What are gallstones?
Gallstones are really cholesterol stones. Gallstones are small, hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder. These deposits can develop and go undetected for years. In fact, many people have gallstones and aren’t aware of them. They eventually cause problems, including inflammation, infection, and pain. Gallstones typically cause acute cholecystitis.
Gallstones are usually very small, no more than a few millimeters wide. However, they can grow to several centimeters. Some people develop only one gallstone, while others develop several. As the gallstones grow in size, they can begin to block the channels that lead out of the gallbladder.
Most gallstones are formed from cholesterol found in the gallbladder’s bile. Another type of gallstone, a pigment stone, is formed from calcium bilirubinate. Calcium bilirubinate is a chemical that’s produced when the body breaks down red blood cells. This type of stone is rarer.
What causes gallstones and what are the symptoms?
These being called cholesterol stones, it is not caused by consuming too much cholesterol. It is caused because you don’t have enough bile to break it down. So basically bile is made by the liver and stored in the gall bladder to help you dissolve fats in your diet.
Low bile content is the prime reason for its cause. Due lowering of bile in the body there are symptoms being caused such as
- excess estrogen: by taking birth control pills and by consuming commercial dairy products increases the estrogen levels.
- excess cortisol: by taking stress, cortisol levels increase in the body.
- excess insulin: 65% of the people have high insulin as they don’t have a regular check over it. The main cause is due high consumption of carbs in their daily diet. High carbs leads to lowering of bile salts. That’s the reason why diabetic patients suffer from gallstones.
- low fat diets: yes it’s true! We must consume essential amounts of fats in our diet. Why? It is because the thing that triggers the release of bile is saturated fats. So if you don’t consume good amount of saturated fats your body won’t be able to make bile.
- liver damage and flora: why liver? It is because liver makes bile. So if you have serosis or inflammation in liver(s- hepatitis) you will not be able to make the bile you need. Also if you don’t have flora or friendly bacteria in your colon you may have gallstones because the bacteria help to recycle the bile and if it is not recycled then it leads to lowering of bile salts. It may also lead to constipation.
One may experience right shoulder pain because tension is being created in the gall bladder. Inflammation further puts pressure on the phrenic nerve that goes right up to your shoulder and neck. Lot of people experience this pain and they think it’s an injury to the shoulder but its actually due to gall bladder impair.
People may also suffer from bloating, pain, congestion; tension is being felt under the lower ribcage
How to treat?
On knowing how the stones are caused and what are the symptoms we must know what changes we must bring in our diet. Here, at Hrithvi wellness we examine the main cause of gallstones by knowing the background of the patient and prepare a customized diet plan and supplements for the patient to cure gallstones once and for all!!
Here are main concern is to dissolve the gallstone. We must increase the bile content in our body by knowing the correct cause of it. One can take bile salts which is concentrated. There is a gall bladder formula which not only comprises of bile salts but also stone root which is an herb that dissolves stones. In addition a bunch of enzymes and acidifiers are being added to help the stomach release your own bile which in turn increases the bile production.
Your diet should be containing
- low carbohydrates
- high fats
- high veggies
- moderate proteins
Such a diet with lower carbs and higher fats is a keto diet which prevents gallstones during weight loss. High fat consumption ensures the intake of good amount of saturated fats which triggers the bile.
Should I remove my gall bladder?
Many people are being advised to remove their gall bladder without knowing the later problems being caused. If someone tells you that it is an extra organ and is not necessary then it as an atrocious lie. There is a condition called post cholecystectomy syndrome which basically means the symptoms that occur after you have your gall bladder removed. The symptoms are gas, bloating, nausea, anal leak, constipation and diarrhea. The gall bladder acts as a bile regulator. The problems cause in its removal may persist lifelong.
Make sure you take a proper consultation before taking it off.