All this fat = gallstones? page

[aquabay]

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie primal chick. Started the middle of May and have lost 13 lbs so far. I have also lost my indigestion, constipation and some of my hip joint pain! WooHoo!! I just had my eyes checked and the Dr. told me he saw high cholesterol markers in my eyes...I'm hoping that problem will be going away also. I will have my annual check up in September to check on that. It is amazing to me how little I can eat and be satisfied all day!

I am determined to drop my extra weight and become really healthy. I bought the Primal Blueprint and I am eating strictly primal, except cannot afford only the grass-fed meats yet. Exercise is increasing...had to start slow due to the hip pain. Jumping on the trampoline with my granddaughters!

I'm a little worried about the cholesterol, eating bacon (eeek! but Yum!) and much more beef than I used to. I had a friend tell me that I need to be careful about the high fat, since in women over 50 (that's me) there is an increased risk of gallstones. Can anyone comment on this...and reassure me? (I work in the medical tech industry so I know this is CW speaking.)

Looking forward to your reassurances and support! Thanks!

[loafingcactus]

Gallstones are actually caused by a high carb diet. That's what leaves bile sitting around without a job to crystalize out. The high fat diet will only cause symptoms if you already have a stone that is too large to pass. Rapid weight loss is associated with stones, though it may be through the same process- the stone was created by the high carb diet and then became symptomatic on the high fat diet.

By the way, regular caffiene intake such as black tea causes the gallbladder to sweeze and empty and is associated with reducing the incidence of stones.

[Jreyes2265]

I was very curious about the OP's question as well. I have had gullbladder "sludge" in the past, which wasn't enough to be considered a full "gallstone" and I was told to be careful. Loafingcactus, would you be kind enough to post some articles or more information regarding gallstones are from a high carb diet?

[loafingcactus]

gallstone high carb - Google Search

You can also look for insulin and gall stones. People with insulin resistance / type 2 diabetes are more likely to get stones.

If you had sludge, your doctor probably also recommended the black tea... That's fairly standard. There are also stone reducing diets that anecdotally I have heard to work... I know someone who used one during pregnancy thinking to postpone gall bladder surgery until after pregnancy, but by the time she gave birth her stones were gone.

Btw, something else: you can mostly get "clip free" removal in the USA these days (about 10% of people have to have clips for medical reasons, 90% dont). I didn't have a choice because my removal was an emergency and fortunately I got a doctor who does clip free, but this is what I learned after... If my doctor didn't do clip free I would demand to go to another hospital. You can google to find out how the surgery is safer and some other reasons why avoiding clips is good.

ETA: Here's a study that was actually stopped early because the difference in gall bladder emptying between low-fat and higher-fat (in people in a very low calorie diet, but still...) was so large that it was unethical to continue the low-fat group.
The role of gallbladder emptying in gallstone form... [Hepatology. 1996] - PubMed result

[Jreyes2265]

^^

Thanks, I'll check it out!

[Christal]

I had emergency surgery to have my gallbladder removed a year ago. I was told it was related to my untreated Celiac disease and high carb diet. After my surgery I had to make sure I was near a restroom after eating, every time. Quite a pain. Every one from my Dr. to friends told me to avoid high fat without a gallbladder. so I did. no gluten, no fat, doesnt leave a lot left to eat. Still I had problems.

I love meat too much to give it up. luckily I found MDA.

Since going primal I finally have no problems at all. For the first time in my life I have no bowel, heartburn (gerd) or indigestion problems at all. And I eat A LOT of fat.

I Have read a lot about coffee enemas (not very Grok like but hey if it helps save an organ) helping detox the liver and gallbladder, and primal diet helping as well. perhaps had I known sooner I could have kept my little bile squirt sack.

good luck! and dont be afraid of bacon!

[Knifegill]

Corneal Arcus. Never knew about it before! Looks really neat around brown eyes.

[aquabay]

Thanks for the reassurance! This (Primal eating etc) is so totally opposite from what I have read and done previously in my life, I get a little scared once in awhile. You said the caffeine in black tea was good for preventing gallstones...what about the caffeine in coffee. I have my 20oz of coffee most mornings.

[loafingcactus]

I'm not sure why black tea is the go to, perhaps just because the perception that it's "good for you" (a brief google brought up a naturopathic idea that it was protective for gall bladder cancer) but yes, any caffeine causes the gall bladder emptying effect.

[greentree2]

I'm new to primal living but have more experience with gallstones. I was diagnosed with them about four years ago. The one sure preventive I have found is drinking a big cup of black coffee every morning. My CW doctor told me there is no proof that it does any good and that I should eat a low fat diet. However, my proof is otherwise. As long as I'm downing 12 ounces of french roast (good qualify, fresh roasted and fresh ground made in a single cup drip cone using a well rinsed paper filter and filtered tap water), black and hot, every day, no attacks. If I skip a day or two, I can almost always count on gallbladder pain.