NaturalSociety May 18 2013
Gallstones are painful pebble-like objects that form in the gallbladder, which occur when bile stored in the gallbladder hardens. This happens for a variety of reasons, but mainly when the bile contains too much cholesterol, bilirubin, or salts. While an estimated 20 million people in the U.S. suffer from gallstones, they are more common in women, overweight people, and those who lose weight too quickly. Gallstones also run in the family. If you want to know how to prevent gallstones, the good news is that there are simple, natural solutions.
How to Prevent Gallstones Through Diet
Traditional medicine usually resorts to surgery to remove gallstones or medications designed to dissolve them. The latter method can take days or even months to dissolve the stones. Preventing them first is quite obviously the best option.
A healthy gallbladder depends on a healthy body, and keeping the gallbladder healthy begins with a proper diet. Juicing on a daily basis can help drastically, delivering high impact nutrients in a concentrated and quick form. Several online sources say beets are especially useful in the prevention and even treatment of gallstones or a gallbladder attack. They are even recommended for the pain associated with gallstones.
The American Medical Association suggests that a low-fat, high-fiber diet can also help prevent gallstones. We suggest ingesting fiber from whole plant sources, rather than processed grains, however. Things like leafy green vegetables, fruit, and beans offer some of the best fiber sources. However, opinions diverge on the role of fats in the development of gallstones. Other research suggests that healthy fats like those found in vegetables like avocados or coconut oil could actually help ward off gallstones.
The AMA also suggests nuts can significant reduce your risk of gallstones, while sugar increases the risk.
When you already have a gallstone, it’s suggested that you eliminate it with the use of sunflower or organic soy lecithin. These products are widely available and have been repeatedly proven to decrease size and concentration of gallstones.
And finally, as if turmeric needs any more good publicity, studies have linked this curry-spice to a healthy gallbladder by improving the solubility of bile. Dr. Andrew Weill, M.D. suggests taking curcumin daily to improve gallbladder health. He also suggests adding vitamin C to your supplement regimen.
Gallstones are painful. And once you’ve had them, you are at an increased risk of having them again. So, stay healthy and eat right to prevent a reoccurrence of these preventable problems. Let others know how to prevent gallstones as well, sharing which natural solutions worked for you.