By David Cowley
The gall bladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that is located near the liver. Its purpose is to store and release bile into the small intestine. Bile is used by the human body to aid in the digestion of fats.
There are many different problems and health conditions that are associated with the gall bladder such as gallstones, inflammation of the gall bladder, colic and many other gall bladder problems. It is important to be aware of the different gall bladder symptoms so that if you ever develop them yourself you will know to get help.
Gallstones are the most common problem associated with the gall bladder, and they are capable of causing jaundice and colic. Stones often go unnoticed for extended periods of time and can be potentially dangerous if left untreated. Gall stones can reduce and even stop the flow of bile into the digestive track thus causing digestive problems and pain.
There are a few gall bladder symptoms that are especially common such as chest pain in the right side may occur, as may nausea or queasiness, vomiting, gas, and belching. You may not be able to walk without bending over, usually due to intense pain, and sometimes the pain will radiate right through to the back shoulder blade on the right side or in the middle.
Gall bladder symptoms are often quite painful, and so it is therefore important to know what can be done to relieve the pain, even temporarily until you find a more long term solution. The first thing you should do is change your diet. You want to refrain from eating greasy fatty foods and instead include more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet.
You should also be increasing your fiber intake and your water consumption at the same time so you do not become constipated. Also, if you want to improve your gall bladder health you are going to have to educate yourself and become more informed in regards to the gall bladder and how it works.
You can speak to your doctor about this and if possible even a nutritionist. Not only will they be able to help you understand about the different gall bladder diseases but can guide you step by step on how to design a gall bladder diet.
Nutrition is the most important aspect when it comes to dealing with gall bladder symptoms, but exercise is also very important. It is important that you get an adequate amount of exercise into your regular life, and even if this means that you just take a walk or brisk jog around the block a couple of times when you have some free time.
Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with treating gall bladder symptoms such as Quercitin, Bromellain, Sytrinol, Zinc, vitamin E and Amino Acid,
Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing allergy symptoms. Take 500 mg twice daily.
Bromellain will enhance the absorption of Quercetin. Take 100 mg twice daily.
Sytrinol are known to be useful in helping maintain a healthy cholesterol level in the body by reducing triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.
Zinc is needed for healing and maintaining healthy tissues. Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein and are the vital components of skin, hair, muscle tissue, the body’s organs, blood cells, various enzymes and hormones. Zinc also has a profound influence on the body’s ability to resist disease.
Vitamin E supplies Oxygen to the heart and the other muscles in the body. Accelerates wound healing and aids in the functioning of the immune system.
Amino Acid help regulate growth, digestion and maintaining the body’s immune system.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
David Cowley has created numerous articles on gall bladder problems. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to gall bladder problems and how to treat them. Visit Gall Bladder Treatment
The Importance of a Gall Bladder Diet
By David Cowley
Your gall bladder is a pear shaped organ that is located near the liver. It is one of the most important organs in the body, and the basic function of the gall bladder is to store bile and concentrate. Bile is used by the body to assist in the digestion of fats.
Gallstones are small pebble-like substances that develop in the gall bladder, and they form when the bile that is stored in the gall bladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. There are many causes of gallstones, including when the bile in one’s body contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin.
Gender plays a major role in the development of gallstones, as women are twice as likely as men to develop them. This is due to the hormone estrogen especially that produced during pregnancy and that which comes from birth control pills.
Weight is also often a cause of gallstones, as being even moderately overweight is going to greatly increase your chances of developing the stones.
If you ever develop any gallstones you are going to have to find a method of treatment to relieve your symptoms and get rid of the gallstones. There are quite a few different treatments available, but a gall bladder diet is going to be one of the first and most important things you can do here. This is because diets that are high in fat and cholesterol and low in fiber are going to increase your risk of developing gall stones.
It is therefore important that you follow a strict gall bladder diet, even if you have not yet developed any gall stones. A good gall bladder diet will include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grain breads and cereals, and plenty of water. You should also make sure to increase your fiber intake, but remember that the more fiber you consume the more water you are going to need to drink as well in order to avoid becoming constipated.
Limiting your fat intake is important part of a healthy gall bladder diet but you should not remove all fats from your diet. It is important to include the right type of fats in your diet. Research has shown that a balanced diet that is high in unsaturated fats may reduce the risk in developing gallstones. Omega 3 oils found in flax, hemp and extra virgin olive oil are essential for a health gall bladder diet.
Here is a list of gall bladder friendly foods but remember to start slow and add each food to your diet one at a time. Most people with gall bladder problems respond well to the addition of these foods but individuals can respond differently to the addition of new foods in their diet. If a specific food causes any type of pain or cramping stop taking it and after the symptom has subsided start adding new foods to your diet again.
Helpful Foods – fresh organic only and never used dried or powered variety:
Apples, Apricots, Avocadoes, artichoke, Beets, cumbers, coconuts, ginger root, green beans, sweet potatoes, garlic, onions, lemons, tomatoes, grapes, apples, papaya, pears and omega 3 oils,
You should avoid are chocolate, ice cream, eggs, red meat, milk, coffee, nuts, beans, pork, onion, chicken, milk, oranges, grapefruit, corn, hydrogenated oils, saturated fats, fried foods and margarine.
If you are interested in coming up with a gall bladder diet that is designed specifically for you, the first step is going to be to talk with your doctor. You may also want to work with a nutritionist, someone who is educated in this field and will be able to give you the best advice here.
By following a proper diet and living as generally healthy a lifestyle as possible, you will not only prevent gall stones or get rid of those you presently have, but as well will keep you healthier and happier in general.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
David Cowley has created numerous articles on gall bladder problems. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to gall bladder problems and how to treat them. Visit Gall Bladder Treatment
Gall Bladder Surgery Options
By David Cowley
The gall bladder is a small pear shaped organ that is located on the underside of the liver. Gall bladder disease occurs when gallstones form in the bile duct which can slow the release or even block the release of bile into the digestive system.. When there are gallstones that do not cause any symptoms, there is usually no treatment required. Mild cases are usually able to be dealt with simply by having the patient make a few small lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
Gall bladder surgery is one of the most commonly recommended treatment options, and there are actually a few different surgeries that you can go with. Laparoscopic gall bladder surgery is usually the most successful for the removal of small gall stones, and involves the removal of the gall bladder and gallstones through several small incisions in the abdomen.
The surgeon inflates the abdomen and then inserts a lighted scope inside. This allows them to clearly see what they are doing and they have a video camera attached to the scope. The surgeon removes the small gall stones. Recovery time from Laparoscopic surgery is usually just a few days.
For larger gall stones the gall bladder may be removed by abdominal surgery. After the gall bladder has been removed bile is no longer stored in the body and when the liver produces bile it will flow from the liver through the common bile duct and out into the small intestine. Recovery time for abdominal surgery can take up to several weeks.
After the Surgery
After your gall bladder surgery there are a few things you are going to want to be prepared for. Side effects are rare but do occur in many patients and in particular you may experience pain in the shoulder and abdomen. This pain may last anywhere up to a few days but if it persists longer than this you should mention it to your doctor to make sure that there is nothing serious at play here.
You may also notice that you are having more bowel movements than normal, possibly even diarrhea. Minor inflammation or drainage at the surgical wound sites may occur as may a loss of appetite and even some nausea.
Gall bladder surgery is usually not very complicated and you may have it as an outpatient or stay a couple days in the hospital. The majority of patients who go through with the surgery do not experience any side effects at all as a result of the procedure but it is important to be well aware of them beforehand so that you will not be surprised if you do notice any of these symptoms.
Life style changes is the best method of treating gallstones. Lowering your intake of fats and cholesterol and increasing your take of fluids and fiber can stop all of the symptoms of a gall bladder problem. Surgery will be necessary for the more persistent gall bladder problems and is if there are no factors present that may complicate the surgery. You will have to work together with your doctor here in order to determine which course of action is best suited for your condition.
Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with treating gall bladder problems such as vitamin c, Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid, niacin, oat bran, pectin, Phytosterols and Policosanol.
Vitamin C has been shown to combat the development of cholesterol deposits in the arteries. Within a few hours after receiving vitamin C patients showed a sharp decline in the cholesterol levels of the blood.
Studies of the Greenland Eskimos lack of heart attacks have show that Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid (EPA) lowers blood cholesterol considerably, even more than polyunsaturated fat does. It also triggers a major drop in triglycerides. Salmon Oil is one of the best known sources of natural EPA.
Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning. The intake of 3 grams Niacin for as little as two weeks can reduce serum cholesterol by 26 percent.
Phytosterols is found in flax seed and peanuts, which are suggested to help lower serum cholesterol.
Pectin limits the amount of cholesterol the body can absorb.
Policosanol is a natural supplement derived from sugar cane. Policosanol promotes healthy platelet function and helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels in the human body.
Oat bran muffins lower blood cholesterol among healthy college students by almost 10 percent.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
David Cowley has created numerous articles on gall bladder problems. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to gall bladder problems and how to treat them. Visit Gall Bladder Treatment
gall stones