Are you at risk for gallstones? Some people have gallstones and never know it, but it may be a different story for you. Gallstones can cause severe gastrointestinal pain that sends you to the emergency room.
At Turnquest Surgical Solutions, our board-certified bariatric surgeons, Dexter Turnquest, MD, and Victoria C. Chang, MD, treat gallbladder disease promptly. If you have severe pain, you need surgery to remove your gallbladder.
Surgery prevents possible serious complications of gallbladder disease. If gallstones cause a blockage in your intestinal system, you could develop an infection in your bile ducts, jaundice, acute pancreatitis, and other serious conditions.
You may be wondering what you can do to avoid a painful gallstone attack. Do you know that changing what you eat and drink can lower your risk for gallstones?
Your diet and your weight can be major culprits in gallstone development. Research indicates that too many fatty foods can lead to painful gallstones. Obesity is a risk factor for gallstones.
Eating too many fatty foods can cause a buildup of cholesterol in your bile, which helps digest your food. The cholesterol can clump, causing gallstones.
It’s time to examine your diet. Check out the major categories of foods you eat and how you prepare them, and begin making healthy changes.
Check the label on the oil you buy. Is it hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated? The Food and Drug Administration says this type of oil can lead to heart attacks.
Do you cook with butter or lard? Both of these have a high amount of saturated fat. Extra-virgin olive oil is a better choice; it has no cholesterol. Restock your pantry with this healthy oil. Your arteries will thank you, and so will your gallbladder.
Do you love red meat? Meat has high levels of saturated fats along with high levels of LDL cholesterol, the unhealthy type of cholesterol.
Begin making changes to your diet by introducing more plant-based protein. Studies show that eating one cup of canned beans can lower your LDL cholesterol. Edamame, chickpeas, beans, and lentils are great sources of protein. Add them to your salads along with some spices, and you’ll have a complete meal.
Eat fish three times per week. Salmon, cod, halibut, and mackerel are good choices with omega-3 healthy fats. This type of healthy fat has positive health benefits, including helping to maintain cell health in your arteries.
Eat a baked potato with spices and a small amount of low-fat sour cream rather than ordering french fries. Enjoy grilled or baked salmon with a healthy spice rub. Look for delicious baked chicken and turkey recipes with low-fat ingredients like peppers, onions, celery, and spices.
Do you buy a lot of boxed, processed foods like crackers and cookies along with sugary foods like cakes and pies? These foods with high sugar and fat levels raise your cholesterol levels and cause weight gain.
You need three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day. Salads with leafy greens and veggies like broccoli can fill you up. Fruit is naturally sweet. Instead of eating fruit cocktail in heavy syrup, cut up an apple, pear, nectarine or other fruit. Berries are low in sugar and high in antioxidants. Add fruit to your salads.
Choose whole grain breads with seeds rather than white bread. Try whole wheat pasta mixed with roasted peppers and onions and some pesto sauce.
When you make these dietary changes, you’ll go a long way toward preventing gallstones, and you’ll lose weight, too.
Call us at one of our Houston, Texas, locations or request an appointment online today if you need help with weight management and are at risk for gallstones.
