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I thank my many health-wise correspondents for sharing information that may help get rid of gallstones. One writes: “I've gotten some very helpful and valuable info from my sister who went through this problem a couple years ago. Here are some gallbladder dietary guidelines that I'll share, in case you could use it to help someone else.”

I have edited and added to them. Don’t be a gallstone martyr: if you need medical care, see your doctor.

Dietary Guidelines for Cholelithiasis or Biliary Colic

Basic principles:
If overweight, lose it.
Eat as little as possible; try a short fast.
Increase vitamin C-rich foods
Drink more fluids
Eat a low fat, high fiber dairy-free vegetarian diet

Especially Helpful Foods:
nuts (see below), beets, carrots, artichokes, lemons, parsnips, dandelion greens, watercress, horseradish, mustard greens, water chestnuts, beet tops, barley, watermelon, grapefruit, radishes, apples, tomatoes, olive oil, celery, oat bran.

Herbs to look into:
Burdock Root, Walnut, Alfalfa, Ginger root, Catnip, Peppermint, Fennel

Fresh juices:
Try combinations of carrot, radish, prune, black cherry, celery, beet, cucumber and parsley.

Avoid:
alcohol, fried foods, fatty foods, rich foods, salty food, heavy protein foods, cow's milk and other dairy products, white bread and other refined foods, processed foods, sugar and sweets.

Especially Important Supplements:
B-Complex
Vitamin C
Vitamin D (what is in a good multiple vitamin is probably enough)
Vitamin E
Essential Fatty Acids, found in fish, green vegetables and in the next very important item:
Lecithin granules (several spoonfuls daily)
Multiple Digestive Enzyme tablets each meal, and also with raw-veggie snacks.

NUTS TO GALLSTONES!

Harvard Study Shows Nuts Reduce Gallstone Risk

“Nuts are rich in several compounds that may be protective against gallstones. . . During 457,305 person-years of follow-up, 1,833 participants reported gallstone disease. After adjustment for age and other known or suspected risk factors, men consuming 5 or more units of nuts per week (frequent consumption) had a significantly lower risk of gallstone disease.” (Tsai CJ, Leitzmann MF, Hu FB, Willett WC, Giovannucci EL. A prospective cohort study of nut consumption and the risk of gallstone disease in men. Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Nov 15;160(10):961-8.)

Andrew Saul is the author of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html ) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html )

For ordering information, Click Here .

Andrew W. Saul

AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This page is not in any way offered as prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain it from a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health decision.

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