What foods can help prevent gallstones?

Gallstones are a common digestive disease, formed due to an imbalance of components in bile. Besides family history, diet plays a crucial role in preventing the formation and recurrence of gallstones.

Gallstones can leak into the intestines, causing intestinal obstruction - Photo: Provided by the hospital.

Mechanism of gallstone formation

According to Dr. Vu Thi Thanh from Bach Mai Hospital, bile is a greenish-brown fluid containing cholesterol, lecithin, phospholipids, bile pigments, bile salts, and many other compounds. Gallstones form when bile is imbalanced, especially when cholesterol levels are high, creating conditions for cholesterol to crystallize with calcium salts into stones.

There are currently three types of gallstones: cholesterol gallstones, pigment gallstones, and mixed gallstones (cholesterol + bilirubin + white blood cells). Of these, blue cholesterol gallstones account for approximately 80% of cases.

Factors that contribute to the rapid formation of gallstones include excessive cholesterol and saturated fats in the diet. These are also the leading causes of cholesterol saturation in bile, leading to stone crystallization.

In addition, animal organs such as liver, intestines, heart, and kidneys contain very high levels of cholesterol. Animal fats and poultry skin such as pork fat, beef fat, chicken skin, and duck skin increase the amount of unhealthy fats. Red meat such as beef and lamb, if consumed in excess, will provide a lot of unhealthy fats for the body.

"In addition, consuming too much sugar and refined carbohydrates also accelerates gallstone formation. In fact, few people know that sweets can promote gallstone formation just as quickly as fats."

Sugary drinks like soft drinks, milk tea, and bottled fruit juices contain a lot of artificial sweeteners. Some fruits rich in fructose, such as dried apricots, pears, persimmons, bananas, watermelons, and pineapples, also increase cholesterol production, thereby promoting gallstone formation.

"White starches like white bread, biscuits, and sweets increase blood insulin levels, stimulating the liver to secrete more cholesterol into the bile," Dr. Thanh explained.

Prolonged fasting and rapid weight loss can also cause gallstones.

Dr. Thanh further explained that eating too little fiber and prolonged fasting can also cause gallstone formation. Fiber acts as a "filter," helping to limit the reabsorption of cholesterol and bile acids in the intestines. A diet poor in green vegetables and whole grains will reduce the body's ability to eliminate cholesterol.

Prolonged fasting is also a common cause of rapid gallstone formation in people who lose weight quickly. Normally, the gallbladder contracts to push bile into the digestive system. When fasting is prolonged, the gallbladder's contractions decrease, causing bile to stagnate, concentrate, and deposit as biliary sludge or stones.

Losing weight too quickly, or suddenly, forces the liver to release large amounts of cholesterol into the bile to process the burned excess fat, thereby causing an imbalance in bile production.

In addition, the use of stimulants, alcohol, beer, and strong coffee can reduce the liver's metabolic capacity, causing bile stasis and creating conditions for gallstone formation. People with a family history of gallstones are also at higher risk of developing the disease.

Nutrition helps prevent gallstone recurrence.

Dr. Thanh recommends that everyone should supplement their diet with soluble fiber, which can bind to bile acids in the intestines, forcing the liver to use cholesterol in the blood to create new bile acids, thereby reducing total cholesterol.

Foods rich in fiber include whole grains (oats, brown rice, etc.); vegetables (okra, cauliflower, carrots, artichokes, etc.); and fruits (apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, etc.).

In addition, unsaturated fats help stimulate gallbladder contractions. Therefore, completely eliminating fats is a mistake because it reduces gallbladder contractions, causing bile stagnation.

Patients should prioritize healthy fats such as vegetable oils (extra virgin olive oil, etc.); nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.); fatty fish (salmon, sardines, herring, etc.); and plant-based and white protein.

Replacing fatty red meat with easily digestible protein sources helps reduce the burden on the liver and gallbladder; plant-based proteins (tofu, lentils, mung beans, etc.); white proteins (skinless chicken breast, carp, etc.); and supplementing with vitamin C and magnesium,...

Vitamin C and magnesium play crucial roles in the metabolism of cholesterol into bile acids. Deficiencies in these two micronutrients are a high risk factor for gallstone formation.

The doctor also recommended proper weight loss under the supervision of a nutritionist. Patients need to adhere to a controlled weight loss regimen prescribed and monitored by a nutritionist.

At the same time, control stimulants with the recommended consumption level of only 150ml of wine/day or 360ml of beer/day or 45ml of spirits/day. Stir-fried and deep-fried dishes cooked at high temperatures can convert fats into trans-fats, which not only increase the risk of gallstones but also cause cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder).

LINH HAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/an-gi-de-ngan-ngua-benh-soi-mat-20260520205235806.htm