone remains there longer, it increases the chances of harmful effects on the duct, gallbladder and even the liver.
Gallstones problems often run in families. Women are twice as vulnerable to gallstones as compared to men because their gallbladder functionality decreases due to an excess of estrogen hormone production during pregnancy. The cholesterol level in the bile may also increase due to the use of birth control pills. This in turn increases the chances of gallstone formation.
Gall Stone Symptoms And Gall Stone DietSymptoms: The physical symptoms that indicate the presence of the gallstones are: - Lasting fever
- Jaundice
- Continuous pain.
Gallstone Diet:
The following dietary guidelines can help to avoid gallstones:
- Cholesterol levels should be controlled by avoiding fried foods as gallstones are formed due to high cholesterol levels in the body.
- People consuming meat products are at greater risk of gallstone production.
- Foods that are rich in fiber should be incorporated in your diet.
- Fatty foods should be avoided.
|