Gallstone is a very common problem. It is a tiny, pebble-like structure made up of fats, proteins and minerals in your body. Too much cholesterol in the bile is a major reason for developing a gallstone. The gallbladder in your body is an organ situated right beneath the liver and its primary function is to store bile which is also called as the gall. Bile is essential for digestion of fats in food, it emulsifies fats in partly digested food, hence assists in their efficient absorption.
Gallstones are basically crystallised lumps of bile and cholesterol that get accumulated in the gall bladder. A gallstone can be categorized as either a cholesterol stone, which is created because of too much cholesterol in your bile or a pigment stone, which is created when your bile has too much of bilirubin.
There are many reasons to which the occurrence of a gallstone can be attributed, like:
Bile with too much of cholesterol – in normal conditions, the bile contains enough chemical to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by your liver. But when your liver excretes too much cholesterol, which cannot be dissolved by the bile, this cholesterol may form into crystals or stones. Poor diet is a major contributor to the formation of gallstones. Some common dietary causes include overeating, eating between meals, eating heavy meals in the evening, dehydration, rapid weight loss. There are other causes such as stress, excess viewing of television and some pharmaceutical drugs.
Bile with too much bilirubin – bilirubin is a chemical which is produced during the break down of red blood cells. Many times due to other factors your liver produces too much of bilirubin, this excess bilirubin contributes to the formation of gallstones.
Your gallbladder is not emptying itself properly – if your gallbladder is not emptying properly, the bile stored inside it will become really concentrated, which can again contribute to the formation of gall stones.
Most people have these stones without any symptoms, called the silent stones, hence aren’t prescribed any sort of treatment. But for those who experience symptoms of gallstones, surgery is the most common form of treatment.
Gallstones are often detected incidentally while diagnosing other ailments. But if you experience any of the following signs or symptoms do consult your doctor immediately to confirm your issue is gallstone related.
Gallstone Symptoms
1. Abdominal pain
The most common sign of having a gallstone is occasional recurring dull pain by your liver. It starts right after you eat and can last a couple of hours. Usually, the pain is centred around the upper right abdomen, but it can also radiate to your upper back and centre of the abdomen.
2. Jaundice
Jaundice being common in new-borns is actually an indication of gallbladder problems in adults. The gallbladder releases the bile in the small intestines via a tube called the cystic duct, which is connected to the bile duct. Jaundice in adults occurs when this bile duct is obstructed. This blockage can cause the bile to build up inside the bladder and increase its concentration, which may cause the formation of gallstones.
3. Nausea
Repeated episodes of nausea and vomiting with abdominal pain, might be an indication of gallstone. Though nausea or vomiting is not as common as abdominal discomfort when experiencing a lot of it then you should definitely visit your physician.
4. Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that sits right next to the liver and its function is to release digestive juices to aid absorption of nutrients. One stone can affect the function of both the gallbladder and the pancreas, as both of them secrete their juices in the same area around small intestines.
5. Obesity & Sudden Weight Loss
Obesity or sudden weight loss are problems associated with gallstone, not necessarily their symptom. People who are obese are more prone to having a gallstone. Even those who are trying to lose weight should remember that sudden weight loss also puts at risk of developing a gallstone.
Gallstone Relief & Natural Remedies
There are a few natural remedies that you can try and get rid of gallstones at home.
- Maintain a good healthy lifestyle
- Avoid rapid weight loss
- Take supplements and herbal remedies
- Eat anti-inflammatory diet 100% plant based
- Exercise regularly
There are various nutritional supplements that you can take like Vitamin C, iron and lecithin. We have seen thousands of stones being released from individuals in doing the gallbladder flush, which involves fasting and then taking olive oil and citrus to help passage of gallstones. Full instructions in doing this flush are given in our 7-10 Day Detox and Cleanse Kit will assist you in breaking up and releasing your gallstones.
This herbal body detox promotes digestive health, cleanses the liver, colon and helps eliminate toxins. The Easey Flush-Live Gall Bladder Detox is really good in detoxifying your liver and gallbladder, you can easily get rid of both gallstones and cholesterol stones through this aggressive detox. The complete kit is capable of not only flushing the stones out but also detoxifying your kidneys, cleanse liver and gall bladder both, cleanse your colon, boost immunity and increase energy levels.
Gallstone Diet
A healthy diet and a good exercise regime to lose weight will surely decrease your chances of having a gallstone. Avoid unhealthy fats, sugary or starchy foods. Eat foods that will help you in lowering cholesterol and have high fibre content. Like:
- Lentils
- Brown rice
- Couscous
- Fresh vegetables
- Dried fruits
- Whole grain bread and pasta
- Beans
- Quinoa
- Always choose low-fat foods
There are few things which you should avoid like, high-fat (animal sources), greasy and fried foods, caffeinated drinks, very sweet foods, and high-fat dairy products. Stick to two to three meals a day. Drink lots of water, about 6-8 glasses a day. As already mentioned a healthy lifestyle, a good exercise regime and eating high fibre content food will help in you reducing the risks of having a gallstone to a great extent.
