Drinking coffee may provide more than just energy for your day; it may also help reduce your chances of a gallbladder attack. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, drinking coffee everyday can lower your risks of developing gallstones. If you develop symptoms of a gallbladder attack after drinking coffee, you should avoid the beverage and talk with your gastroenterologist. Most people with gallbladder disease have no symptoms. Developing symptoms may be a sign of a complication.
Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder disease is primarily caused by the development of gallstones, but may also be the result of inflammation in the gallbladder, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The gallbladder is a sac that’s located next to the liver and helps the digestive system store bile. Bile is used to break down fat during digestion. When you eat fatty foods, your gallbladder contracts, which squeezes out extra bile through the gallbladder duct and into the stomach. Gallstones are pebble-like clusters that primarily develop from cholesterol deposits in the bile. If a gallstone gets stuck in the gallbladder duct, you will experience a gallbladder attack, which can be quite painful.
Caffeine Benefit
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, research suggests that daily coffee consumption may lower the risk of gallstones. Although the exact reason is unclear, the caffeine in coffee may cause the gallbladder to contract, excreting bile that has been stagnant, which can lower cholesterol levels in the bile. However, it’s not just the caffeine that causes the effect, because other caffeinated beverages, such as tea and soda do not have the same beneficial effect on the gallbladder. Coffee should not be used to treat or prevent gallstones without first talking with your doctor.
Caffeine and Dairy Products
If you consume caffeine through beverages made with dairy, it may cause a gallbladder attack. Foods that are high in fat will cause your gallbladder to secrete bile, which can push a gallstone into the gallbladder duct. Some coffee beverages are made with milk or cream that is high in fat, such as café latte, café mocha and cappuccino. Using half and half and light cream may add a significant amount of fat to brewed coffee.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of a gallbladder attack include pain in your right shoulder, pain between your shoulder blades and pain in the right side of your abdomen. If a gallstone becomes lodged in the gallbladder duct, the most common treatment is removal of the gallbladder.
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