The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid that helps us digest fats. Bile is made at a steady rate by the liver, which sends it to the gallbladder to be stored and released when you eat a fatty meal. Bile is made up mostly of cholesterol and is a major way the body gets rid of excess cholesterol, as well as toxins.
All the blood that drains from the digestive tract goes directly through the liver, which is responsible for removing toxins, including medications. The liver has been described as “the oil filter of the body” because of this function. Once any impurities are collected and made less toxic by the liver, they are then deposited with the bile into the gallbladder, to be eliminated through the bowels.
But for many of us this system does not work so well. Gallstones are common; it has been estimated that 20 million Americans harbor them, and there are 700,000 surgeries every year to have them removed.
There are several theories about why so many of us develop gallstones. There is a genetic link, and they are associated with several medications, including hormone replacement therapy.
But like a lot of digestive problems, lifestyle is a major factor in their development. Gallstones are associated with a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, sugar consumption, low vegetable consumption and eating processed foods, especially fats. This includes hydrogenated fats and fats used for frying. They also may be caused by rapid weight loss and very low fat diets; this is thought to be because of the fact that when there are no fats in the diet, bile is stored in the gallbladder for a long time, allowing it to solidify.
Most vegetable oils are not from vegetables at all but are highly processed seed oils that were consumed in relatively small quantities until recently, when the process of chemical extraction made them cheaper to produce. This is especially true of canola, soybean and corn oils. There is controversy about whether or not they contribute to gallstones. I avoid them, on the basis that they are a newer food and there is some evidence they contribute to inflammation. This does not apply to olive oil, which I use a lot.
Poor fat digestion because of impaired gallbladder function is more common than actual gallstones. In the early stages of stone formation, the bile thickens, making it less effective at doing its job of dissolving dietary fats and inflaming the gallbladder. Many patients have vague pains in the right upper abdomen, sometimes associated with eating, bloating or gas, all of which may be because of an inflamed gallbladder; this can happen without any actual stones being present. Another symptom may be constipation; if the bile is not present in enough quantity to emulsify the fats, it slows digestion. Also, some patients with chronic right shoulder or upper back pain will only find relief when gallbladder function is restored to normal. A natural food that is used to improve gallbladder function is beets; in our office we use a supplement composed primarily of beet concentrate with good success. There also are herbs that are helpful in dealing with gallbladder inflammation.
The conclusion? To prevent gallstones, the usual wellness principles apply. It is wise to avoid highly processed foods, especially fats; this is especially true of the “trans” fats, as well as fried foods, including chips. Also, it is helpful to minimize medication use, maintain a healthy weight and stay active. Avoid “crash dieting” and low fat diets. Of course, this is the same advice that is given for heart disease, diabetes and every other chronic disease. And when stones are already present, there are natural, drug-free treatments available that are a great first line treatment before the more aggressive therapies are tried.
Dr. Michael Noonan practices chiropractic, chiropractic acupuncture and other wellness therapies in Old Town. He can be reached at noonanchiropractic@gmail.com.