Learn which foods to avoid if you have gallstones: fatty foods, processed foods, spices and alcohol increase the risk of attacks and worsen symptoms.
Gallstones are hard deposits that form in the gallbladder, a small organ under the liver that stores bile. Bile helps digest fats, and when its composition is disrupted due to increased cholesterol, bilirubin, or low gallbladder motility, stone formation occurs.
Although symptoms can vary, including pain in the upper right abdomen, nausea, bloating, and digestive disorders, nutrition plays a key role in preventing the condition from worsening and the occurrence of gallbladder attacks.
The proper diet for gallstones mainly means reducing the intake of foods that stimulate increased bile secretion, increase blood cholesterol levels, or overload the liver and pancreas, reports Telegraph.
Foods that people with gallstones should avoid
1. Fatty and fried foods
High-fat foods are the biggest enemy for people with gallstones. These include:
- Fatty meats: bacon, sausages, cured meats, beef or pork with a lot of fat.
- Fried foods: French fries, fried crusts.
- Fast food: hamburgers, pizza, donuts and the like.
Why you should avoid it: Fatty foods stimulate the gallbladder to contract vigorously to digest fat. In people with gallstones, these contractions can trigger a gallstone attack, which manifests with severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and even fever.
2. Foods rich in cholesterol
Gallstones are most often formed from cholesterol, so foods rich in it can worsen the condition:
- Yellow egg
- Fatty cheeses and creams
- Butter and margarine high in trans fats
Why you should avoid it: Excessive cholesterol intake increases the risk of crystal formation in the gallbladder, leading to the growth of existing stones and possible complications.
3. Spicy and hot foods
Spicy foods like chili peppers, spicy sauces, curry, and similar spices can worsen the condition.
Why you should avoid it: Spicy food can irritate the gallbladder and cause spasms, increasing the risk of a gallbladder attack. It can also cause heartburn and reflux in people with existing digestive disorders.
4. Carbonated and sweetened drinks
Juices with added sugar, carbonated drinks, energy drinks and sweetened beverages:
Why you should avoid it: High amounts of sugar and artificial sweeteners increase triglyceride levels in the blood, which contributes to the production of cholesterol in the gallbladder and increases the risk of new stone formation.
5. Processed and refined products
Refined bread, white flour pasta, margarine doughs, industrial sweets and cookies:
Why you should avoid them: These products are low in fiber and high in sugar and trans fats. The lack of fiber slows digestion and hinders bile flow, while trans fats overload the liver.
6. Alcohol and caffeinated sodas
Alcohol, large amounts of coffee and energy drinks:
Why you should avoid it: Alcohol irritates the liver and increases bile production, while excess caffeine can stimulate the gallbladder to contract, causing pain in people with stones.
7. Excess of high-fat dairy products
- Whole milk
- lips
- Fatty cheeses
Why to avoid: The fats in these products require more bile to digest; increasing their intake can trigger gallstone attacks.
People with gallstones are best advised to stick to a low-fat, high-fiber diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meat or fish. Drinking plenty of fluids, mostly water, also helps with the health of the biliary system.
Avoiding foods rich in fat, cholesterol, spices, processed products, and alcohol reduces the risk of biliary attacks and contributes to protecting the health of the liver and gallbladder.
For those who already have gallstones, consulting with a gastroenterologist or nutritionist can help create a personalized eating plan that reduces symptoms and the risk of complications. /Telegraph/
