Diet for people with gallstones

1The importance of diet for people with gallstones

Gallstones are crystal-like deposits that develop in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that stores bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. The gallbladder's main function is to store bile, which helps the body break down fats.

Most people with gallstones have no obvious symptoms. However, the longer the stones remain in the gallbladder, the more likely they are to become a problem. This is when the gallstones move and become stuck in a bile duct, causing abdominal pain, possibly accompanied by nausea, indigestion or fever.

Gallstones can also block the common bile duct, which carries bile into the small intestine, and the hepatic duct, which carries bile away from the liver. Blockages in the bile duct cause the bile duct to become inflamed and infected. Blockage of the common bile duct, which joins the pancreatic duct in the small intestine, can lead to pancreatitis.

Since the gallbladder's main function is to store bile, which helps the body break down fatty foods, when we eat, the gallbladder releases its stored bile into the cystic duct. From there, the fluid passes through the common bile duct and into the small intestine to mix with food.

Research shows that the main components of bile are cholesterol and bile acids. Normally, the concentration of bile acids is high enough to break down the cholesterol in the mixture and keep it in liquid form. However, if a person has a high-fat diet, this balance can be upset, causing the liver to produce more cholesterol than the bile acids can handle.

As a result, some of the excess cholesterol begins to solidify into crystals, known as gallstones. About 80% of gallstones are called cholesterol stones and are formed this way. The remaining 20% ​​are made up of calcium mixed with the bile pigment bilirubin, known as pigment stones. Sickle cell disease and other blood disorders where red blood cells are destroyed can often lead to pigment gallstones.

Because diet has an important impact on gallbladder health, gallstone patients, in addition to following the doctor's treatment instructions, need to follow a scientific diet: eat enough nutrients, balance, increase fiber-rich foods, eat moderate fat, low cholesterol to reduce the risk of stone formation and development, contributing to increasing treatment effectiveness and improving disease symptoms.

2. Essential nutrients for people with gallstones

Fiber

Fiber helps increase intestinal motility, aids digestion and removes cholesterol from the body, thereby helping to reduce the risk of gallstones. Patients should eat lots of green vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

Healthy fats

Healthy fats such as omega-3 found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and olive oil help reduce bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol, and reduce the risk of gallstones. Patients should eat fatty fish at least twice a week, use olive oil for cooking, and eat nuts such as almonds and walnuts.

Lean protein

Protein provides energy for the body and supports the recovery process after gallstone treatment. Patients should eat foods rich in lean protein such as: lean meat, chicken breast, lean fish; eggs; tofu...

Foods rich in vitamin C

Vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system, aids digestion and prevents complications of gallstones. Patients should eat lots of oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, bell peppers and broccoli.

Foods rich in calcium

Calcium helps bind cholesterol in the intestines, preventing excess cholesterol in the liver and reducing the risk of gallstones. Foods rich in calcium include many types of shrimp, crabs, and small fish (best eaten with bones); milk, dairy products such as yogurt, cheese...

Water

Water helps dissolve cholesterol and other substances in bile, preventing them from crystallizing into stones. You should drink at least 2 liters of water per day. You should limit carbonated drinks, alcohol, beer, etc.

3. Some foods should be limited for people with gallstones

Limit foods high in cholesterol:Excess cholesterol in the liver can combine with other substances in the bile and form stones. Foods that increase bad cholesterol levels, such as saturated fat and trans fat, should be limited.

Saturated fat is an animal fat found mainly in meats and dairy products. Trans fat is found in many foods, especially fast food, processed foods, fried foods...

Processed foods (sausages, sausages, cold cuts, fast foods like hamburgers, pizza, fried chicken, french fries...) contain a lot of saturated fat and trans fat.

Carbohydraterefined:Studies show that many gallbladder symptoms come from a diet high in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats. When people experience gallstone pain, it is because the gallbladder is trying to contract because some of the stones are blocking the flow of bile. If you eat fatty foods, highly processed foods will cause the gallbladder to contract even more.

Therefore, in addition to paying attention to limiting fatty foods such as fatty meats, processed meats, and whole milk products, patients should also pay attention to limiting the consumption of foods rich in refined carbohydrates that are often heavily processed such as donuts, cakes, cookies, etc.

Limit stimulating foods:Some foods such as spicy foods, carbonated drinks, alcohol, and beer can stimulate the gallbladder and aggravate the symptoms of gallstones./.