1. Know the Cause
To be able to eat properly in the face of having gallstones, you must be aware of how you got them in the first place. That way, a proper diet can be developed and used effectively. Gallstones are hardened pebbles consisting mainly of bile, cholesterol and calcium in varying proportions. The liver produces bile as a means of breaking down the fat you ingest, to make it absorbable by the body. This bile is stored in the gallbladder. For any number of reasons, sediment in the bile can settle out and crystallize, forming these stones. They can lie inside the gallbladder for extended periods of time, not causing any problems, until the bile duct becomes blocked by one or more stones.
Diet and heredity can play the most significant parts in the development of stones. Many people that have stones or gallbladder disease fall into a category called "Fair, Fat and Forty," which often describes the average sufferer.
2. Blast the Fat
Diets low in fat are friendlier to persons with gallstones than their high fat, high cholesterol counterparts. Fat ingestion stimulates the production of bile and the contraction of the gallbladder to inject bile into the intestine to break the fat down. When stones are present, the risk of bile duct blockage is higher.
That being said, not all fat is bad, and some fats and essential fatty acids are necessary, even critical, for the absorption of certain fat-soluble vitamins, such as Vitamins A, D, E and K. Total elimination of fat in the diet can have its own set of complications.
In addition to a diet low in fat, increased amounts of vegetables and fruit can be particularly helpful, as they can be filling, nutritious and help keep fat intake low with a healthier food balance.
3. Flush the System and Hydrate With Water
A daily intake of 10 to 12 glasses can help your body achieve proper hydration. Additionally, adequate water intake can also play a supportive role in flushing the biliary system of bile sediment and smaller stones by thinning the consistency of the bile fluid itself. During periods of exercise, for example, dehydration can precipitate an attack because of increased thickening of the bile fluid. Be sure to maintain adequate levels of hydration, especially in concert with diets high in fiber, fruits and vegetables and low in animal protein and fat to optimize the dilution of the bile.
