Hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder, gallstones can range from the size of a pebble to the size of a golf ball. The most common type of gallstone is made of cholesterol. Therefore, a diet high in cholesterol can increase gallstones. Symptoms may include pain in the stomach, fever, jaundice and abdominal fullness. Consult your physician if you suspect you have gallstones before changing your diet.
High Saturated Fat Diets
A diet high in saturated fats can increase the chances of gallstones developing. A 1999 study published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” researched the correlation between diet and the formation of gallstones. Based on this research, patients whose diets were high in animal fats had a greater risk of gallstone formation than those with diets high in vegetable fats. Foods that are high in saturated fats include whole milk, cheese, butter, processed meats, poultry skin and regular ice cream.
Carbohydrates and Refined Sugar
According to NutritionMD.org, a diet high in refined sugars and starches increases the risk of gallstone development by 60 percent. This claim is supported by a 2004 study published in British Medical Journal “GUT” in which researchers found that a diet high in carbohydrates increased the risk of gallstone formation. Researchers collected dietary information as part of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study starting in 1986 and ending in 1998. Looking exclusively at men, researchers found men consuming more carbohydrates were more likely to have gallstones.
Low Fiber Diets
A diet low in fiber may increase your risks of developing gallstones as well. A 2004 study published in the “American Journal of Gastroenterology” examined the link between fiber and gallstones. Researchers used the dietary information found on the Nurse’s Health Study to compare gallbladder disease and fiber intake, collecting data on nearly 17,000 women for 16 years. For each additional 5 grams of fiber women consumed, the risk of developing gallstones decreased by 7 percent.
Very Low-Calorie Diets
Rapid weight loss has been associated with an increase in gallstones. Very low-calorie diets are usually conducted under medical supervision. Many times, they allow dieters less than 800 calories per day, resulting in rapid weight loss. Although gallstones often develop in obese people, they're even more common in individuals who have lost weight extremely quickly. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, rapid weight loss can increase cholesterol levels in the gallbladder, leading to gallstone formation.
References
- PubMed Health; Gallstones; July 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gallstones and Gallbladder Disease - Prevention
- “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”; Diet, Physical Activity, and Gallstones--A Population-Based, Case-Control Study in Southern Italy; G. Misciagna, et al.; January 1999
- Health.gov: Dietary Guidelines
- NutritionMD.org: Gallstones: Nutritional Considerations
- "Gut"; Dietary Carbohydrates and Glycaemic Load and the Incidence of Symptomatic Gall Stone Disease in Men; C-J Tsai, et al.; 2005
- “American Journal of Gastroenterology” ; Long-term Intake of Dietary Fiber and Decreased Risk of Cholecystectomy in Women; C-J Tsai, et al.; July 2004
- Weight Control Information Network: Very Low-Calorie Diets
