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What to Eat to Avoid Gall Stones

Gallstones are painful deposits that grow inside your gallbladder. Their size ranges from a tiny grain to a stone as big as a golf ball, according to the Mayo Clinic. While age, gender and ethnicity factor into getting gallstones, your diet also plays a large part. Foods high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber will raise your chance of getting gallstones. Luckily, you can change your diet to help prevent acquiring this medical complication.

  1. Low in Fat

    • Choose a diet low in fat. While fat should always be present in a healthy diet, it's important to avoid foods that contain a high amount. Stay away from fast food as often as possible. These meals are usually full of fat, especially when it comes to burgers and other sandwiches. Some drinks have too many grams of fat as well, such as milkshakes and malts.

      Look for foods with a low fat label when shopping at the grocery store. Most of the calories in any food item should come mostly from carbohydrates and protein. Steer clear of foods that contain mostly fat; these edible options will raise your chance of developing gallstones.

    Low in Cholesterol

    • One of the main causes of gallstones is a buildup of cholesterol in your diet. While your stomach bile can digest a normal amount of cholesterol, it will have trouble when you eat a lot of foods rich in cholesterol. The excess cholesterol will build up in the gallbladder, causing gall stones.

      When shopping for food, look at the label. Any food that contains cholesterol will list it under the nutrition facts. Also steer clear of foods with saturated fat as it raises your overall cholesterol. Choose skim milk instead of 2% milk and whole milk. Avoid butter; use canola or sunflower oil instead.

    High in Fiber

    • Fiber helps improve your digestions, limiting the chance of a gallstone developing in your gallbladder. It can also reduce your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. A healthy diet consists of 21 to 25 grams of fiber for women and 30 to 38 grams for men.

      To increase your daily fiber intake, eat fruits such as raspberries, strawberries and oranges with each meal. Grains--such as popcorn, brown rice and whole wheat pasta--also contain a lot of fiber. Almonds, sunflower seeds, carrots and broccoli make good high fiber snacks.

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