by Tasha Raymond

Created on: November 03, 2007   Last Updated: August 25, 2011

The first thing to understand is that gallstones, like any other ailment, are not 100% preventable. In fact, many doctors feel that it is impossible to always prevent gallstones, but that there are a handful of ways to lower the likelihood of dealing with the ailment.

- Reducing your intake of saturated fats is known to help decrease the risk of a gallstone attack. This means cutting out as much red meat and pork as possible. Also, keep an eye on nutrition labels. Many foods that appear healthy are dubious when it comes to the fats they contain.

- Increasing the amount of fiber that you consume is a great way to help combat this menace. This step can easily be done by increasing the amounts of fruits and vegetables that you eat throughout the day. Start by adding a fruit or vegetable to every meal and go from there.

- Limiting your intake of sugar has been proven to help combat a number of ailments, and gallstones are no exception. The more sugar you have in your diet, the higher the risk you have of having a gallstone attack.

- Exercising regularly, and vigorously, has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of an attack.

- In order for the body to convert cholesterol into bile acids, the body needs to have a substantial amount of vitamin C. Since the majority of gallstones are of the cholesterol kind, it's easy to see how breaking down the cholesterol may help tremendously.

-For Men

One study found that men who consumed two or more cups of regular coffee (instant, filtered, or espresso) a day had a 40% lower risk of developing gallstones over 10 years then those that did not. It was also noted that men who drank more than four cups a day still benefitted from the coffee.

-For Women

A recent study has suggested that women who consume small amounts of alcohol (one ounce per day) tend to have a reduced risk of gallstones by roughly 20%. On the down side, it has been noted that contraceptives have can increase the risk of gallstones. Make sure to check with your gynecologist.

Please remember that this article is not meant as a preventative prescription, but as a means to educate the reader on some of the things that you can do to help prevent gallstones in the future. Make sure to talk to your doctor about other options that are available.

References:
"Gallstones and Gallbladder Disease." Preventdisease.com. http://preventdisease.com/diseases/gallstones_gallbl adder.html. 3 Nov. 2007

Louise, Dr. Rita, Ph.D. "Getting Rid of Gallstones Naturally." MeditationisEasy.com. 2006. http://www.meditationiseasy.com/tips/alternative/148 7.php. 3 Nov. 2007

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