Gallbladder removal is now one of the most commonly performed surgeries nationwide, and women are twice as likely as men to need it. Women’s bodies have a higher fat content, and fat fuels the creation of gallstones. Here are some Natural Remedies To Help You Avoid Getting Gallstones.
Drink coffee or tea.
Drinking an extra ten oz. of caffeinated black tea or coffee each day can cut your risk of gallstones. Both brews contain plant compounds that, in combination with caffeine, stop cholesterol molecules from clumping in the gallbladder.
And butter to your veggies.
If crystals do form, keeping them small long enough for your gallbladder to remove them is important. Eating two cups of vegetables topped with 1 Tbs. butter or oil daily can help. To maximize this benefit, include 1/2 tsp. of turmeric in your daily diet, or supplement with 500 mg. of curcumin daily. This spice helps flush out gallstones while they’re still as tiny as grains of sand.
Consume coconut oil.
Consuming 1 Tbs. of coconut oil daily sends your risk of gallstones plunging. Coconut oil helps your gallbladder to clear a flood of bile, which sweeps stones out of your system. Coconut oil is great to spread on top of bread or crackers or mixed into rice, oatmeal, and fruit smoothies.
Take curcumin.
Taking a 500-mg. curcumin supplement daily flushes out gallstones before they grow large enough to become a problem. Curcumin helps the gallbladder empty during meals, which keeps bile from pooling and forming clumps.
Eat more lentils & veggies.
Eating 1/2 cup of lentils daily lowers your gallstone risk, and adding an extra cup of vegetables lowers it by another 25%. Both foods are full of soluble fiber and vitamin C, nutrients that reduce gallbladder inflammation, lessening the likelihood of it swelling and clogging.
Snack on nuts.
Adding one oz. of nuts or health nut butters to your daily diet could cut your risk of gallstones. Nuts are loaded with fats that help the gallbladder produce bile properly, so this digestive aid does not form stones.
Have some ACV.
Gallstones start out as tiny crystals, which is why preventing those crystals from forming is crucial. And apple cider vinegar can help. Sipping 1 Tbs. diluted in 8 oz. of water before each meal will stimulate your gallbladder to contract strongly, flushing out bile, a digestive fluid that contains particles from which those crystals can form.
Get your daily C.
A daily 1,000-mg. dose of vitamin C can slash your risk of gallbladder flareups. C reduces swelling inside the gallbladder’s narrow ducts, making it easier for tiny crystals to flow right through instead of getting stuck and causing a painful blockage.