How to Prevent Gallbladder Problems

The gallbladder is a 4-inch, pear-shaped organ located under your liver in the upper right part of your abdomen. It plays a part in digesting the food you eat.

Its primary function is to store bile (a combination of fluids, fat and cholesterol) that helps break down fat from food in your intestine.

The gallbladder transfers the bile into the small intestine through the bile ducts. From here, fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients get absorbed into the bloodstream.

However, several types of conditions affect the gallbladder. These conditions include gallstones,cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), biliary colic, and dysfunctional gallbladder.

Anyone can suffer from gallbladder problems. A few major risk factors include genetics, obesity and gender, with women being more prone to such problems than men. These problems can be a minor nuisance or develop into a major medical condition.

Different types of gallbladder problems have different sets of symptoms. Some signs and symptoms of trouble include pain in the upper abdominal area, pain beneath the right shoulder blade or toward the back, pain usually after eating a meal high in fat content, chest pain, heartburn, indigestion, and excessive gas and bloating.

If you suspect that you are having a gallbladder problem, consult your doctor immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment. Many problems get better with removal of the gallbladder. Fortunately, you can live without it.

However, you can take steps to prevent or lower your risk of developing gallbladder problems in the first place.

Try one of the foods thought to prevent gallbladder disease :-

• • Drink moderate amounts of coffee with caffeine to reduce your chances of developing gallstones.
  • Drinking alcohol in moderation may also reduce gallbladder problems.

• Eating a small amount of peanuts each day may also have a preventative effect.

Watch out for quick-fix diets to Prevent Gallbladder Problems:-

• Losing weight too quickly can be a trigger for gallstone attacks or other gallbladder complications.
• Losing and gaining weight in cycles has also been linked to gallbladder problems.

Seek treatment from an acupuncturist to Prevent Gallbladder Problems:-

• Acupuncture has been used to prevent flare-ups of gallstones or gallbladder attacks.
• Always discuss alternative medical treatments with your doctor before trying them.

Control Your Weight to Prevent Gallbladder Problems:-

• • However, avoid rapid weight loss such as occurs with crash diets, as that can actually trigger gallstones.
  • Weight loss should be slow and steady — focus on losing a pound or two per week until you reach your goal.
  • In addition, weight cycling — frequent weight loss followed by weight gain — can also cause gallstones, so do your best to keep your weight off once you lose it.
  • Ursodiol (Actigall), usually used to dissolve gallstones, may be prescribed for people who need to lose weight rapidly, in order to prevent the formation of gallstones.

• Similarly, orlistat (Xenical), which is used to treat obesity, may help prevent gallstones during weight loss by reducing bile acids, which can contribute to gallstone formation.

Eat Healthfully and Exercise to Prevent Gallbladder Problems:-

Diet and exercise play an important role in gallbladder disease. But to prevent gallstones, you don’t have to subsist on fruits and veggies alone. Here is a rundown on the good and the bad when it comes to diet, exercise, and gallstones:

• Fiber. Found in whole-grain breads, cereals, and vegetables, fiber in your diet can help you lose weight and may prevent gallstones.
• Fruits and veggies. There are lots of reasons to eat these wonder foods, and here’s one more: Consuming lots of fruits and vegetables may prevent gallstones.
• Nuts. Peanuts and tree nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, may prevent gallstones. Plus snacking on almonds is a healthy way to ease hunger and help you lose weight.
• Sugar. Too much sugar in your diet may cause gallstones, so stay away from sweets, and choose low-sugar food alternatives when possible.
• Carbs. Because carbohydrates are converted into sugar in the body, diets filled with pasta, white bread, and other carbohydrate-rich foods may increase your risk of gallstones.

Avoid Certain Medications to Prevent Gallbladder Problems:-

The following types of medications can also increase your gallstone risk:

• Hormone therapy. Hormone replacement therapy can increase a woman’s risk of developing gallstones since estrogen causes the body to make more cholesterol. If you are taking hormone therapy or are on high-dose birth control pills, talk to your doctor about your risk of gallstones, and ask if there are other hormone medications that may be better for you.
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs. Some drugs used to lower blood cholesterol, such as gemfibrozil (Lopid) and fenofibrate (Tricor), can put you at higher risk of developing gallstones. That’s because these medications increase the amount of cholesterol released in bile — which can lead to gallstone formation — at the same time that they lower blood cholesterol. If you are taking one of these drugs, talk to your doctor about switching to another type of cholesterol-lowering medication, since not all cholesterol drugs have this effect.

Dietary Changes to Prevent Gallbladder Problems:-

Diet also plays an important role in gallbladder disease. To prevent gallstones and other problems, you may need to make some changes in your diet plan.

• Use monounsaturated fats, found in olive oil, to lower your risk. At the same time, avoid saturated fats found in fatty meats, butter and other animal products.
• Look for low-fat options like lean chicken, skim milk, low-fat yogurt and peanut butter.
• Eat more fiber like that found in whole-grain breads, cereals and vegetables.
• Consume lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Snack on peanuts, almonds and walnuts.
• Do not eat too much sugar or carbohydrates.
• Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty fish, fish oils, flaxseed, walnuts and tofu.
• Avoid spicy and fried foods and fatty meats.

You can take a supplement if you are not getting enough nutrients from your diet. Before taking any kind of supplement, always consult your doctor.

Start Your Day with Lemon Water to Prevent Gallbladder Problems :-

• • Lemon is a powerful natural detoxifying ingredient.
  • Several components in lemon stimulate your gallbladder to produce more bile needed for healthy digestion.

• Plus, it helps dissolve calcium deposits. It even helps the liver in the detoxifying process to help the body get rid of toxins.
• In addition, it helps you fight obesity, one of the major risk factors for gallbladder problems.
• Mix the juice of ½ lemon in a glass of warm water, add a little raw honey and drink it daily in the morning on an empty stomach.
• You can also drink lemon water a few times throughout the day.

Try Apple Cider Vinegar to Prevent Gallbladder Problems:-

• Drinking raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar on a daily basis is a healthy habit.
• It can even help prevent gallbladder problems.
• The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar prevents buildup of body fat and certain liver fats that may cause blockage in the gallbladder.
• In addition, it can lead to a significant decrease in body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference and triglycerides.
• Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar,
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and a little raw honey in a glass of warm water. Drink it twice daily.