Gallstones form when bile, the digestive liquid produced by the gallbladder, contains too much cholesterol, fat, bile salts or bilirubin. Gallstones do not cause symptoms until they block the flow of liquid bile into the digestive system, causing a gallbladder attack with intense pain and possibly severe damage to the gallbladder, liver or pancreas. Larger or more numerous stones are more likely to trigger a gallbladder attack. Modifying the diet can reduce the risk of developing gallstones or suffering a gallbladder attack.
High-cholesterol Foods
People with gallstones should avoid foods high in cholesterol such as egg yolks, meat and whole milk and butter. The Mayo Clinic says that cholesterol stones--formed from hardened cholesterol--are the most common type of gallstone. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says that a diet high in cholesterol and fats but low in fiber increases the level of cholesterol in the gallbladder. Cholesterol has two detrimental effects on the gallbladder. It increases the concentration of bile, favoring stone formation and growth, and it inhibits emptying of the gall bladder, another factor that increases the risk of gallstones forming.
High-fat Foods
Foods high in cholesterol are often high in fat, too, including red meat, cream, cheeses and fried foods. Foods high in saturated fats, like butter and mayonnaise, or trans-fats, like hydrogenated oils and many commercial baked goods, are particularly bad because they raise cholesterol levels, says the Harvard School of Public Health. Bile's main function is to help with the digestion of fats, primarily mediated by the bile salts. A high-fat diet means greater production of bile salts, and as the concentration of bile salts rises, so does the risk of gallstone formation or growth. According to the NIDDK, in people with gallstones a high-fat meal often triggers an acute gall bladder attack, in which gallstones move into the bile ducts. As digestion of the fatty meal forces the gallbladder to work harder, gallstones can lodge in the ducts.
Sugary Foods
The University of Maryland Medical Center says that a diet high in sugar increases the risk for gallstones. People who have gallstones or those at risk for developing them should avoid eating a lot of artificially sweetened or starchy foods. Cakes, cookies and sweet snack foods are obvious sources of sugar. Avoid fruits like grapes and oranges that are high in sugar but low in fiber in favor of low sugar, high fiber fruits like strawberries. Starchy foods that are high in carbohydrates, like pasta and bread, increase the risk for gallstones. Once in the body, these starchy foods are converted into sugar.
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