Gall Stone Diet

In order to understand the complications that could arise out of the development of gall stones, it is important to first identify what functions are carried out by the organ that it directly affects. The gall bladder is a rather small, pear shaped organ that helps in the storing and concentration of bile which is the digestive liquid that is continuously secreted by the liver. The bile helps in emulsifying fat and neutralizing acids in partly digested food. When a person consumes high fat or high cholesterol meals, the gallbladder will contract and inject bile into the small intestines via a small tube called the common bile duct. Gallstones are solid particles that form - from the bile in the gall bladder. Gallstones can be broadly classified into cholesterol stones and pigment stones of which cholesterol stones are the more common and are formed when there is an excessive amount of cholesterol in the bile. Whereas pigment stones are caused when there is too much bilirubin content in the bile. Gallstones can be of varying sizes and can be anything between the size of a small pea to being as big as a golf ball. Gallstones can also be caused by a lack of bile salts, or when the gall bladder does not empty as it normally should for any reason. Some scientist also believe that the mere presence of a few gallstones will cause the creation of a whole set of new ones. Women around the ages of 20 and 60 years are twice as likely to develop gallstones as compared to men. While people above the age of 60 years are at a higher risk of developing gallstones than their younger counterparts.

The presence of gallstones in the gallbladder will often cause no complications. However, if there are a large number of gallstones present or if they are reasonably large in size, they may cause pain when the gallbladder responds to a high fat meal. A good diet to help keep gallstones in check and eventually get rid of them is to increase your intake of beets, cucumbers, green beans, avocados and sweet potatoes. While the inclusion of onions and shallots in you meals are highly recommended, they can cause a little trouble for some people. Tomatoes and lemon are beneficial in dealing with this condition, as is the use of large amounts of vinegar and garlic in your food preparations. Try having a glass of hot water with the juice from 1 lemon daily to keep your liver clean and healthy.